EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1851612
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1851612_10-K_2024_0001140361-24-021328.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on February 23, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We were initially incorporated under the name BH3 Acquisition Corp., subsequently changed our name to Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company on July 21, 2021 and subsequently changed our name to Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company on November 3, 2023. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) using cash from the proceeds of the initial public offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants (after giving effect to the early redemptions effected in connection with our first special meeting and second special meeting), our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
Our registration statement for the initial public offering was declared effective on October 4, 2021. On October 7, 2021, we consummated the initial public offering of 23,000,000 Units (the “Units”), which included the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000, and incurring offering costs of approximately $22.4 million.
Simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering on October 7, 2021, we consummated the sale in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of an aggregate of 6,400,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.50 per private placement warrant to our former sponsor, generating proceeds of $9,600,000.
Our initial stockholders (including the sponsor, the former sponsor and our anchor investors) currently hold 5,739,916 founder shares. The founder shares that have not been previously converted into shares of Class A common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder thereof. Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of founder shares will be entitled to vote on the election of directors.
Our anchor investors purchased an aggregate of approximately 22,980,000 units in the initial public offering at the public offering price of $10.00. No anchor investor purchased more than 9.9% of the units offered. Upon the closing our initial public offering, our anchor investors owned, in the aggregate, approximately 79.9% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. In consideration of those purchases, our sponsor entered into an investment agreement with each of the anchor investors pursuant to which our sponsor sold an aggregate of 1,450,758 founder shares, at the original purchase price of approximately $0.004 per share.
Upon the closing of the initial public offering and the Private Placement, $232,300,000 ($10.10 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the initial public offering and of the private placement warrants in the Private Placement were placed in the trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and invested only in U.S. “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, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the trust account as described below.
Transaction costs of the initial public offering amounted to $22,407,388, consisting of $12,650,000 of underwriters’ fees and discounts, $9,276,147 for the excess fair value of founder shares attributable to the anchor investors, and $465,667 of other offering costs, net of third party vendor credits. The underwriters agreed to defer $8,050,000 of the underwriting discounts and commissions until our consummation of an initial business combination.
Our units began trading on October 5, 2021 on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “BHACU.” Commencing on November 26, 2021, the shares of Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units began separate trading on the Nasdaq under the symbols “BHAC” and “BHACW,” respectively. Those units not separated continue to trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol “BHACU.”
On December 7, 2022 (following approval by our stockholders at the first special meeting), we effected the first charter amendment and the trust amendment, the effect of which was to change our termination date from April 7, 2023 to August 7, 2023 (as further extended to October 6, 2023 by the former sponsor providing us with the requisite notice and the deposit amount). In connection with the first charter amendment, 17,987,408 public shares were tendered for redemption. After giving effect to the first early redemptions, we had approximately $51.2 million remaining in the trust account.
On October 6, 2023 (following approval by our stockholders at the second special meeting), we effected the second charter amendment and the founder share amendment, the effect of which was to change our termination date to the new termination date of July 31, 2024. In connection with the second charter amendment, 2,700,563 public shares were tendered for redemption. After giving effect to the second early redemptions, we had approximately $24.3 million remaining in the trust account.
On October 6, 2023, in connection with the second special meeting and the adoption of the founder share amendment, the former sponsor converted 3,000,000 of its shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock. Such converted shares of Class A common stock are not entitled to receive funds from the trust account through redemptions or otherwise and remain subject to the existing transfer restrictions.
Our Sponsor
On September 27, 2023, the company, the former sponsor and the sponsor entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”). In connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the sponsor (i) purchased an aggregate of 3,746,303 shares of Class B common stock from the former sponsor and each of the anchor investors and 4,160,000 private placement warrants from the former sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $16,288.27 and (ii) became the sponsor of the company. In connection therewith, the former sponsor also entered into anchor transfer agreements with each of its anchor investors, whereby each anchor agreed, subject to the conditions contained therein, when and as directed by the former sponsor, to transfer 2/3 of their shares of Class B common stock for no consideration; provided, however, upon the request of an anchor investor, the former sponsor shall pay to them $0.0043 per share. The Purchase Agreement closed effective as of November 2, 2023.
Our sponsor was founded by affiliates of Focus Impact Partners, LLC, who also serve as officers and directors of Focus Impact Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: FIAC) that entered into a business combination agreement with DevvStream Holdings Inc., a company existing under the Laws of the Province of British Columbia, on September 12, 2023.
Our Team
The management team consists of Carl Stanton (Chief Executive Officer and Director), Ernest Lyles (Chief Financial Officer and Director) and Wray Thorn (Chief Investment Officer and Director). Our board of directors includes Troy Carter, Dia Simms, Eric Edidin and Daniel Lebensohn.
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 stockholder value in the initial business combination.
With respect to the above, past experience or performance of our sponsor team and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (i) our ability to successfully identify and execute a business combination or (ii) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our sponsor team or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance.
Proposed Business Combination
On March 11, 2024, the company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Focus Impact BH3 Newco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the company (“NewCo”), Focus Impact BH3 Merger Sub I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo (“Merger Sub 1”), Focus Impact BH3 Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo (“Merger Sub 2”), and XCF Global Capital, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“XCF”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, the business combination will be effected in two steps: (a) the company will merge with and into Merger Sub 1 (the “NewCo Merger”), with Merger Sub 1 being the surviving entity of the NewCo Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo; and (b) immediately following the NewCo Merger, Merger Sub 2 will merge with and into XCF (the “Company Merger” and, together with the NewCo Merger and all other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “XCF Business Combination”), with XCF being the surviving corporation of the Company Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo. As a result of the XCF Business Combination, NewCo will become a new publicly-traded company.
The Business Combination; Consideration
The Business Combination Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the following transactions will occur:
(i) the company will merge with and into Merger Sub 1, with Merger Sub 1 being the surviving entity of the NewCo Merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo, and (x) each share of the company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the NewCo Merger will be converted into the right to receive one share of NewCo’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“NewCo Common Stock”), (y) each share of the company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the NewCo Merger will be converted into the right to receive one share of NewCo Common Stock, and (z) each warrant of the company outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the NewCo Merger will be converted into the right to receive one warrant of NewCo (the “NewCo Warrants”), with NewCo assuming the company’s rights and obligations under the existing warrant agreement; and
(ii) immediately following the NewCo Merger, Merger Sub 2 will merge with and into XCF, with XCF being the surviving corporation of the Company Merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo, and each share of common stock of XCF outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Company Merger will be converted into the right to receive shares of NewCo Common Stock determined in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement based on a pre-money equity value of XCF of $1,750,000,000, subject to adjustments for net debt and transaction expenses, and a price of $10.00 per share of NewCo Common Stock.
Conditions to Closing
The Business Combination Agreement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, including, among others, (a) approval of the Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the company’s stockholders and the XCF stockholders, (b) effectiveness of the proxy / registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the company and NewCo in connection with the Business Combination, (c) expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, (d) receipt of approval for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), as applicable, the shares of NewCo Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination, and (e) the absence of any order, law or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Business Combination in effect. Other conditions to XCF’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination include, among others, (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the company as of the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), (ii) the performance or compliance of each of the company’s covenants in all material respects at or prior to the Closing and (iii) receipt of a certificate signed by an authorized officer of the company certifying the satisfaction of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii). Other conditions to the company’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination include, among others, (v) closing of the acquisition of New Rise Renewables, LLC and New Rise SAF Renewables Limited Liability Company (collectively, “New Rise”), (w) entry into an amended and restated supply and offtake agreement with a key supplier or another party (the “Key Agreement”) on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the company, (x) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of XCF as of the Closing, (y) the performance or compliance of each XCF covenant in all material respects at or prior to the Closing and (z) receipt of a certificate signed by an XCF authorized officer certifying the satisfaction of the preceding clauses (x) and (y).
Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement contains covenants, including, among others, providing for (i) XCF to conduct its business in the ordinary course in all material respects through the Closing, (ii) the parties to not initiate any negotiations or enter into any agreements for certain alternative transactions, (iii) XCF to prepare and deliver to the company certain audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of XCF, (iv) the company and NewCo to prepare, with the assistance of XCF, and the company and NewCo to file, the Registration Statement and take certain other actions to obtain the requisite approval of the company’s stockholders of certain proposals regarding the Business Combination, and (v) the parties to use reasonable best efforts to obtain necessary approvals from governmental agencies.
Representations and Warranties
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations and warranties by the company and XCF for transactions of this type regarding themselves and their respective businesses. The representations and warranties of the respective parties to the Business Combination Agreement will not survive the Closing of the Business Combination.
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the company and XCF including, among others, that the Business Combination Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing (i) by mutual written consent of the company and XCF, (ii) by written notice from either the company or XCF to the other if certain approvals of the company’s stockholders, to the extent required under the Business Combination Agreement, are not obtained as set forth therein, (iii) by written notice from the company, if certain approvals of the XCF stockholders are not obtained within two (2) business days after the Registration Statement is declared effective, (iv) by written notice from the company if the Key Agreement is not entered into by a specified date or a key supplier exercises certain rights under the Key Agreement in connection with the Business Combination and (v) by either the company or XCF in certain other circumstances set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, including, among others, (a) if the Closing is permanently enjoined, restrained or prohibited by the terms of a final, non-appealable governmental order, (b) in the event of certain uncured breaches by the other party, (c) if the company’s stockholders do not approve the Business Combination or (d) if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to September 11, 2024 (the “Termination Date”), provided that the Termination Date will be automatically extended to November 11, 2024 if the Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to September 11, 2024.
Sponsor Letter Agreement
On March 11, 2024, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, the company entered into a Sponsor Letter Agreement (the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”), with the sponsor and NewCo, pursuant to which the sponsor has unconditionally and irrevocably agreed to, among other things: (a) vote at any meeting of the stockholders of the company, and in any action by written resolution of the stockholders of the company, all of the shares of the company’s Class B common stock held by the sponsor to approve the Business Combination and all related transactions and proposals; (b) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would result in a breach of any of the company’s covenants, representations, warranties or other obligations or agreements under the Business Combination Agreement; and (c) waive any rights to adjustment or other anti-dilution or similar protections with respect to the rate at which the shares of the company’s Class B common stock held by the sponsor will convert into other shares of capital stock of the company or shares of NewCo Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination and related transactions; in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sponsor Letter Agreement.
Pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement, the sponsor also agreed to, among other things, certain lock-up restrictions with respect to the shares of NewCo Common Stock until the earlier of (i) 12 months following the Closing and (y) the date on which NewCo completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of NewCo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity for cash, securities or other property, subject to certain exceptions; provided that such lock-up restrictions will lapse prior to their expiration upon the occurrence of certain events, including the closing price of the shares of NewCo Common Stock 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.
Support Agreements
On March 11, 2024, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, the company, NewCo and XCF entered into Company Support Agreements (collectively, the “Support Agreements”) with (i) Randy Soule, majority stakeholder of New Rise, and his affiliated entity (the “Soule Support Agreement”), (ii) GL Part SPV I, LLC, an existing XCF stockholder and New Rise equityholder (the “GL Support Agreement”), (iii) certain XCF stockholders (the “Company Support Agreement”) and (iv) certain members of XCF management (the “Management Support Agreement”). Pursuant to the Support Agreements, certain XCF stockholders and New Rise equityholders agreed to, among other things, vote to adopt and approve the Business Combination Agreement and all other documents and transactions contemplated thereby, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the Support Agreements, and vote against any alternative transaction, business combination or agreement that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to, impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, adversely affect or prevent the Closing of the Business Combination or the Support Agreements or result in a breach of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement thereunder.
