EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1823465
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1823465_10-K_2021_0001104659-21-037704.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Introduction
We are a newly organized blank check company incorporated in August 2020 as a Delaware corporation whose primary business purpose is to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any potential business combination target and we have not generated any operating revenues to date and we do not expect that we will generate operating revenues until we consummate our initial business combination.
We intend to initially focus on industries that complement our management team’s background, and to capitalize on the ability of our management team to identify and acquire a business. In particular, we intend to target early stage North American or European companies in the biotechnology sector of the healthcare industry where our management has extensive investment and operational experience. We may also pursue a transaction in which our stockholders immediately prior to the completion of our initial business combination would collectively own a minority interest in the post-business combination company.
Our Founders
Our sponsor is an affiliate of 5AM Venture Management, LLC, or 5AM, a leading venture capital firm focused on building next-generation life science companies solving important healthcare needs with cutting-edge breakthroughs in medicine and science. Founded in 2002, 5AM has invested over $1.2 billion in 88 companies across biotechnology, drug delivery technology and other life sciences sectors of the healthcare industry, with 48 active investments in its portfolio. We believe that 5AM’s track record of investing in early stage companies that subsequently are acquired or complete initial public offerings, or IPOs, at a preclinical or early clinical stage indicates that early stage investing is a “sweet spot” for 5AM. 5AM’s portfolio companies aim to spearhead novel approaches to prevent and treat a wide range of medical conditions. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, had approved, cleared or authorized 15 products that were developed by 5AM portfolio companies, and 5AM’s portfolio companies have enrolled over 50,000 patients in more than 35 clinical trials.
5AM’s 27 in-house investment professionals, venture partners and advisors possess strong scientific, medical, operational, legal and finance expertise. The 5AM team combines the talents of established venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, operating executives and leading scientists. Outside of their engagement with 5AM, 5AM’s team members have served as senior executives, chairpersons, board members, employees and/or advisors at life science companies such as Affymax, Affymetrix, Aileron Therapeutics, Akcea Therapeutics, Alkermes, Amgen, Blueprint Medicines, Bristol Myers Squibb, Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, CV Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Heptares Therapeutics, Ingenuity Systems, LJL BioSystems, Merck & Co., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Moderna Therapeutics, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Nurix Therapeutics, Nycomed Salutar, Praxis Precision Medicines, Proteostasis Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, Relay Therapeutics, Sage Therapeutics, Sanofi Genzyme, Stemcentrx, uniQure, Verge Genomics and XenoPort. Most 5AM team members have forged long working relationships together and their mutual respect and cohesiveness is vital to 5AM’s long-term performance.
The 5AM team has compiled a long-term record as operating executives, scientists, and investment professionals in the life science industry and has invested in several successful, innovative and valuable life science companies. Since its inception in 2002 through the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 5AM has delivered strong performance across its funds through investments in 88 private companies across biotechnology, drug delivery technology and other life sciences sectors, of which 18 companies have been acquired and 18 companies have successfully completed their IPOs. Of the 18 companies that have successfully completed their IPOs, 5AM Ventures team members hold or have held Chairman or director roles in 14 of these companies after going public. Recent representative investments include: Akouos (Nasdaq: AKUS), Aprea Therapeutics (Nasdaq: APRE), Artiva Biotherapeutics, Arvinas (Nasdaq: ARVN), Audentes Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BOLD, prior to acquisition by Astellas Pharma for approximately $3.0 billion),
BlueLight Therapeutics, Cabaletta Bio (Nasdaq: CABA), Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX), Cleave Therapeutics, CinCor Pharma, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CRNX), EnLiven Therapeutics, Entrada Therapeutics, Escient Pharmaceuticals, Expansion Therapeutics, Faraday Pharmaceuticals, Homology Medicines (Nasdaq: FIXX), Ideaya Biosciences (Nasdaq: IDYA), Impel NeuroPharma, Kinaset Therapeutics, Neurogastrx, Nido Biosciences, NodThera, Nouscom, Novome, Novira Therapeutics (which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for an undisclosed sum), Pearl Therapeutics (which was acquired by AstraZeneca for up to $1.15 billion), Pear Therapeutics, RallyBio, Relypsa (Nasdaq: RLYP, prior to acquisition by Galenica for approximately $1.5 billion), scPharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SCPH) and Vor Biopharma (Nasdaq: VOR).