Pursuant to the Support Agreements, certain XCF and New Rise stockholders also agreed to, among other things, (a) to the extent required or applicable, vote or provide consent for purposes of authorizing and approving the Business Combination or the Business Combination Agreement, (b) when any meeting of XCF stockholders is held, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the XCF stockholder’s Covered Shares (as defined in the applicable Support Agreements) to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum, or respond to the request by XCF for written consent, as applicable, (c) vote or provide consent in any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval is required under XCF’s organizational documents (as applicable) and (d) not transfer any Covered Shares through the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Soule Support Agreement and the GL Support Agreement provide that unless and until XCF or the company obtains not less than $50 million in additional financing following the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, such parties may transfer any direct or indirect equity interests in New Rise in an aggregate amount of up to the lesser of (x) 15% of such parties’ equity interests in New Rise and (y) $100 million, in the case of Randy Soule and his affiliated entity, or $50 million, in the case of GL Part SPV I, LLC.
Pursuant to the Support Agreements:
(i) the members of XCF management party to the Management Support Agreements have also agreed that they will not transfer shares of NewCo Common Stock held by such parties until the earlier of (x) twelve months after the Closing and (y) the date on which NewCo (or its successor) completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of NewCo’s (or such successor’s) stockholders having the right to exchange their securities for cash, securities or other property; provided that such transfer restrictions will lapse prior to their expiration upon the occurrence of certain events, including the closing price of the shares of NewCo Common Stock 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;
(ii) each of the XCF stockholders party to the Company Support Agreements and the party to the GL Support Agreement have also agreed that with respect to 90% of shares of NewCo Common Stock held by such parties (the “Lock-up Shares”), they will not transfer such Lock-up Shares until the earlier of (x) twelve months after the Closing and (y) the date on which NewCo (or its successor) completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of NewCo’s (or such successor’s) stockholders having the right to exchange their securities for cash, securities or other property; provided that such transfer restrictions will lapse prior to their expiration upon the occurrence of certain events, including the closing price of the shares of NewCo Common Stock 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; provided, further, that such parties may transfer (A) on or after 90 days following the first quarterly earnings release published following the Closing, 10% of the Lock-up Shares, (B) on or after 180 days following the closing date of the Business Combination, 30% of the Lock-up Shares and (C) on or after 360 days following the closing date of the Business Combination, 60% of the Lock-up Shares; and
(iii) the Soule Support Agreement does not contain any lock-up restrictions following the Closing.
Acquisition 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:
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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 stockholder 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.
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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 stockholder communications related to the initial business combination, which, as discussed in this Annual Report, would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.
Our Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we conduct an extensive due diligence review which encompasses, as applicable and among other things, commercial and industry due diligence, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities and a review of financial, operational, legal and other information about the target and its industry. To help facilitate this evaluation, we rely on input from our management team, sponsor and directors, including third party diligence providers if and as necessary.
Each of our directors, officers, and members of our management team, directly or indirectly, own founder shares and/or private placement warrants 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 directors and officers is included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Certain of our officers and directors presently have, 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 a business combination opportunity to such entity subject to his or her fiduciary duties. As a result, 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, then, subject to such officer’s and director’s fiduciary duties, 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 or obligations to materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or 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 the Company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. In addition, we may pursue an acquisition opportunity jointly with our sponsor, or one or more of its affiliates (“Affiliated Joint Acquisition”) with an entity to which an officer or director has a fiduciary or contractual obligation. Any such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by issuing to such entity a class of equity or equity-linked securities.
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.
Initial Business Combination
In accordance with the rules of 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 net assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting discounts held in trust and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination.
We refer to this as the 80% of net assets test. 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 actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our board of directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our board of directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the board of directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of our satisfaction of the 80% of net assets test, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board of directors is not able independently to determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the target company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% of net assets test, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
We may pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition. Our sponsor, or one or more of its affiliates, may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by issuing to such parties a class of equity or equity-linked securities. Any such issuance of equity or equity-linked securities would, on a fully diluted basis, reduce the percentage ownership of our then-existing stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of our Class B common stock, issuances or deemed issuances of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities would result in an adjustment to the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock such that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees, if any, would retain their aggregate percentage ownership at 20% of the sum of the total number of all common stock outstanding upon completion of the initial public offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the business combination), unless the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to such issuance or deemed issuance at the time thereof. Our sponsor and its affiliates have no obligation to make any such investment, and may compete with us for potential business combinations.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-business combination 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-business combination 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, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-business combination 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-business combination 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-business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. 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-business combination 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. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to the foregoing, 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.
To the extent we effect our initial 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.
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 a prospective target business with which our initial 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.
Extension and Redemptions
On December 7, 2022 (following approval by our stockholders at the first special meeting), we effected the first charter amendment and the trust amendment, the effect of which was to change our termination date from April 7, 2023 to August 7, 2023 (as further extended to October 6, 2023 by the former sponsor providing us with the requisite notice and the deposit amount). In connection with the first charter amendment, 17,987,408 public shares were tendered for redemption. After giving effect to the first early redemptions, we had approximately $51.2 million remaining in the trust account.
On October 6, 2023 (following approval by our stockholders at the second special meeting), we effected the second charter amendment and the founder share amendment, the effect of which was to change our termination date to the new termination date of July 31, 2024. In connection with the second charter amendment, 2,700,563 public shares were tendered for redemption. After giving effect to the second early redemptions, we had approximately $24.3 million remaining in the trust account.
Non-Redemption Agreements
In connection with the second special meeting, the company, the sponsor and the former sponsor, entered into non-redemption agreements with certain stockholders of the company, pursuant to which such stockholders agreed not to redeem (or validly rescind any redemption requests on) an aggregate of 1,946,794 shares of Class A common stock (the “Non-Redeemed Stock”) in connection with the vote at the second special meeting. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Non-Redeemed Stock, the sponsor agreed to transfer an aggregate of 389,359 shares of common stock to such stockholders immediately following the consummation of the company’s initial business combination.
Subscription Agreement
On November 3, 2023, the company entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with the sponsor and Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund (“Polar”), an unaffiliated third party, pursuant to which Polar agreed to make certain capital contributions to the company of up to $1,200,000 (the “Capital Contribution”) from time to time, at the request of the company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement, to the company. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Capital Contribution shall be repaid to Polar by the company within five (5) business days of the company closing an initial business combination. Polar may elect to receive such repayment (i) in cash or (ii) in shares of common stock of the surviving entity in such initial business combination (the “Surviving Entity”) at a rate of one share of common stock for each ten dollars ($10.00) of the Capital Contribution that is funded. Additionally, in consideration of the Capital Contribution, at the closing of an initial business combination, the Surviving Entity will issue to Polar one share of common stock for each dollar of Capital Contribution that is funded prior to the closing. The company also agreed that the Surviving Entity shall register for resale any shares of common stock issued to Polar pursuant to the Subscription Agreement. Upon certain events of default under the Subscription Agreement, the Surviving Entity shall issue to Polar an additional 0.1 shares of common stock for each dollar of the Capital Contribution funded as of the date of such default, and for each month thereafter until such default is cured, subject to certain limitations provided for therein. In the event the company liquidates without consummating an initial business combination, any amounts remaining in the company’s cash accounts (excluding the company’s trust account) will be paid to Polar by the company within five (5) calendar days of the liquidation, up to the amount of the Capital Contribution that is funded.
Other Considerations
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor or any of our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm 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.
The members of our sponsor team 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 believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination, because our sponsor team has significant experience in identifying and executing multiple acquisition opportunities simultaneously, and we believe there are multiple potential opportunities in the industries of our primary focus.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial 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, public companies 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 us. 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 to our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination 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.
Employees
We currently have three executive officers. These individuals 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 they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Our Website
Our corporate website address is www.bh3ac.com. The information contained on, or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
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. 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 accountants.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, 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 acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such 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. 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 the requirements outlined above, or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements 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 control 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 procedures audited. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. 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.
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 the 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 the shares of our Class A common stock that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
RISK FACTORS SUMMARY
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in the section titled “Risk
Factors,” alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and operating results. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
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We are a recently incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
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Past performance by our sponsor team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us or in the future performance of any business that we may acquire.
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Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, and even if we have a vote, holders of our founder shares will participate in such vote, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
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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 such business combination.
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Participation in the initial public offering by the anchor investors could reduce the public float for our securities, and could result in our inability to satisfy the Nasdaq continued listing requirements.
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Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of the shares of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
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We may issue additional shares of capital stock or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our stockholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
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We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business.
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Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not consummated, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business.
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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.
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We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may consummate our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
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Our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities, including to a blank check company, and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
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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, executive officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
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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.
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We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants.
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Our warrants are accounted for as a warrant liability and will be recorded at fair value upon issuance with changes in fair value for each period reported in earnings, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stocks or may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
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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.
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We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants effectively worthless.
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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 $10.10 per share.
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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 common stock and could entrench management.
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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.
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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 initial business combination.
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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, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
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Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
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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 our business, including its ability to negotiate and complete its initial business combination, and results of operations.
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A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with future redemptions by us of our shares.
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We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with certain potential target companies if a proposed transaction with the target company may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations.
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We may be deemed a “foreign person” under the regulations relating to CFIUS and our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
This Annual Report contains forward-looking information based on our current expectations. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this Annual Report, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing at the end of this Annual Report, before deciding whether to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Searching for and Consummating a Business Combination
We are a recently incorporated 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 incorporated company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware 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. If we do not complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by our sponsor team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us or in the future performance of any business that we may acquire.
Information regarding past performance is presented for informational purposes only. Any past experience or performance of our sponsor team and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (i) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (ii) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our sponsor, our management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. An investment with us is not an investment in our sponsor, and does not in any way create an advisory relationship between our sponsor and any of our stockholders.
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, and even if we have a vote, holders of our founder shares will participate in such vote, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though 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 requirement. For instance, if we were seeking to acquire a target business where the consideration we were paying in the transaction was all cash, we would not be required to seek stockholder approval to complete such a transaction.
Except as required by law or stock exchange, 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. Even if we seek stockholder approval, the holders of our founder shares will participate in the vote on such approval. Accordingly,
we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our outstanding public shares do not approve of the business combination we complete.
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 such 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. Additionally, 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. 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.
Participation in the initial public offering by the anchor investors could reduce the public float for our shares, and could result in our inability to satisfy the Nasdaq continued listing requirements.
Our anchor investors purchased an aggregate of approximately 22,980,000 of the units in the initial public offering, and after giving effect to the first early redemptions, the second early redemptions and the Conversion, as of April 22, 2024, there were 5,312,029 shares of Class A common stock and 2,739,916 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. Such purchases and the early redemptions reduced the available public float for our securities. Any further reduction in our available public float may consequently further reduce the trading volume and liquidity of our securities and increase the volatility of our securities relative to what they would have been had such securities been purchased by public investors. In addition, in order to continue to satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements after the initial public offering, among other requirements, we must have a minimum of 400 holders of our securities. To the extent our public float is limited due to purchases made by the anchor investors, we may be more likely than other companies to fall below the required public holder threshold in the future.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders and members of our management team have agreed to vote shares held by them, and our anchor investors have agreed to vote (or abstain from voting) founder shares held by them, in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
On an as-converted basis, holders of our founder shares collectively owned, 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the completion of the initial public offering, and approximately 71.3% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock as of April 22, 2024. Our initial stockholders, members of our management team and our anchor investors also may from time to time purchase Class A common stock prior to our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, if we seek stockholder approval of an initial business combination, such initial business combination will be approved if we receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voted at such meeting, including the founder shares. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any shares purchased prior to the initial business combination, in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, if all issued and outstanding shares are voted, in addition to our founder shares (assuming all anchor investors vote their founder shares in favor of the business combination), we would not need any of the 2,312,029 public shares outstanding as of April 22, 2024 to constitute a quorum or to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved.
Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial stockholders and each member of our management team to vote shares held by them, and our anchor investors to vote founder shares held by them (subject to the right to abstain from voting), in favor of our initial business combination will significantly increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite stockholder approval for such initial business combination. The anchor investors are not required to vote any of their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or for or against any other matter presented for a stockholder vote.
Although none of our initial stockholders, directors or officers have any current intention to purchase our public shares after the initial public offering, they are not restricted from doing so and there is no ceiling on the number of our public shares they may purchase. If they purchase any of our public shares and retain such public shares until any stockholder vote on our initial business combination, the approval of our initial business combination by our stockholders will be even more likely. However, because our anchor investors are not obligated to continue owning any public shares following the closing of the initial public offering and are not obligated to vote any public shares in favor of our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that any of the anchor investors will be stockholders at the time of any stockholder vote on our initial business combination, and, if they are public stockholders, we cannot assure you as to how such anchor investors will vote on our initial business combination if any such stockholder vote occurs. Although no assurance can be given as to the manner in which the anchor investors will vote any public shares they hold in the event of such stockholder vote, because of their ownership in the founder shares, the anchor investors may have interests that differ from those of other public stockholders with respect to a vote on an initial business combination, and such ownership may provide an incentive for them to vote their public shares in favor of 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. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 or such greater 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. If we are able to consummate an initial business combination, the per share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting fees.
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, we 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 additional 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 an initial 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 amount held in trust will continue to reflect our obligation to pay the entire 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 be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If our initial 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 be unsuccessful increases. 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 shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares 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 shares in the open market.
The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial 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 an initial business combination on or before the new 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 end of 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.
As there are many special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets, 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 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 has increased, 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 stockholders.
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.
Recently, 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.
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 a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. 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 (“GAAP”), or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“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) (“PCAOB”). These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such 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.
Because we are neither limited to evaluating a target business in a particular industry sector nor have we selected 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’s operations.
We may pursue business combination opportunities in any sector, except that we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. To the extent we complete our initial 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 sales 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 units 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 or warrant holders who choose to remain stockholders or warrant holders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such securityholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise.
We will 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 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 Annual 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 stockholder 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.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and our strategy will be to identify, acquire and build a company in our target investment area, 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 and our strategy will be to identify, acquire and build a company in our target investment area, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have attributes consistent with our general criteria and guidelines. 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 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 do not complete our initial business combination, 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, and our warrants will expire worthless.
A slowdown in economic growth in the markets in which our business operates 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 business corruption, 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.
We are currently operating in a period of economic uncertainty and capital markets disruption, which has been significantly impacted by geopolitical instability due to the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by any negative impact on the global economy and capital markets resulting from the conflict in Ukraine or any other geopolitical tensions.
U.S. and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the start of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops was reported. Although the length and impact of the ongoing military conflict is highly unpredictable, the conflict in Ukraine could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions. We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine and globally and assessing its potential impact on our business. Additionally, Russia’s prior annexation of Crimea, recent recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military interventions in Ukraine have led to sanctions and other penalties being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia, Belarus, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, including agreement to remove certain Russian financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) payment system, expansive ban on imports and exports of products to and from Russia and ban on exportation of U.S. denominated banknotes to Russia or persons locates there. Additional potential sanctions and penalties have also been proposed and/or threatened. Russian military actions and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets, potentially making it more difficult for us to obtain additional funds. Any of the abovementioned factors could affect our ability to search for a target and consummate a business combination. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks described in this Annual Report.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent accounting or investment banking 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 stockholders from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent accounting firm or independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA that the price we are paying is fair to our stockholders 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 proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination.
If (i) we issue additional 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 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 completion 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 $10.00 and $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% and 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, respectively.
This may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target business as such adjustment would preserve the dilutive effect of the warrants.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public warrants 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 initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, where otherwise permissible under applicable laws, rules and regulations, although they are under no obligation to do so. However, other than as expressly stated hereby, 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 or public warrants in such transactions.
Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgment 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 initial stockholders, directors, executive 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 any such purchases of shares 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 initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If the net proceeds of the 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 at least until the new termination date, 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 and to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account to fund our working capital requirements may not be sufficient to allow us to operate at least until the new termination date, 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, together with funds available from loans from our sponsor will be sufficient to allow us to operate at least until the new termination date; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we expect to 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 or investors 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 do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 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 $10.10 per share upon our liquidation.
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. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants of the post-business combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants. Prior to the 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 do not 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 an estimated $10.10 per share, or possibly less, on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share on the redemption of their shares.
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 do not complete our initial business combination, 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, 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 do not complete our initial business combination, 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, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We are dependent upon our executive officers and directors and their loss could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. 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. In addition, our executive 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 their time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
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: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of our Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this Annual Report, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination on or before the new termination date or (B) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of our Class A common stock, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination on or before the new 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.
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 our 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.
Risks Related to the Post-Business Combination Company
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 initial 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, director or advisory positions following our initial 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.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may consummate our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target business’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target business’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 unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The loss 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.
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 generally 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.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. Upon the loss of control of a target business, new management may not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure our initial business combination so that the post-business combination 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-business combination 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-business combination company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial 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. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of our Class A common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests 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 our Class A common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding Class A 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 shares than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain control of the target business.
We may seek business combination opportunities with a high degree of complexity that require significant operational improvements, which could delay or prevent us from achieving our desired results.
We may seek business combination opportunities with large, highly complex companies that we believe would benefit from operational improvements. While we intend to implement such improvements, to the extent that our efforts are delayed or we are unable to achieve the desired improvements, the business combination may not be as successful as we anticipate.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with a large complex business or entity with a complex operating structure, we may also be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine, which could delay or prevent us from implementing our strategy. Although our management team will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business and its operations, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors until we complete our business combination. If we are not able to achieve our desired operational improvements, or the improvements take longer to implement than anticipated, we may not achieve the gains that we anticipate. Furthermore, some of these risks and complexities may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks and complexities will adversely impact a target business. Such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a smaller, less complex organization.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of the 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 initial 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 initial 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 entity, 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 risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial 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 (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.
If we pursue a target company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such initial business combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If we pursue a target company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign jurisdiction, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, 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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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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exchange listing and/or delisting requirements;
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tariffs and trade barriers;
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
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local or regional economic policies and market conditions;
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unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
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longer payment cycles;
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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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challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
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cultural and language differences;
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employment regulations;
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underdeveloped or unpredictable legal or regulatory systems;
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corruption;
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protection of intellectual property;
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social unrest, crime, strikes, riots and civil disturbances;
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regime changes and political upheaval;
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terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;
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deterioration of political relations with the United States; and
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government appropriation of assets.
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete such initial business combination, or, if we complete such combination, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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 share price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues with 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. Even though 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 securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest of our Officers, Directors and Others
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination, and a particular business combination may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial 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 our company after the completion of our initial 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. Such negotiations also could make such key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. In addition, directors or members of our management team who remain with us, or their affiliates, may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company following the closing of our initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, subject to his or her fiduciary duties. 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 in connection with the issuance and sale of the securities in the initial public offering, our sponsor, upon completion of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate at least two individuals for election to our board of directors, as long as the sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration rights agreement.
Our executive 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 executive 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 executive officers and directors is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our executive officers and directors are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities. If our executive officers’ and 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.
Our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities, including to a blank check company, 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 complete our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. 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 a business combination opportunity to such entity, subject to his or her fiduciary 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, subject to their fiduciary duties. Furthermore, we expect that, to minimize potential conflicts, our target investments will have characteristics appropriate for public companies and, accordingly, or due to other characteristics, will not be suitable for private equity-style investments, which may limit the pool of suitable acquisition targets. However, we do not believe that any potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination.
In addition, some of our directors and officers are and others may in the future become affiliated with other blank check companies that may have acquisition objectives that are similar to ours. 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 such other blank check companies prior to its presentation to us, subject to our officers’ and directors’ fiduciary duties. 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 the Company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis.
Our executive 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, executive 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 executive officers, although we do not intend to do so. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us, including the formation or participation in one or more other blank check companies. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest.
If this were the case, it would be a breach of their fiduciary duties to us as a matter of Delaware law and we or our stockholders might have a claim against such individuals for infringing on our stockholders’ rights. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.
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, executive officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, executive officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders. Our directors and officers 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. 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 initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no substantive discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be 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 and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA, 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 sponsor, executive 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.
Since our sponsor, executive officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to public shares they may acquire prior to a business combination), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
Prior to the initial public offering, our initial stockholders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the Company of $25,000 by our initial stockholders, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after the initial public offering (which was the case until the first early redemptions in December 2022). The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our former sponsor purchased an aggregate of 6,400,000 private placement warrants (of which 4,160,000 were transferred to the sponsor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement), each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, for a purchase price of $9,600,000, or $1.50 per whole warrant, 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, and we may pay our sponsor, officers, directors and any of their respective affiliates’ fees and expenses in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.
The personal and financial interests of our executive 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. This risk may become more acute as the new termination date nears, which is the deadline for our completion 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 the 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. The underwriters are entitled to receive deferred underwriting commissions that will be released from the trust only on a completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause the underwriters to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after the 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 the 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 underwriters or their affiliates 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 underwriter or their respective affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters or their affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this Annual Report, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with the initial public offering. The underwriters are also entitled to receive deferred underwriting commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The fact that the underwriters or their affiliates’ financial interests are 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.
Members of our sponsor 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 sponsor 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 arising out of or 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.
Risks Related to Our Securities
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, 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 $10.10 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we must complete our initial business combination on or before the new termination date. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete an initial business combination on or before the new termination date. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described in this Annual Report. If we have not completed an initial business combination within such applicable 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 taxes, if any (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, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, despite our compliance with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the proxy rules or tender offer rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our proxy solicitation or tender offer 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 redeem or tender 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 have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of our Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this Annual Report, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination on or before the new termination date or (B) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of our Class A common stock, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination on or before the new termination date, subject to applicable law and as further described in this Annual Report. Public stockholders who redeem their shares of Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote described in clause (ii) in the preceding sentence shall not be entitled to funds from the trust account upon the subsequent completion of an initial business combination or liquidation if have not completed an initial business combination on or before the new termination date, with respect to such Class A common stock so redeemed. In addition, if we do not complete an initial business combination on or before the new termination date is not completed 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 new 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. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to such warrants. 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 units, Class A common stock and public warrants are listed on Nasdaq. Although after giving effect to the initial public offering we met, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in Nasdaq listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or 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 share price levels. Generally, 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 number of holders of our securities (generally 400 public holders).
Additionally, our units will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination and, 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 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.
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 our 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 we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will 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 the statute, and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of the 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 that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we had (and continue to have) net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the completion of the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, 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 our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419.
Moreover, if the initial public offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would have prohibited 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 the shares of our Class A common stock included in the units sold in the initial public offering, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the shares of our Class A common stock included in the units sold in the initial public offering.
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 public shares included in the units sold in the initial public offering without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial 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 initial 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 shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
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 do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We 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 will be 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 the 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 will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, we are obligated to offer holders of our public shares the right to redeem their shares for cash at the time of our initial business combination in conjunction with a stockholder vote or via a tender offer. Target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination our public stockholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
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 $10.10 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we seek (and will continue to seek) to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and 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. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue.
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 have not completed an initial business combination on or before the new termination date, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial 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 ten years following redemption. Accordingly, the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.10 per public 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 third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a business combination transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our taxes, if any, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business that executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the 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, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we 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. 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 $10.10 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 or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
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) $10.10 per share and (ii) the actual amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our taxes, if any, 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 and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance. 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 $10.10 per share.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and executive officers, and our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors 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 any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account and to not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we complete an initial business combination. 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.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy or insolvency court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or 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 or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up 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 or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency 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.