Our Management Team
Members of our management team have spent most of their careers investing in the life science industry and have worked together over many years to help create stockholder value for 5AM’s portfolio companies. We believe that our management team is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing set of acquisition and investment opportunities within the biotechnology sector. Our management team (including our board members) have extensive experience in the sector as executives and directors for both publicly-listed and privately-owned companies. We believe our management team’s and directors’ experience with acquisitions, divestitures, corporate strategy and implementation will significantly benefit us as we evaluate potential acquisition or merger candidates. See Item 10 “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for more information regarding our management team.
The past performance of the members of our management team, 5AM or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management, 5AM or any of their respective affiliates’ or managed funds’ performance as indicative of our future performance.
Competitive Advantages
We believe that our management team is well-positioned within the biotechnology sector to identify potential opportunities for the reasons outlined below:
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Track Record of Success: Members of our management team have established long-term track records as operating executives, scientists, and investment professionals in the biotechnology industry and have invested in several successful, innovative and valuable biotechnology companies. Since its inception in 2002 through the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 5AM has delivered strong performance across its funds through investments in 88 private companies across biotechnology, drug delivery technology and other life sciences sectors, of which 18 companies been acquired and 18 companies have successfully completed their IPOs.
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Extensive Transaction Sourcing: We believe our management team has access to high-quality deal flow, due in large part to their broad range of industry contacts, 5AM’s high profile in the biotechnology venture community and 5AM’s entrepreneurial scientific advisors. We place great emphasis on building and maintaining relationships throughout the global biotechnology industry (with executives, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, venture capitalists, attorneys and bankers), which we believe will potentially give us access to attractive deal flow for a potential initial business combination. We expect our management team’s reputation at 5AM for having a well-defined focus and deep industry expertise will also attract referrals from industry colleagues. 5AM’s team sources, reviews and builds relationships with hundreds of early stage private investments every year. Many of these companies may not be known to late stage or public investors, and thus we believe our management team is in a strong position to identify attractive early stage investment and acquisition opportunities due to our relationship with 5AM.
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Driving Value Creation Through Hands-on Involvement: 5AM and our management team have a history of working closely with portfolio companies as “operator friendly” company builders. The in-house 5AM team assists its portfolio company management teams by providing business, scientific, financial, intellectual property, recruiting and deal-making advice and often takes a hands-on approach to help devise strategic plans and drive stockholder value. We believe that input into
operating plans, strategy and portfolio company management team development has a major impact on creating and realizing stockholder value. We believe that our management team’s blend of operating and investment experience will help us identify transformational technologies and subsequently assist companies in maximizing their potential value. Further, 5AM’s and our management team’s experience in building teams and shaping strategy provides us with deep experience in pursuing early stage acquisition targets, with potentially broad platform technologies.
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Broad Experience Across Private and Public Markets: 5AM has an established track record investing out of its six early stage life sciences venture capital funds as well as its first fund targeting investments in later stage private companies, called 5AM Opportunities I. 5AM Opportunities I was raised in 2018, and as of December 31, 2020, has generated strong returns, based on its portfolio of investments in five publicly traded companies and six late clinical-stage privately held companies. Over the past four years, nine 5AM portfolio companies have completed a successful IPO, leading to meaningful realized and unrealized returns, as of December 31, 2020. During their time at 5AM, current 5AM team members have served as directors on the board for 14 biotechnology companies that successfully completed IPOs.
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Deep Relationships Across the Biotechnology Ecosystem: 5AM maintains extensive relationships with senior business development and R&D leadership across the biotechnology ecosystem, which we believe provides important access to high quality deal flow, top level talent, and significant insights into industry trends. Further, we believe that these relationships are attractive for potential portfolio companies because they may provide portfolio companies access to direct communication with senior leadership throughout the industry, allowing 5AM’s portfolio companies to explore potential strategic opportunities and exits. Companies affiliated with 5AM access the firm’s network of senior leadership through regular events including 5AM’s Portfolio Day attended by heads of business development from many major pharmaceutical companies, and the rEVOLUTION Symposium attended by senior R&D leadership of several biotechnology companies. Multiple 5AM portfolio therapeutics companies have been acquired by strategic purchasers, including by Amgen, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Biotie, EntreMed, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Takeda Pharmaceutical, The Medicines Company, Vifor Pharma, and WuXi AppTec.
Acquisition Strategy
We believe that our management team is well-positioned to identify attractive acquisition opportunities as a result of our reputation, experience and track record of successful investments. Our acquisition strategy is to identify an attractive opportunity within our target industry that offers attractive risk-adjusted equity returns for our stockholders.