The securities in which we invest the funds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share.
The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. Government Treasury obligations 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. While short-term U.S. Government Treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination or make certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income, net of taxes payable. Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share.
If we have not completed an initial business combination on or before the new termination date, our public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond such time period before redemption from our trust account.
If we have not completed an initial business combination on or before the new termination date, the proceeds 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 taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of the interest to pay dissolution expenses), will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, as further described in this Annual Report. Any redemption of public stockholders from the trust account will be effected automatically by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to any voluntary winding up. If we are required to wind-up, liquidate the trust account and distribute such amount, pro rata, to our public stockholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the DGCL. In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond the new termination date before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them, and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless we complete our initial business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their shares of Class A common stock. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public stockholders be entitled to distributions if we do not complete our initial business combination.
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 on or before the new 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 24th month from the closing of the initial public offering in the event we do not complete our initial 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 ten 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 on or before the new termination date is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), 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.
Holders of our 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 completion of an initial business combination.
You will not be permitted to exercise your warrants unless we register and qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock or certain exemptions are available.
If the sale of the shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, holders of warrants will not be entitled to exercise such warrants and such warrants 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.
We have not registered the sale of 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 20 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 under the Securities Act covering the sale of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and thereafter will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following our initial business combination, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. 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 such registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order.
If the sale of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, under the terms of the warrant agreement, holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and, instead, will be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
In no event will warrants 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 sale of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration or qualification is available.
If our shares of Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, not permit holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants to do so for cash and, instead, require them to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act; in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares 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 (other than upon a cashless exercise as described above) 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 the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
Our ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis after we call the warrants for redemption or if there is no effective registration statement covering the sale of the shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants will cause holders to receive fewer shares of our Class A common stock upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to pay the exercise price of their warrants in cash.
If we call the warrants for redemption, we will have the option, in our sole discretion, to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a cashless basis in the circumstances. If we choose to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis or if holders elect to do so when there is no effective registration statement, the number of shares of our Class A common stock received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his or her warrant for cash. For example, if the holder is exercising 875 public 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.
The warrants may become exercisable and redeemable for a security other than the shares of our Class A common stock, and you will not have any information regarding such other security at this time.
In certain situations, including if we are not the surviving entity in our initial business combination, the warrants may become exercisable for a security other than the shares of our Class A common stock. As a result, if the surviving company redeems your warrants for securities pursuant to the warrant agreement, you may receive a security in a company of which you do not have information at this time. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, the surviving company will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register the issuance of the security underlying the warrants within twenty business days of the closing of an initial business combination.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and anchor investors 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 the shares of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with the issuance and sale of the securities in the initial public offering, our initial stockholders, the anchor investors and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the shares of our Class A common stock into which founder shares are convertible, the private placement warrants and the shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and the shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of such warrants. The registration rights will be exercisable with respect to the founder shares and the private placement warrants and the shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such private placement warrants. 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 their permitted transferees are registered.
We may issue additional shares of our Class A 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 our Class A common stock upon the conversion of the founder shares 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 200,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 20,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of the date hereof, there are 194,687,971 and 17,260,084 authorized but unissued shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants, or shares issuable upon conversion of the shares of the Class B common stock. The Class B common stock is automatically convertible into Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder thereof as described in this Annual Report and in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. As of the date hereof, there are no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of our Class A common stock or shares of 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 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 or in connection with our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination or on any other proposal presented to stockholders prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. 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 stock or shares of preferred stock:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the initial public offering;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of our Class A common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A common stock;
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could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our Class A common stock is 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;
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants; and
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will not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.
Unlike some other similarly structured blank check companies, holders of our founder shares will receive additional shares of our Class A common stock if we issue shares to complete an initial business combination.
The founder shares are shares of Class B common stock that will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a ratio such that the number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all founder shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of shares of our Class A common stock issued and outstanding upon completion of the initial public offering, plus (ii) the sum of (a) all shares of our Class A common stock issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued by the Company in connection with or in relation to the completion of the initial business combination, excluding (1) any shares of our Class A common stock or equity-linked securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of our Class A common stock issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and (2) any private placement warrants issued to our sponsor or any of its affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans, minus (b) the number of public shares redeemed by public stockholders in connection with our initial business combination. In no event will the shares of our Class B common stock convert into shares of our Class A common stock at a rate of less than one-to-one. This is different than some other similarly structured blank check companies in which the initial stockholders will only be issued an aggregate of 20% of the total number of shares to be outstanding prior to the initial business combination.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete our initial 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, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (such that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though 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, advisors or any of their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of our 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 our 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 an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not 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 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 governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, changed industry focus and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. Amending our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require the approval of holders of a majority of our common stock, and amending our warrant agreement will require a vote of holders of at least a majority of the public warrants. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires us to provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we propose an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination on or before the new termination date or with respect to any other provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. To the extent any of such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of any of the securities offered through this registration statement, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected 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 at least a majority 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 to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company’s pre-business combination activity, without approval by a certain percentage of the Company’s stockholders. In those companies, amendment of these provisions typically requires approval by 90% of the Company’s stockholders attending and voting at an annual meeting. 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 the 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 in this Annual Report) may be amended if approved by holders of a majority 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 at least a majority 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 shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. Our initial stockholders, anchor investors and their permitted transferees, if any, 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, executive 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 affect the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, 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 us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
These agreements are contained in letter agreements that we 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, executive 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 the initial public offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to the initial public offering, the letter agreement among us, our sponsor, officers and directors, and the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders, may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of an 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.
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. If we do not complete our initial business combination, 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, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be sufficient to allow us to complete our initial business combination, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of the 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 redeem 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. The current economic environment may make it difficult for companies to obtain acquisition financing. 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 do not complete our initial business combination, 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 and not previously released to us to pay our 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 initial 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 do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our initial stockholders control a substantial interest in us and thus may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
As of the date hereof, our initial stockholders owned, on an as-converted basis, approximately 39.9% of the 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. If our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of our Class A common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Neither our initial stockholders nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this Annual Report.
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 holders of our founder shares, all of which are held by our initial stockholders and the anchor investors, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term for 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 initial 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. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
Concentration of ownership among our sponsor and the anchor investors may prevent other investors from influencing significant corporate decisions or adversely affect the trading price of our securities.
Our anchor investors purchased an aggregate of 22,980,000 public shares included in the units sold in our initial public offering, or approximately 79.9% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. There can be no assurance as to the amount of public shares included in such units that the anchor investors have retained or will retain, if any, prior to or upon the consummation of our initial business combination. So long as the anchor investors hold a substantial portion of the public shares, our sponsor and the anchor investors would collectively have substantial control over us and be able to exercise significant influence over all matters requiring stockholder approval (although we have no knowledge of any affiliation or other agreement or arrangement, as to future voting of our public shares, among any such persons). For example, in the event that the anchor investors continue to hold such public shares included in the units and vote such shares in favor of our initial business combination (although they are not contractually obligated to, their interest in our founder shares may provide an incentive for them to do so), we would not need any additional public shares sold in our initial public offering to be voted in favor of our initial business combination to have our initial business combination approved. This potential concentration of influence could be disadvantageous to other stockholders with interests different from those of our sponsor and the anchor investors. In addition, this potential significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our securities because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning shares in companies with principal stockholders and might make it more difficult to complete a business combination with targets that would prefer to enter into a transaction with a SPAC with less concentrated ownership.
The anchor investors are not restricted from selling any units (including the underlying securities) that they purchased in the initial public offering, and any such sales may adversely affect the trading price of our securities.
Our anchor investors purchased an aggregate of approximately 22,980,000 of the units in the initial public offering, and after giving effect to the first early redemptions and second early redemptions, our remaining anchor investors, beneficially owned at least 9.4% of the outstanding public shares (based on publicly available information as of February 14, 2024). The anchor investors are not, and will not be, subject to any agreements restricting them from transferring the units (including the underlying securities) that they purchased in the initial public offering. As such, the anchor investors are free to sell the units and, once separately tradable, the shares and warrants in the quantities and at the times they so desire. Any such sales may adversely affect the trading price of our securities.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants. In addition, we may amend the terms of our warrant agreement to allow for our warrants to be classified as equity in our financial statements with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the public warrants and the private placement warrants, voting together as a single class. 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 have been 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 to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision. Amending our warrant agreement to allow for our warrants to be classified as equity in our financial statements will require a vote of holders of at least a majority of the public warrants and the private placement warrants, voting together as a single class.
Otherwise, amending our warrant agreement requires the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants; provided that, solely in the case of an amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants that does not adversely affect any of the terms of the public warrants, such amendment will require only the written consent or vote of the registered holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding private placement warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least a majority 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, convert the warrants into cash, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
Our warrants are accounted for as a warrant liability and are recorded at fair value upon issuance with changes in fair value for each period reported in earnings, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stocks or may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
We account for the 17,900,000 warrants issued in connection with the initial public offering (the 11,500,000 warrants included in the units and the 6,400,000 private placement warrants,) as a warrant liability and recorded the liability at fair value upon issuance. We will record any changes in fair value in our statement of operations for each period reported as determined by us based upon valuation reports obtained from an independent third-party valuation firm. The impact of changes in fair value on earnings may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and we will incur significant expense in valuing such liabilities on a quarterly basis. Moreover, potential business combination partners may seek a special purpose acquisition company that does not have warrants that are accounted for as a warrant liability, which may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
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 courts of the United States of America have exclusive jurisdiction. 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 us, 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, liquidity and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants effectively worthless.
We have the ability to redeem the outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, if, among other things, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like). 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 as described above could force you to (i) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, we expect would be substantially less than the Market Value of your warrants.
In addition, we have the ability to redeem the outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.10 per warrant if, among other things, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, rights issuances, subdivisions, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like). In such a case, the holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption for a number of shares of our Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A common stock. 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 common stock received is capped at 0.361 shares of our 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 so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of the shares of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We have issued warrants to purchase 11,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock and 6,400,000 private placement warrants, each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Our initial stockholders currently own 7,739,916 founder shares. The founder shares are convertible into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth in this Annual Report. In addition, if our sponsor or any of its affiliates makes any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $1.50 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 shares of our Class A common stock.
To the extent we issue Class A common stock for any reason, including to effectuate a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of our Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants and conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Such warrants when exercised will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the shares of our Class A common stock issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a business transaction 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 the 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, (ii) they (including the shares of our 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, (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis and (iv) are subject to registration rights.
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. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, no fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units, and only whole units will trade. If, upon separation of the units, a holder of warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional warrant, we will round down to the nearest whole number the number of warrants to be issued to such holder. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of our Class A common stock to be issued to the warrant holder. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one common share and one warrant to purchase one whole 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 third of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one 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 it included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
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 shares of 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 includes a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock, and the fact that prior to the completion of our initial business combination only holders of shares of our Class B common stock, which have been issued to our sponsor, are entitled to vote on the election of directors, which may make more difficult the removal of management 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.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, that (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, except any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. If an action is brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder and Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and the regulations thereunder. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Since only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the election of directors, upon the listing of our shares on Nasdaq, 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.
Until the consummation of our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares have the right to vote on the election of directors. As a result, Nasdaq may consider us to be a ‘controlled company’ within the meaning of 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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we have independent director oversight of our director nominations.
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.
An investment in our securities may involve uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in our securities may involve uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance:
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because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in the initial public offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of the unit between the share of common stock and one-half of one warrant included in the unit could be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States (“IRS”) or the courts.
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if we make distributions on our common stock, such distributions generally will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. The ability of a holder to seek redemption of their shares may be viewed as a position with respect to substantially similar or related property which diminishes your risk of loss and thereby affects your ability to satisfy the holding period requirements for the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income with respect to the time period prior to the approval of an initial business combination.
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our warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis in certain situations as described in this Annual Report. Although there is no direct legal authority as to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an exercise of a warrant on a cashless basis, we intend to take the position that such exercise will not be taxable, either because the exercise is not a gain realization event or because it qualifies as a tax-free recapitalization.
In the former case, it is unclear whether a holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock will commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant. In the latter case, the holding period of the common stock would include the holding period of the exercised warrants. However, our position is not binding on the IRS and the IRS may treat a cashless exercise of a warrant as a taxable exchange.
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any capital gain or loss you realize on a sale or other disposition of our common stock will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period for the common stock is more than one year. However, the redemption feature of the common stock could affect your ability to satisfy the holding period requirements for the long-term capital gain tax rate with respect to the time period prior to the approval of an initial business combination.
Each prospective investor is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities, including the applicability and effect of state, local, or foreign tax laws, as well as U.S. federal tax laws.
General Risks
A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with future redemptions by us of our shares.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchased by a publicly listed U.S. corporation beginning in 2023, subject to certain exceptions. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which shares are repurchased. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has been given authority to issue regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, the excise tax. It is unclear at this time how and to what extent the excise tax will apply to certain redemptions, but since we are a publicly listed Delaware corporation, we are a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IR Act. Consequently, this excise tax may apply to certain redemptions of our public shares after December 31, 2022.
Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) the structure of a business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us, and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The excise tax could potentially reduce the per-share amount that our public stockholders would otherwise be entitled to receive upon redemption of their public shares, cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a business combination and hinder our ability to complete a business combination.
We would be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company (a “PHC”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock may be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we are not now and will not become a PHC in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
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.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate a 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 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.
Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not 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 business with which we seek to complete our initial 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 of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
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, 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 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 equals or exceeds $700.0 million as of any June 30th 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 intend to 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 accountant 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 common stock held by non-affiliates equaled or exceeded $250 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our shares of common stock held by non-affiliates equaled or exceeded $700 million as of the prior June 30. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with certain potential target companies if a proposed transaction with the target company may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations.
Certain acquisitions or business combinations may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations. In the event that such regulatory approval or clearance is not obtained, or the review process is extended beyond the period of time that would permit an initial business combination to be consummated with us, we may not be able to consummate an initial business combination with such target.
For example, among other things, the U.S. Federal Communications Act prohibits foreign individuals, governments, and corporations from owning more than a specified percentage of the capital stock of a broadcast, common carrier, or aeronautical radio station licensee. In addition, U.S. law currently restricts foreign ownership of U.S. airlines. In the United States, certain mergers that may affect competition may require certain filings and review by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and investments or acquisitions that may affect national security are subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”). CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States.
Outside the United States, laws or regulations may affect our ability to consummate an initial business combination with potential target companies incorporated or having business operations in jurisdiction where national security considerations, involvement in regulated industries (including telecommunications), or in businesses relating to a country’s culture or heritage may be implicated.
U.S. and foreign regulators generally have the power to deny the ability of the parties to consummate a transaction or to condition approval of a transaction on specified terms and conditions, which may not be acceptable to us or a target. In such event, we may not be able to consummate a transaction with that potential target.
As a result of these various restrictions, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other SPACs which do not have similar ownership issues. Moreover, the process of government review, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive $10.10 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
We may be deemed a “foreign person” under the regulations relating to CFIUS and our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate.
We do not believe that either we or our sponsor constitute a “foreign person” under CFIUS rules and regulations. However, if CFIUS considers us to be a “foreign person” and believes that the business of an initial business combination target may affect national security, we could be subject to foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review. If a potential business combination falls within the scope of applicable foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate an initial business combination. In addition, if a potential initial business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with an initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination.
Although we do not believe we or the sponsor are a “foreign person”, CFIUS may take a different view and decide to block or delay a potential initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to a potential initial business combination, order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the potential combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, or impose penalties if CFIUS believes that the mandatory notification requirement applied. Additionally, the laws and regulations of other U.S. government entities may impose review or approval procedures on account of any potential foreign ownership by the sponsor. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited due to such regulatory restrictions. Moreover, the process of any government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete an initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. This will cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a potential initial business combination and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
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.
There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
We have until July 31, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. Although we intend to complete the Business Combination with XCF by the new termination date, there can be no assurance that we will be able to consummate the Business Combination by this time. If the Business Combination or a different initial business combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the company. Accordingly, the company’s management has determined that the mandatory liquidation, should the Business Combination not occur, and subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.
We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting relating to our inadequate control for the accounting for complex financial instruments 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 Annual 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 Annual 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 Annual 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
We currently maintain our executive offices at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10105. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team.

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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
Market Information
Our equity securities trade on the Nasdaq Global Market. Each of our units consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one warrant and, commencing on October 5, 2021, trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol “BHACU.” The shares of Class A common stock and warrants underlying our units began trading separately on the Nasdaq under the symbols “BHAC” and “BHACW,” respectively, on November 26, 2021.
Holders of Record
As of April 22, 2024, there was one holder of record of our units, three holder of record of our Class A common stock, thirty four holders of record of our Class B common stock and three holders of record of our warrants. Such numbers do not include beneficial owners holding our securities through nominee names.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our 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 condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our 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 share dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
None.
Performance Graph
Not applicable.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities
On October 7, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering of 23,000,000 Units, including the issuance of 3,000,000 Units as a result of the exercise in full of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Guggenheim Securities, LLC and BTIG, LLC served as joint bookrunners. The securities sold in the initial public offering were registered under the Securities Act on registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-259269). The registration statements became effective on October 4, 2021.
Of the gross proceeds received from the initial public offering and the private placements of private placement warrants, $232,300,000 was placed in the Company’s trust account, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. After giving effect to the first early redemptions and the second early redemptions, we had approximately $24.3 million remaining in the trust account as of October 24, 2023.
For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our initial public offering, see Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report.
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 the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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 “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on February 23, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We were initially incorporated under the name BH3 Acquisition Corp., subsequently changed our name to Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company on July 21, 2021 and subsequently changed our name to Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company on November 3, 2023. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of the initial public offering and the private placement warrants, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
Recent Developments
On December 7, 2022 (following approval by our stockholders at the first special meeting), we effected the first charter amendment and the trust amendment, the effect of which was to change our termination date from April 7, 2023 to August 7, 2023, unless further extended in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation by our sponsor (or its affiliates or designees) providing to us the requisite notice and the deposit amount. In connection with the first charter amendment, 17,987,408 public shares were tendered for redemption. After giving effect to the first early redemptions, we had approximately $51.2 million remaining in the trust account.
On September 27, 2023, the Company, the former sponsor and the sponsor entered into the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, the sponsor (i) agreed to purchase an aggregate of 3,746,303 shares of Class B common stock from the former sponsor and each of the anchor investors and 4,160,000 private placement warrants from the former sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $16,288 and (ii) will become the sponsor of the Company (together, the “Purchase”). In connection therewith, the former sponsor also entered into anchor transfer agreements with each of its anchor investors, whereby each anchor agreed, subject to the conditions contained therein, when and as directed by the former sponsor, to transfer 2/3 of their shares of Class B common stock for no consideration; provided, however, upon the request of an anchor investor, the former sponsor shall pay to them $0.0043 per share. The Purchase Agreement closed effective as of November 2, 2023. On November 3, 2023, the Company changed its corporate name to “Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company”, pursuant to an amendment to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 3, 2023.
The Purchase Agreement closed as of November 2, 2023. In connection with the closing of the Purchase, the sponsor, among other things, joined as a party to (i) the Letter Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, by and between the Company and the former sponsor (the “Letter Agreement,”) and (ii) the Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, among the Company, the former sponsor and certain security holders party thereto.
As of October 6, 2023, the Company, the former sponsor and the sponsor entered into Non-Redemption Agreements on substantially the same terms with certain stockholders of the Company, pursuant to which such stockholders agreed not to redeem (or to validly rescind any redemption requests on) an aggregate of 1,946,794 shares of Class A common stock in connection with the second special meeting. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such shares of Class A common stock, the sponsor agreed to transfer an aggregate of 389,359 shares of common stock held by the sponsor to such stockholders immediately following consummation of an initial business combination if they continued to hold such Non-Redeemed Stock through the second special meeting. On October 6, 2023, following approval by the Company’s stockholders at the second special meeting, the Company effected an amendment to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the effect of which was to (i) further extend the period of time by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination to the new termination date and (ii) provide for the right of a holder of shares of Class B common stock to convert its shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock on a one-to-one basis at any time and from time to time at the election of the holder. In connection therewith, 2,700,563 public shares were tendered for redemption and the former sponsor converted 3,000,000 of its shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock. Upon conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, such Class A common stock will not be entitled to receive funds from the trust account through redemptions or otherwise and will remain subject to the existing transfer restrictions. Immediately after giving effect to the second early redemptions and the conversion, on October 24, 2023, the Company had approximately $24.3 million remaining in the trust account, and 5,312,029 shares of Class A common stock (including the 3,000,000 converted shares of Class B common stock) and 2,750,000 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.
On November 3, 2023, we entered into the Subscription Agreement with the sponsor and Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund, an unaffiliated third party, pursuant to which Polar agreed to make certain capital contributions to the Company of up to $1,200,000 from time to time, at the request of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Capital Contribution shall be repaid to Polar by the Company within five (5) business days of the Company closing an initial business combination (the “Closing”). Polar may elect to receive such repayment (i) in cash or (ii) in shares of common stock of the surviving entity in such initial business combination at a rate of one share of common stock for each ten dollars ($10.00) of the Capital Contribution that is funded. Additionally, in consideration of the Capital Contribution, at the closing of a business combination, the Surviving Entity will issue to Polar one share of common stock for each dollar of Capital Contribution that is funded prior to the closing.
In 2023, we engaged the services of multiple entities to act as capital market advisors, specifically to advise on market conditions, advise in connection with seeking an extension for completing a Business Combination, advise in connection with a possible Business Combination, and acting as a placement agent in connection with a private placement of equity, equity-linked, convertible and/or debt securities or other capital or debt raising transaction. No fees are due the advisors until consummation of the Business Combination and are payable at that time in a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the public company entity that survives the Business Combination. In accordance with ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) we have recognized a $418,400 liability at fair value for the shares to be issued upon consummation of the Business Combination. Additionally, we will pay $3,500,000 plus an amount equal to 4.0% (together the “Deferred CMA Fees”) of the sum of (A) the gross proceeds raised from investors identified by the advisor received by us or Target plus (B) proceeds released from the trust account in connection with the closing of 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 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.
In accordance with ASC Topic 450, “Contingencies,” (“ASC 450”), the Company has not recognized a liability for the value of the potential issuance of shares or the Deferred CMA Fees since the completion of a Business Combination is a performance condition that is not yet considered probable.
Proposed Business Combination Agreement
On March 11, 2024, the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement with NewCo, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2, and XCF. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, the Business Combination will be effected in two steps: (a) the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub 1, with Merger Sub 1 being the surviving entity of the NewCo Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo; and (b) immediately following the NewCo Merger, Merger Sub 2 will merge with and into XCF, with XCF being the surviving corporation of the Company Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo. As a result of the Business Combination, NewCo will become a new publicly-traded company.
The Business Combination; Consideration
The Business Combination Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the following transactions will occur:
(i) the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub 1, with Merger Sub 1 being the surviving entity of the NewCo Merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo, and (x) each share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the NewCo Merger will be converted into the right to receive one share of NewCo’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (y) each share of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the NewCo Merger will be converted into the right to receive one share of NewCo Common Stock, and (z) each warrant of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the NewCo Merger will be converted into the right to receive one warrant of NewCo, with NewCo assuming the Company’s rights and obligations under the existing warrant agreement; and
(ii) immediately following the NewCo Merger, Merger Sub 2 will merge with and into XCF, with XCF being the surviving corporation of the Company Merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo, and each share of common stock of XCF outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Company Merger will be converted into the right to receive shares of NewCo Common Stock determined in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement based on a pre-money equity value of XCF of $1,750,000,000, subject to adjustments for net debt and transaction expenses, and a price of $10.00 per share of NewCo Common Stock.