As an affiliate of 5AM, we benefit from our access to 5AM’s infrastructure, in-house personnel, network and relationships. The 5AM team reviews hundreds of potential targets annually, with as many as 10 targets in active due diligence at a time. 5AM’s intensive due diligence efforts can range in duration from weeks to months and evaluate substantially all aspects of a potential target, including scientific, development, competitive, financial, management, deal structure and intellectual property assessments. 5AM’s ability to track companies supports identification of companies that our management is familiar with, that have raised venture capital financing and that may benefit from accessing the public markets. Further, we believe that the size of our offering will support a focus on companies which fall in 5AM’s “sweet spot” of investing and will differentiate us from larger special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, that may focus on later stage opportunities.
We believe that certain biotechnology companies will see material benefits from being publicly-traded, including greater access to capital, and more liquid securities. Based on 5AM’s and our management team’s experience as active participants in private financings and subsequent IPOs, we believe that we can provide a potential acquisition target with a fast and efficient path to going public by potentially combining a crossover financing and public offering into a single transaction, with a known investor syndicate and acquisition price negotiated upfront. Further, some SPAC merger events may include earnouts, and we believe that in some cases, the use of earnouts in SPAC merger events may positively distinguish merging with a SPAC from traditional IPOs, and may provide greater flexibility in pursuing early stage companies, while also providing
assurance that investors and other equity holders in the private company can participate in the value creation through the granting of additional equity.
We have identified the following criteria to evaluate prospective target businesses, although we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria. We intend to acquire one or more companies that we believe exhibit the following qualities:
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Scientifically Differentiated: companies that are built on cutting-edge technologies and grounded in breakthrough science, specifically companies that are based on novel treatment modalities.
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Early Stage Companies: companies that have either (i) not established human proof-of-concept in clinical trials, but offer strong mechanistic rationale and preclinical data to support our conviction in future success and meaningful value creation, or (ii) established early clinical human proof-of-concept.
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Addressing High Unmet Needs: companies addressing areas of significant unmet medical need that also represent meaningful commercial opportunities.
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Providing Significant Benefits to Patients: companies developing therapies that have the potential to alter or significantly enhance the treatment paradigm for patients and physicians.
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Unique Competitive Positioning: companies developing therapies that are well-positioned to be potential “best-in-class” or “first-in-class” therapies in their respective categories and are expected to maintain a competitive advantage in the long-term.
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Risk Diversification: companies with novel technology platform(s) or multiple assets under development that would offer risk diversification and opportunity to realize value inflection through multiple avenues.
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Value Arbitrage: companies with embedded or under-capitalized growth opportunities that are not widely recognized.
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Experienced Management Team: companies led by strong management and scientific teams that provide a platform for us to further develop the target’s management capabilities.
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Benefit from Being a Public Company: companies that would benefit from being publicly traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and the public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.
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Experienced Investor Base: companies that have been funded to date by experienced biotechnology investors including venture capitalists, pharmaceutical companies and other institutional investors who have also provided strategic inputs to the company.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this report, would be in the form of proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we would file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
Industry Opportunity
We believe that the biotechnology industry represents a significant and growing target market with a large number of potential acquisition opportunities. We believe that our investment strategy seeks to capitalize on the macro-environmental trends within the biotechnology industry. We believe that the biotechnology industry is attractive for a number of reasons, including:
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Large and Growing End Markets: Global prescription drug sales are expected to grow from approximately $870 billion in 2019 to over $1.4 trillion in 2026, according to EvaluatePharma® World Preview 2020 report from July 2020 by Evaluate Ltd., driven by an aging population, increased prevalence of chronic disease and improved access to healthcare.
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Medical Breakthroughs and Innovation: There has been a significant acceleration of medical research in recent years, leading to a better understanding of the molecular origins of disease and the identification of new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. The biotechnology industry has also recently experienced an acceleration in discovery and validation of novel emerging treatment modalities such as genetic medicines and cell therapy, among others. Significant breakthroughs in medicine and science are leading to attractive investment opportunities.
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Strong Equity Market Environment: New biotechnology companies have been created at a significant pace over recent years, with a total of about 300 biotechnology companies completing IPOs in the United States between 2015 and 2020. Despite the equity market volatility resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a record year for biotechnology companies completing IPOs with more than $13.5 billion of capital raised in 81 IPOs and $41 billion of capital raised in 258 follow-ons, according to an analyst report.
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Need for External Innovation at Larger Pharmaceutical Companies: Large and mid-cap pharmaceutical companies have become avid acquirers of biotechnology companies. They not only have the resources to acquire smaller biotechnology companies, but also the need to replenish their pipelines via external innovation. This has resulted in over 1,900 mergers and acquisition transactions within the biotechnology industry since 2015 through 2020, totaling more than $920 billion during this time period, according to data made available by PitchBook Data, Inc.
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Supportive Regulatory Environment: The significant pace of innovation is also reflected in the FDA’s recent drug approval rates, which have increased from 182 drug approvals in the five-year period from 2011 to 2015, to 228 drug approvals in the five year period from 2016 to 2020, reaching an all-time high in 2018.
We believe early stage biotechnology companies will be significant creators of the future generations of medicines, and that we are well-positioned to benefit from this value creation via our investment and acquisition strategy.
Effecting a Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following our IPO. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our IPO offering and the private placement, additional placements of our shares, new debt, or a combination of these, as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to consummate our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth (such as a company that is preclinical and is not yet at the stage of commercial sales and marketing), which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and 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.
If our initial business combination is paid for using shares or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the purchase price in connection with our business combination or used for redemptions of purchases of our common stock, we may apply the cash released to us from the trust account that is not applied to the purchase price for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of acquired businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in consummating our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
5AM is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination, but we will not consider a business combination or co-investment opportunity with any company that has already been selected by 5AM as a suitable candidate for it, unless 5AM, in its sole discretion, declines such potential business combination or makes available to our company a co-investment opportunity in accordance with 5AM’s applicable existing and future policies and procedures.
Subject to the requirement that our initial business combination must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no current basis for investors in our company to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination. Although our management will assess the risks inherent in a particular target business with which we may combine, this assessment may not result in our identifying all risks that a target business may encounter. Furthermore, some of those risks may be outside of our control, meaning that we can do nothing to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would consummate such financing only simultaneously with the consummation of our business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law or Nasdaq, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
In addition, our sponsor has indicated an interest to purchase $25,000,000 of our shares of Class A common stock in a private placement that would occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, our sponsor may determine not to purchase any such shares, or to purchase fewer shares than it has indicated an interest in purchasing. Furthermore, we are not under any obligation to sell any such shares. If we sell shares of Class A common stock to our sponsor (or any other investor) in connection with our initial business combination, the equity interest of investors in the combined company may be diluted and the market prices for our securities may be adversely affected. In addition, if the per share trading price of our shares of Class A common stock is greater than the price per share paid in the private placement, the private placement will result in value dilution to you.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity groups, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources also may introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, because many of these sources will have read this report and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, also may bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conferences. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of finder’s fees is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account. Although some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the acquired business following our initial business combination, the presence or absence of any such arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination or subsequent transaction with a company that is affiliated with 5AM, our sponsor, founders, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with such a company, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of the foregoing, unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking or accounting firm as to the fair market value of the target business and that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view, (ii) the approval by our audit committee and (iii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors. In no event will our sponsor or any of the members of our management team be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other similar compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination
Subject to the requirement that our initial business combination must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses. In any case, we will only consummate an initial business combination in which we become the majority stockholders of the target (or control the target through contractual arrangements in limited circumstances for regulatory compliance purposes as discussed below) or are otherwise not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act, or to the extent permitted by law we may acquire interests in a variable interest entity, in which we may have less than a majority of the voting rights in such entity, but in which we are the primary beneficiary. There is no basis for investors to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination. 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 (such as a company that is preclinical and is not yet at the stage of commercial sales and marketing), 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 may not properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of potential or actual customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information which will be made available to us.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring costs and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. We will not pay any finder’s or consulting fees to members of our management team, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or in connection with our initial business combination.
Fair Market Value of Target Business or Businesses
The target business or businesses or assets with which we effect our initial business combination must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination. If we acquire less than 100% of one or more target businesses in our initial business combination, the aggregate fair market value of the portion or portions we acquire must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination. However, we will always acquire at least a controlling interest in a target business. The fair market value of a portion of a target business or assets will likely be calculated by multiplying the fair market value of the entire business by the percentage of the target we acquire. We may seek to consummate our initial business combination with an initial target business or businesses with a collective fair market value in excess of the balance in the trust account. In order to consummate such an initial business combination, we may issue a significant amount of debt, equity or other securities to the sellers of such business and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private
offering of debt, equity or other securities. If we issue securities in order to consummate such an initial business combination, our stockholders could end up owning a minority of the combined company’s voting securities as there is no requirement that our stockholders own a certain percentage of our company (or, depending on the structure of the initial business combination, an ultimate parent company that may be formed) after our business combination. Because we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such arrangement to issue our debt or equity securities and have no current intention of doing so.