Conditions to Closing
The Business Combination Agreement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, including, among others, (a) approval of the Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the Company’s stockholders and the XCF stockholders, (b) effectiveness of the Registration Statement to be filed by the Company and NewCo in connection with the Business Combination, (c) expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, (d) receipt of approval for listing on the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable, the shares of NewCo Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination, and (e) the absence of any order, law or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Business Combination in effect. Other conditions to XCF’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination include, among others, (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the Closing, (ii) the performance or compliance of each of the Company’s covenants in all material respects at or prior to the Closing and (iii) receipt of a certificate signed by an authorized officer of the Company certifying the satisfaction of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii). Other conditions to the Company’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination include, among others, (v) closing of the acquisition of New Rise Renewables, LLC and New Rise SAF Renewables Limited Liability Company, (w) entry into an amended and restated supply and offtake agreement with a key supplier or another party on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Company, (x) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of XCF as of the Closing, (y) the performance or compliance of each XCF covenant in all material respects at or prior to the Closing and (z) receipt of a certificate signed by an XCF authorized officer certifying the satisfaction of the preceding clauses (x) and (y).
Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement contains covenants, including, among others, providing for (i) XCF to conduct its business in the ordinary course in all material respects through the Closing, (ii) the parties to not initiate any negotiations or enter into any agreements for certain alternative transactions, (iii) XCF to prepare and deliver to the Company certain audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of XCF, (iv) the Company and NewCo to prepare, with the assistance of XCF, and the Company and NewCo to file, the Registration Statement and take certain other actions to obtain the requisite approval of the Company’s stockholders of certain proposals regarding the Business Combination, and (v) the parties to use reasonable best efforts to obtain necessary approvals from governmental agencies.
Representations and Warranties
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations and warranties by the Company and XCF for transactions of this type regarding themselves and their respective businesses. The representations and warranties of the respective parties to the Business Combination Agreement will not survive the Closing of the Business Combination.
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Company and XCF including, among others, that the Business Combination Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing (i) by mutual written consent of the Company and XCF, (ii) by written notice from either the Company or XCF to the other if certain approvals of the Company’s stockholders, to the extent required under the Business Combination Agreement, are not obtained as set forth therein, (iii) by written notice from the Company, if certain approvals of the XCF stockholders are not obtained within two (2) business days after the Registration Statement is declared effective, (iv) by written notice from the Company if the Key Agreement is not entered into by a specified date or a key supplier exercises certain rights under the Key Agreement in connection with the Business Combination and (v) by either the Company or XCF in certain other circumstances set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, including, among others, (a) if the Closing is permanently enjoined, restrained or prohibited by the terms of a final, non-appealable governmental order, (b) in the event of certain uncured breaches by the other party, (c) if the Company’s stockholders do not approve the Business Combination or (d) if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to September 11, 2024, provided that such date will be automatically extended to November 11, 2024 if the Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to September 11, 2024.
Certain Related Agreements
Sponsor Letter Agreement
On March 11, 2024, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company entered into the Sponsor Letter Agreement, with the sponsor and NewCo, pursuant to which the sponsor has unconditionally and irrevocably agreed to, among other things: (a) vote at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and in any action by written resolution of the stockholders of the Company, all of the shares of the Company’s Class B common stock held by the sponsor to approve the Business Combination and all related transactions and proposals; (b) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would result in a breach of any of the Company’s covenants, representations, warranties or other obligations or agreements under the Business Combination Agreement; and (c) waive any rights to adjustment or other anti-dilution or similar protections with respect to the rate at which the shares of the Company’s Class B common stock held by the sponsor will convert into other shares of capital stock of the Company or shares of NewCo Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination and related transactions; in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sponsor Letter Agreement.
Pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement, the sponsor also agreed to, among other things, certain lock-up restrictions with respect to the shares of NewCo Common Stock until the earlier of (i) 12 months following the Closing and (y) the date on which NewCo completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of NewCo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity for cash, securities or other property, subject to certain exceptions; provided that such lock-up restrictions will lapse prior to their expiration upon the occurrence of certain events, including the closing price of the shares of NewCo Common Stock 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.
Support Agreements
On March 11, 2024, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company, NewCo and XCF entered into the Support Agreements with (i) Randy Soule, majority stakeholder of New Rise, and his affiliated entity, (ii) GL Part SPV I, LLC, an existing XCF stockholder and New Rise equityholder, (iii) certain XCF stockholders and (iv) certain members of XCF management. Pursuant to the Support Agreements, certain XCF stockholders and New Rise equityholders agreed to, among other things, vote to adopt and approve the Business Combination Agreement and all other documents and transactions contemplated thereby, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the Support Agreements, and vote against any alternative transaction, business combination or agreement that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to, impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, adversely affect or prevent the Closing of the Business Combination or the Support Agreements or result in a breach of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement thereunder.
Pursuant to the Support Agreements, certain XCF and New Rise stockholders also agreed to, among other things, (a) to the extent required or applicable, vote or provide consent for purposes of authorizing and approving the Business Combination or the Business Combination Agreement, (b) when any meeting of XCF stockholders is held, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the XCF stockholder’s Covered Shares (as defined in the applicable Support Agreements) to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum, or respond to the request by XCF for written consent, as applicable, (c) vote or provide consent in any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval is required under XCF’s organizational documents (as applicable) and (d) not transfer any Covered Shares through the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Soule Support Agreement and the GL Support Agreement provide that unless and until XCF or the Company obtains not less than $50 million in additional financing following the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, such parties may transfer any direct or indirect equity interests in New Rise in an aggregate amount of up to the lesser of (x) 15% of such parties’ equity interests in New Rise and (y) $100 million, in the case of Randy Soule and his affiliated entity, or $50 million, in the case of GL Part SPV I, LLC.
Pursuant to the Support Agreements:
(i) the members of XCF management party to the Management Support Agreements have also agreed that they will not transfer shares of NewCo Common Stock held by such parties until the earlier of (x) twelve months after the Closing and (y) the date on which NewCo (or its successor) completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of NewCo’s (or such successor’s) stockholders having the right to exchange their securities for cash, securities or other property; provided that such transfer restrictions will lapse prior to their expiration upon the occurrence of certain events, including the closing price of the shares of NewCo Common Stock 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;
(ii) each of the XCF stockholders party to the Company Support Agreements and the party to the GL Support Agreement have also agreed that with respect to 90% of shares of NewCo Common Stock held by such parties, they will not transfer such Lock-up Shares until the earlier of (x) twelve months after the Closing and (y) the date on which NewCo (or its successor) completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of NewCo’s (or such successor’s) stockholders having the right to exchange their securities for cash, securities or other property; provided that such transfer restrictions will lapse prior to their expiration upon the occurrence of certain events, including the closing price of the shares of NewCo Common Stock 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; provided, further, that such parties may transfer (A) on or after 90 days following the first quarterly earnings release published following the Closing, 10% of the Lock-up Shares, (B) on or after 180 days following the closing date of the Business Combination, 30% of the Lock-up Shares and (C) on or after 360 days following the closing date of the Business Combination, 60% of the Lock-up Shares; and
(iii) the Soule Support Agreement does not contain any lock-up restrictions following the Closing.
Uncertain Tax Position
We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. Our operations included those activities necessary to consummate a Business Combination. As such, we deducted startup and operating costs for tax purposes. As there is uncertainty in regard to this approach, we recognized a reserve for uncertain tax positions on the balance sheet. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, we reported $955,617 and $596,817 on the balance sheet for this uncertainty.
Results of Operations
Our entire activity from inception up to October 7, 2021 was in preparation for our initial public offering and, since the consummation of our initial public offering, the search for and consumption of a prospective target business. We will not generate any operating revenues until the closing and completion of our initial business combination, at the earliest.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had net income of $7,876,257, which primarily consisted of a gain of $1,048,940 from a change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities, interest income of $2,296,926, and a recovery of offering costs attributable to warrants of $8,050,000, partially offset by $1,692,413 in operating costs, a non-redemption agreement of $1,230,000, a loss from the change in the fair value of the Note Payable - Polar of $87,204, and an income tax expense of $510,293.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net income of $6,981,039, which consisted of a gain of $6,836,233 from a change in fair value of derivative warrant liability and interest income of $3,038,631, offset by $2,210,778 in operating costs and $683,047 in income tax expense.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
We have incurred and expect to continue to incur additional costs in pursuit of our initial business combination. We have determined that we will not be able to sustain operations for the next twelve months without additional financing. As of December 31, 2023, we had $631,337 in our operating bank account available for working capital needs and a working capital deficit of $2,494,306. To date, our liquidity needs have been satisfied through a payment of $25,000 from the former sponsor to cover certain expenses on behalf of the Company in exchange for the issuance of the founder shares, a Note Payable to former sponsor in the amount of $563,009 and net borrowings of $988,402 pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note issued to the Sponsor. Additionally, at closing of the Purchase Agreement with sponsor on November 2, 2023, the Convertible Promissory Note and Note Payable to the former sponsor were terminated and of no further force and effect, resulting in loan forgiveness by the note holder.
In association with the Polar Subscription Agreement, the Company borrowed $850,000.
In connection with our 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 July 31, 2024, 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, and the new termination date is not extended beyond July 31, 2024, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should we be required to liquidate after July 31, 2024.
On March 11, 2024, the Company entered into a proposed Business Combination Agreement with XCF.
Contractual Obligations
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any 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) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the initial public offering. The holders 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 our completion of our initial business combination.
However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lockup period, which occurs (i) in the case of the founder shares, as described in the following paragraph, and (ii) in the case of the private placement warrants and the respective shares of our Class A common stock underlying such warrants, 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Except as described in this Annual Report, the holders of the founder shares (including the anchor investors) have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of (a) one year after the completion of our initial business combination, or (b) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations, 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 or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our sponsor with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this Annual Report as the lock-up.
In addition, pursuant to the registration rights agreement, our sponsor, upon completion of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate up to three individuals for election to our board of directors, as long as the sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration rights agreement.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the initial public offering, or $4.6 million. In addition, the underwriters were entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $8.1 million. In connection with the closing of the Purchase Agreement, the Company received an irrevocable waiver by the underwriters for deferred underwriting discount.
Capital Market Advisors
In 2023, the Company engaged the services of multiple entities to act as capital market advisors, specifically to advise on market conditions, advise in connection with seeking an extension for completing a Business Combination, advise in connection with a possible Business Combination, and acting as a placement agent in connection with a private placement of equity, equity-linked, convertible and/or debt securities or other capital or debt raising transaction. No fees are due the advisors until consummation of the Business Combination and are payable at that time in a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the public company entity that survives the Business Combination. In accordance with ASC 718, at December 31, 2023, the value of the shares issuable as of the execution date of the contracts was $312,600. Additionally, the Company will pay $3,500,000 plus an amount equal to 4.0% (together the “Deferred CMA Fees”) of the sum of (A) the gross proceeds raised from investors identified by the advisor received by the Company or Target plus (B) proceeds released from the Trust Account in connection with the closing of 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 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.
In accordance with ASC Topic 450, “Contingencies,” (“ASC 450”), the Company has not recognized a liability for the value of the potential issuance of shares or the Deferred CMA Fees since the completion of a Business Combination is a performance condition that is not yet considered probable.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
Derivative Warrant Liabilities
The Company evaluated the private placement warrants and determined the private placement warrants were economically equivalent to the public warrants. The fair value of our private placement warrants requires significant estimates by management. Deviations from these estimates could result in a significate difference to our financial results.
Non-Redemption Agreement
We determined the fair value of the Non-Redemption Agreements as of the date of the agreement. Deviations from the fair value estimate determined by management could result in a significant difference to our financial results.
Note Payable - Polar
We report the Note Payable - Polar at fair value using a bond plus call plus model. Included in the model are significant estimates and judgment about inputs into the model. Deviations from these estimates could result in a significant difference to our financial results.
Share Subscription Agreement - Polar
The share subscription agreement is reported based on the residual value of the Subscription Agreement and was determined based on the residual amount of the proceeds received of $850,000 from the Subscription Agreement less the fair value of the Note Payable - Polar of $259,159. Deviations from the estimated fair value of the Note Payable - Polar could result in a significant difference to our financial results.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-06, “Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options” (Subtopic 470-20) and “Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity” (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2022 and the standard was applied on a full retrospective basis. There was no material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Our management does not believe that there are any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, that would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2023, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
JOBS Act
The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, the financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our initial public offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.

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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 Annual 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
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principle executive officer and principle financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our principle executive officer and principle financial officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our principle executive officer and principle financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were not effective due to material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting of complex financial instruments and the failure to properly design the financial closing and reporting process to record, review and monitor compliance with generally accepted accounting principles for transactions on a timely basis.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Material Weakness
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 on a timely basis.
Additionally, management evaluated the impact of the reporting and disclosures of the non-redemption agreements, the waiver of the underwriting fee, and the Polar subscription agreement and that reporting and disclosure was not in compliance with GAAP.
As a result of these reevaluations, management identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the accounting for complex financial instruments and the failure to properly design the financial closing and reporting process to record, review and monitor compliance with generally accepted accounting principles for transactions on a timely basis.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control 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 maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 controls over financial reporting.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) 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
Directors and Executive Officers
Our officers and directors are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Carl Stanton
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Ernest Lyles
Chief Financial Officer and Director
Wray Thorn
Chief Investment Officer and Director
Troy Carter
Director
Dia Simms
Director
Eric Edidin
Director
Daniel Lebensohn
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 Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: FIAC). 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 and Director. Ernest serves as our Chief Financial Officer and director and as the Chief Financial Officer of Focus Impact Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: FIAC). 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. We believe Ernest’s significant experience in private equity, focusing on buyout investing in the lower middle market, and banking and his experience as CEO of a company makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Wray T. Thorn, Chief Investment Officer and Director. Wray is a Partner and Co-Founder of Focus Impact Partners, LLC and currently serves as our Chief Investment Officer and director and as the Chief Investment Officer of Focus Impact Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: FIAC). 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. We believe Wray’s significant experience and leadership in private equity makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Troy Carter, Director. Troy serves as our 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 Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: FIAC). 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.
Dia Simms, Director. Dia serves as our 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 Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation, (Nasdaq: FIAC). 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.
Eric Edidin, Director. Eric has served as a director since our inception in February 2021. Eric has served as the Executive Chairman of BH3 Management since 2020. Eric previously served as a board member of Spartacus Acquisition Corporation, which completed a business acquisition with NextNav in October 2021. Eric was Co-Founder and, from 2006 to 2019, Co-Managing Partner of Archer Capital Management, an investment partnership with peak assets under management of $1.4 billion, which invested in more than 45 blank check companies and numerous commercial real estate properties and loans, REITs, public and private equities and credit instruments. At Archer Capital Management, Eric was involved in the formation of the predecessor firm to BH3 Management and has partnered on numerous investment projects with both BH3 Management and its predecessor. From 2001 to 2006, Eric was a Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of Credit Investments at York Capital Management.
Eric also previously held an investment related position at Morgan Stanley Capital Partners and a restructuring advisory position at The Blackstone Group. Throughout his career, Eric has served as a board member and credit committee member of numerous companies. Eric served on the board and audit committee of Spartacus Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: TMTS) and the boards of several other private companies, as well as the investment committees of the Jewish Communal Fund of New York and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. Eric holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. We believe Eric’s significant experience in transactions, management, and operations, and his past fiduciary roles makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Daniel Lebensohn, Director. Daniel has served as a director since our inception in February 2021. Daniel has been Co-Chief Executive Officer of BH3 Management since 2009 and Co-Portfolio Manager of BH3 Debt Opportunity Fund I, L.P. since 2018, and BH3 Debt Opportunity Fund II, L.P. since 2023, where, in conjunction with Gregory Freedman, he oversees all acquisitions, investing activities, financings, development, related operating company oversight and various fiduciary responsibilities for more than 25 affiliated real estate investment and development companies. Prior to co-founding BH3 Management, Daniel practiced commercial real estate law for over ten years in New York City at firms including Hartman and Craven LLP, and served as in-house counsel to a prominent Manhattan based real estate owner, operator and developer, and invested in and operated various real estate investments during said tenure. Daniel has over two decades of investment and operational experience related to the real estate and construction sectors.
Daniel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from SUNY Albany and a Juris Doctorate from The New York Law School. We believe Daniel’s significant experience in transactions, management, and operations, and his past fiduciary roles make him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. On December 7, 2022 we held a special meeting in lieu of annual meeting of stockholders at which our Class I directors were reelected. Following the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, Carl Stanton, Ernest Lyles and Wray Thorn serve as our Class I directors. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Dia Simms and Troy Carter following the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, will expire at our next annual meeting of the stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Eric Edidin and Daniel Lebensohn following the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, will expire at the following annual meeting of stockholders.
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 shares of Class B common stock. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our shares of Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason.
Pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with the issuance and sale of the securities in the initial public offering, our former sponsor, upon completion of an initial business combination, was entitled to nominate up to three individuals for election to our board of directors, as long as the former sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration rights agreement. Such right was transferred to the sponsor in connection with the consummation of the Purchase Agreement.
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 nominate persons to the offices set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation as it deems appropriate. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers may consist of one or more chairman of the board of directors, 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 within one year of our initial public offering. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Carter, Ms. Simms, Mr. Edidin and Mr. Lebensohn are “independent directors” as defined in Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
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 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee 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 established an audit committee of the board of directors. Mr. Carter, Ms. Simms and Mr. Edidin serve as members of our audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Carter, Ms. Simms and Mr. Edidin is independent under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Mr. Edidin serves as the chairman of the audit committee. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Mr. Edidin qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
The primary functions of the audit committee include:
•
appointing, replacing, compensating and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm;
•
reviewing and approving the annual audit plan for the Company;
•
overseeing the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
•
discussing the annual audited financial statements and unaudited quarterly financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm;
•
pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;
•
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints (including anonymous complaints) we receive concerning accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters;
•
approving audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm;
•
discussing earnings press releases and financial information provided to analysts and rating agencies;
•
discussing with management our policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management; and
•
producing an annual report for inclusion in our proxy statement, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
The audit committee is a separately designated standing committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.
Compensation Committee
We established a compensation committee of our board of directors. The members of our compensation committee are Mr. Carter and Mr. Edidin, and Mr. Carter serves as chairman of the compensation committee.
Under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Carter and Mr. Edidin is independent. We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
•
evaluating our executive officers’ performance, including CEO performance, and setting our executive officers’ compensation level based on this evaluation;
•
discharging its responsibilities for approving and evaluating the officer compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company;
•
reviewing and recommending to our board of directors the compensation to be provided to the Company’s employees and directors;
•
recommending awards and/or bonuses to be granted to executive officers of the Company under the Company’s equity plans and other compensation or benefit plans or policies as approved by our board of directors or the compensation committee;
•
reviewing with management the Company’s Compensation and Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) and the related executive compensation information, recommending that the CD&A and related executive compensation information be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and proxy statement and produce the compensation committee report on executive officer compensation required to be included in the Company’s proxy statement or annual report on Form 10-K;
•
reviewing the form, terms and provisions of employment and similar agreements with the Company’s executive officers and any amendments thereto;
•
approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s executive officers and employees; and
•
retaining outside consultants and obtain assistance from members of management, in each case as the compensation committee deems appropriate in the exercise of its authority.
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by our board of directors. Our 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. The directors who shall participate in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees are Mr. Carter, Ms. Simms, Mr. Edidin and Mr. Lebensohn. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
Our board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our 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, our 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.
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.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These reporting persons are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of such forms, we believe that for the year ended December 31, 2023 there were no delinquent filers.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
None of our executive officers or directors have received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on Nasdaq, we paid $15,000 per month to our former sponsor for office space and administrative services. Effective as of March 31, 2023, such agreement was terminated. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates 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 to our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the trust account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such reimbursements, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with our activities on our behalf in connection with identifying and completing an initial business combination.
On November 2, 2023, the founder sold 25,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $109 to each of Dia Simms and Troy Carter.
Other than these payments and reimbursements, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by the company to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to completion of our initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us, or their affiliates, 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 proxy solicitation materials or tender offer 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 members of our management team. 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 executive officer and director compensation.
Any compensation to be paid to our executive 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 completion of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive 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 completion 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 executive 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 common stock as of the date of this Annual Report based on information obtained from our sponsor, directors and officers named below and public filings, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our 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 shares of common stock; and
•
all our executive officers and directors as a group.
In the table below, the percentage ownership is based on 5,312,029 shares of Class A common stock (which includes Class A common stock that are underlying the units) and 2,739,916 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding as of as of the date of this Annual 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 Annual 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
Approximate Percentage of Class
Approximate Percentage of Common Stock
Five Percent Holders
Focus Impact BHAC Sponsor, LLC(3) (our sponsor)(3)
1,495,363
54.6
%
2,200,940
41.4
%
45.9
%
Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC (our former sponsor)(4)
561,051
20.5
%
799,060
15.0
%
16.9
%
Polar Asset Management Partners Inc.(5)
500,000
9.4
%
6.2
%
Kerry Propper and Antonio Ruiz-Gimenez(6)
-
-
350,794
6.6
%
4.4
%
Directors and Executive Officers
Carl Stanton(3)
-
-
-
-
-
Ernest Lyles(3)
-
-
-
-
Wray Thorn(3)
-
-
-
-
-
Troy Carter
25,000
*
-
-
*
Dia Simms
25,000
*
-
-
*
Eric Edidin(7)
-
-
-
-
Daniel Lebensohn(4)
561,051
20.5
%
799,060
15.0
%
16.9
%
All officers and directors as a group (seven individuals)
611,051
22.3
%
799,060
15.0
%
17.5
%
*
Less than one percent.
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of our stockholders is c/o Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10105.
(2)
Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, which are Class B shares of common stock. Such shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock at the option of the holder thereof and will automatically upon the completion of our initial business combination.
(3)
Our sponsor is is governed by a three-member board of managers composed of Carl Stanton, Ernest Lyles 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.
(4)
The former sponsor is controlled by BH3 Management LLC, an entity owned and controlled indirectly by Messrs. Daniel Lebensohn and Gregory Freedman. Messrs. Lebensohn and Freedman indirectly share voting and dispositive power over the shares held by our former sponsor and may be deemed to beneficially own the shares. Each of Messrs. Lebensohn and Freedman disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the former sponsor other than to the extent of his respective pecuniary interest in such shares.
(5)
Based solely upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024 by Polar Asset Management Partners Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada, which serves as the investment advisor to Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“PMSMF”) with respect to the shares of Class A common stock of the company directly held by PMSMF. According to the Schedule 13G/A, the business address of the reporting person is 16 York Street, Suite 2900, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0E6.
(6)
Based solely upon a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on June 12, 2023 by Kerry Propper, a U.S. citizen, and Antonio Ruiz-Gimenez, a citizen of Spain. According to the Schedule 13G, (i) the securities are held by one or more private funds managed by a registered investment adviser (the “Adviser”), which has been delegated exclusive authority to vote and/or direct the disposition of such shares held by sub-accounts of one or more pooled investment vehicles managed by a Delaware limited liability company and a private fund managed by an affiliate of the Adviser (and Messrs. Ruiz-Gimenez and Propper are Managing Members of the Adviser and its affiliate), (ii) by virtue of the relationships, each of Messrs. Ruiz-Gimenez and Propper may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by the private funds, (iii) for the purposes of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, each of Messrs. Ruiz-Gimenez and Propper may be deemed to beneficially own the securities reported herein, and (iv) the business address of Messrs. Ruiz-Gimenez and Propper is 17 State Street, Suite 2130, New York, New York 10004.
(7)
Does not include any interest Mr. Edidin may have in the former sponsor.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
In March 2021, our initial stockholders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration of 5,750,000 shares of our Class B common stock. 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 the initial public offering (which was the case until the first early redemptions in December 2022). The founder shares (including the shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder. Our anchor investors purchased an aggregate of approximately 22,980,000 units in the initial public offering at the public offering price of $10.00 per unit. No anchor investor purchased more than 9.9% of the units offered. In consideration of these purchases, our former sponsor entered into investment agreements with each of our anchor investors on October 4, 2021 pursuant to which such anchor investors purchased in the aggregate 1,450,758 founder shares from our former sponsor at approximately $0.004 per share (at cost).
Our former sponsor purchased an aggregate of 6,400,000 private placement warrants for a purchase price of $1.50 per whole warrant in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering. As such, our former sponsor’s interest in this transaction is valued at $9,600,000. Each whole private placement warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The private placement warrants (including the shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
On October 6, 2023, in connection with the second special meeting and the adoption of the founder share amendment, the former sponsor converted 3,000,000 of its shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock. Such converted shares of Class A common stock are not entitled to receive funds from the trust account through redemptions or otherwise and remain subject to the existing transfer restrictions.
In connection the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, the former sponsor and the anchor investors transferred an aggregate of 3,746,303 shares of common stock and the former sponsor transferred 4,160,000 private placement warrants to the sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $16,288.27. To permit the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, the board of directors waived the transfer restrictions on (i) the shares of common stock and the private placement warrants contained in the Letter Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, by and between the company and the former sponsor and the Warrant Agreement dated October 4, 2021, by and between the company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and (ii) the shares of common stock contained in the Investment Agreements, dated October 4, 2021 by and among the company, the former sponsor and each of its anchor investors. The sponsor has agreed that it will be bound by the same transfer restrictions as the former sponsor with respect to the shares of common stock and the private placement warrants contained in the Letter Agreement.
On November 2, 2023, the founder sold 25,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $109 to each of Dia Simms and Troy Carter.
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.
Prior to the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, we maintained our executive offices at Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company, C/O BH3 Management LLC, 819 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 500, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Following the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, we maintain our executive offices at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10105. Commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on Nasdaq and through March 31, 2023, we paid $15,000 per month to our former sponsor for office space and administrative services. Effective as of March 31, 2023, such agreement was terminated.
We will not pay compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, to our former sponsor, 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, we will reimburse these individuals 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 to our sponsor, officers, directors 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.
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 loan us funds as may be required.
On November 1, 2022, our former sponsor executed an unsecured promissory note and has agreed to loan us up to $1.5 million as may be required for working capital purposes (the “Working Capital Promissory Note”), the terms of which consist of no interest accrual and a maturity date commensurate with the date the initial business combination is consummated. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination is not consummated, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
On July 31, 2023, our former sponsor executed an unsecured promissory note and agreed to loan us up to $1,052,644 as may be required for extension payment purposes (the “Extension Promissory Note”), the terms of which consisted of no interest accrual and a maturity date commensurate with the date the initial business combination is consummated. If we completed an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination is not consummated, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.
In connection with the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, the Working Capital Promissory Note (in the aggregate principal amount of $910,000) and the Extension Promissory Note (in the aggregate principal amount of $350,881) were terminated.
On February 26, 2024, our sponsor executed an unsecured promissory note and agreed to loan us up to $500,000 as may be required, the terms of which consist of no interest accrual and a maturity date commensurate with the date the initial business combination is consummated. If we complete an initial business combination, we will repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination is not consummated, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account will be used for such repayment. Up to the total principal amount of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants will be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
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 entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which our former sponsor is 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 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing and upon conversion of the shares of Class B common stock. In connection the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, the sponsor entered into a joinder agreement to the registration rights agreement whereby it 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 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing and upon conversion of the shares of Class B common stock purchased in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
In connection with our first special meeting, as of November 25, 2022, we entered into an agreement with each of our then remaining anchor investors (representing an aggregate of 15,238,886 shares of then outstanding Class A common stock (approximately 66% of the Class A common stock outstanding on the date thereof)), pursuant to which, each of our then remaining anchor investors agreed to (i) vote (or cause to be voted) its beneficially owned shares of Class A common stock in favor of the charter amendment and the trust amendment (to the extent that the charter amendment proposal and the trust amendment proposal were submitted to a vote of stockholders at the special meeting) and (ii) not elect to have us redeem (and therefore not transfer to us) more than 60% of their shares of Class A common stock owned by them at such time; provided that, if the number of shares of Class A common stock elected to be redeemed by such anchor investor would cause such anchor investor (together with any of its affiliates) to beneficially own more than 9.99% of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding after giving effect to all redemptions of shares of Class A common stock in connection with the approval of the charter amendment proposal, we agreed to redeem such additional number of shares such that such anchor investor would beneficially own 9.99% or less of the shares of common stock outstanding after giving effect to all redemptions of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the approval of the charter amendment proposal. No party has any further obligations outstanding under such agreement.
In connection with the second special meeting, the company, the sponsor and the former sponsor, entered into non-redemption agreements with certain stockholders of the company, pursuant to which such stockholders agreed not to redeem (or validly rescind any redemption requests on) an aggregate of 1,946,794 shares of Class A common stock in connection with the vote at the second special meeting. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Non-Redeemed Stock, the sponsor agreed to transfer an aggregate of 389,359 shares of common stock to such stockholders immediately following the consummation of the company’s initial business combination.
On November 3, 2023, the company entered into the Subscription Agreement with the sponsor and Polar, an unaffiliated third party, pursuant to which Polar agreed to make certain capital contributions to the company of up to $1,200,000 from time to time, at the request of the company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement, to the Company. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Capital Contribution shall be repaid to Polar by the company within five (5) business days of the company closing an initial business combination. Polar may elect to receive such repayment (i) in cash or (ii) in shares of common stock of the Surviving Entity at a rate of one share of common stock for each ten dollars ($10.00) of the Capital Contribution that is funded. Additionally, in consideration of the Capital Contribution, at the closing of an initial business combination, the Surviving Entity will issue to Polar one share of common stock for each dollar of Capital Contribution that is funded prior to the closing. The company also agreed that the Surviving Entity shall register for resale any shares of common stock issued to Polar pursuant to the Subscription Agreement. Upon certain events of default under the Subscription Agreement, the Surviving Entity shall issue to Polar an additional 0.1 shares of common stock for each dollar of the Capital Contribution funded as of the date of such default, and for each month thereafter until such default is cured, subject to certain limitations provided for therein. In the event the company liquidates without consummating an initial business combination, any amounts remaining in the company’s cash accounts (excluding the company’s trust account) will be paid to Polar by the company within five (5) calendar days of the liquidation, up to the amount of the Capital Contribution that is funded.
Related Party Policy
The audit committee of our board of directors have adopted a charter, providing for the review, approval and/or ratification of “related party transactions,” which are those transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the SEC, by the audit committee. At its meetings, the audit committee reviews the details of any new, existing or proposed related party transaction, including the terms of the transaction, any contractual restrictions that the Company has already committed to, the business purpose of the transaction and the benefits of the transaction to the Company and to the relevant related party. Any member of the committee who has an interest in the related party transaction under review by the committee shall abstain from voting on the approval of the related party transaction, but may, if so requested by the chairman of the committee, participate in some or all of the committee’s discussions of the related party transaction. Upon completion of its review of the related party transaction, the committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the related party transaction.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our initial public offering. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Carter, Ms. Simms, Mr. Edidin and Mr. Lebensohn are “independent directors” as defined in Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will 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 firm of Grant Thornton LLP, or Grant Thornton, acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following is a summary of fees paid to Grant Thornton 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 Grant Thornton in connection with regulatory filings. During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton were $89,812 and $73,500 for the services performed in connection with the Company’s 2023 and 2022 Form 10K SEC Filing.
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 Grant Thornton for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Tax Fees. We did not pay Grant Thornton for tax planning and tax advice during the year ended December 31, 2023.
All Other Fees. We did not pay Grant Thornton for other services during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed in connection with the effectiveness of our registration statement for 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 audit 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).

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
(1)
Financial Statements:
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Balance Sheets
Statements of Operation
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
Statement of Cash Flows
Notes to Financial Statements
to
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3)
Exhibits
We hereby file as part of this Annual 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
No.
Description
2.1(11)
Business Combination Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2024.
3.1(1)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2(2)
Bylaws.
3.3(4)
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company dated December 7, 2022.
3.4(8)
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company dated October 6, 2023.
3.5(9)
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company dated November 3, 2023.
4.1(2)
Specimen Unit Certificate.
4.2(2)
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate.
4.3(2)
Specimen Warrant Certificate.
4.4(1)
Warrant Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
4.5*
Description of Securities of the Company.
10.1(2)
Promissory Note, dated March 12, 2021, issued to Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
10.2(2)
Securities Subscription Agreement, dated March 12, 2021, between the Company and Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
10.3(1)
Letter Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, between the Company and Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
10.4(1)
Letter Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, between the Company and each of the executive officers and directors of the Company.
10.5(1)
Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
10.6(1)
Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, among the Company, Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC and certain securityholders.
10.7(1)
Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, between the Company and Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
10.8(1)
Form of Indemnity Agreement.
10.9(1)
Form of Investment Agreement.
10.10(3)
Form of Anchor Investors Agreement.
10.11(4)
Amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2021, between Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company dated December 7, 2022.
10.12*
Promissory Note, dated November 1, 2022, issued to Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
10.13(5)
Promissory Note, dated July 31, 2023, issued to Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
10.14(6)
Purchase Agreement, dated September 27, 2023, by and among Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company, Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC and Focus Impact BHAC Sponsor, LLC.
Exhibit
No.
Description
10.15(6)
Form of Anchor Transfer Agreement.
10.16(7)
Form of Non-Redemption Agreement.
10.17(9)
Subscription Agreement, dated November 2, 2023, by and among Crixus BH3 Acquisition Company, Focus Impact BHAC Sponsor, LLC and Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund.
10.18(10)
Promissory Note, dated February 26, 2024, by and between Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company and Focus Impact BHAC Sponsor, LLC.
10.19(11)
Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2024.
10.20(11)
Soule Support Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2024.
10.21(11)
GL Support Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2024.
10.22(11)
Form of Company Support Agreement.
10.23(11)
Form of Management Support Agreement.
10.24(12)
Termination of Administrative Services Agreement, dated August 8, 2023, between the Company and Crixus BH3 Sponsor LLC.
21.1*
List of Subsidiaries.
31.1*
Certification
of Co-Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).
31.2*
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).
32.1**
Certification
of Co-Chief Executive Officers required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.
32.2**
Certification
of 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*
Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.
(1)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2021.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Form S-1 (File No. 333-259269), filed with the SEC on September 29, 2021.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 30, 2022.
(4)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 7, 2022.
(5)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 2, 2023.
(6)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 28, 2023.
(7)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 3, 2023.
(8)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 6, 2023.
(9)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2023.
(10)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2024.
(11)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2024.
(12)
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2023.