The fair market value of a target business or businesses or assets will be determined by our board of directors based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential gross margins, the values of comparable businesses, earnings and cash flow, book value, enterprise value and, where appropriate, upon the advice of appraisers or other professional consultants. Investors will be relying on the business judgment of our board of directors, which will have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of a particular target business. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, or we are considering an initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking or accounting firm as to the fair market value of the target business or an independent valuation or accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless we consummate a business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we seek to acquire, that the price we are paying is fair to our stockholders.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after consummation of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and
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cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. The future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. Consequently, members of our management team may not become a part of the target’s management team, and the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Further, it is also not certain whether one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination. Moreover, members of our management team may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business. Our key personnel may not remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We may not have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination
In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public stockholders may seek to have their public shares redeemed, regardless of whether they vote for or against (or vote at all with respect to) the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable) or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial stockholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to exercise redemption rights with respect to any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each stockholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. 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 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. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we have the flexibility to avoid a stockholder vote and allow our stockholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
We chose our net tangible asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, our net tangible asset threshold may limit our ability to consummate such initial business combination (as we may be required to have a lesser number of shares redeemed or sold to us) and may force us to seek third party financing that may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Stockholders may therefore have to wait 24 months from the closing of our IPO in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account.
Our initial stockholders and our officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not to exercise redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any shares of common stock in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, if we sought stockholder approval of a proposed transaction, we would need only 2,913,541 of our public shares (or approximately 35.3% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that only a quorum was present at the meeting, that the initial stockholders do not purchase any shares of Class A common stock in the after-market).
If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of stockholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, initial stockholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock.
Redemption/Tender Rights
At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public stockholders may seek to exercise redemption rights with respect to their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against (or vote at all with respect to) the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid; provided that a public stockholder, individually or together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial stockholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to exercise redemption rights with respect to any public shares or private shares held by them to receive their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we hold a meeting to approve an initial business combination, holders other than our initial stockholders will always have the ability to vote against a proposed business combination and not seek redemption of their shares.
Alternatively, if we engage in a tender offer, each public stockholder will be provided the opportunity to sell his or her public shares to us in such tender offer. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their public shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors will not have redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock owned by them, directly or indirectly, no matter when acquired.
We may also 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 expiration date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or in the event we distribute proxy materials, up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination or amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (1) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO or (2) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the DWAC System, at the holder’s option. The proxy solicitation materials that we will furnish to stockholders in connection with the vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a stockholder would have from the time our proxy statement is mailed through the vote on the business combination to deliver his or her shares if he or she wishes to seek to exercise his or her redemption rights. Under Delaware law and our bylaws, we are required to provide at least 10 days’ advance notice of any stockholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a stockholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. As a result, if we require public stockholders who wish to have their shares of Class A common stock redeemed to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for redemption. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to have its shares validly redeemed.
There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the holder exercising redemption rights. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders to deliver their shares prior to the vote on the business combination in order to exercise redemption rights. This is because a holder would need to deliver shares to exercise redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require stockholders to deliver their shares prior to the vote on the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to stockholders.
Any request to redeem or tender such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination or expiration of the tender offer. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered his or her certificate in connection with an election of their redemption or tender and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the business combination or the expiration of the tender offer not to elect to exercise such rights, he or she may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).
If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption or tender rights would not be entitled to have their shares redeemed to receive the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.
Liquidation of Trust Account if No Business Combination
If we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter (subject to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and applicable law), redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares (including any public shares sold in the IPO or any public shares that our initial stockholders or their affiliates purchased in the IPO or later acquired in the open market or in private transactions), 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 income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practicable following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining holders of common stock and our board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of our company, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law.
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 100% of our outstanding public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any redemptions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a redemption is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period is not considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidation distribution. It is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month from the closing of our IPO and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the above procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our
operations will be limited to seeking to complete an initial business combination, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.
We will seek to have all third parties (including any vendors, other than our independent registered public accounting firm, or other entities we engage) and any prospective target businesses enter into valid and enforceable agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account. The underwriter in our IPO will execute such a waiver agreement.
As a result, the claims that could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the likelihood that any claim would result in any liability extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the trust account to our public stockholders. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses will execute such agreements. In the event that a potential contracted party was to refuse to execute such a waiver, we will execute an agreement with that entity only if our management first determines that we would be unable to obtain, on a reasonable basis, substantially similar services or opportunities from another entity willing to execute such a waiver. Examples of instances where we may engage a third party that refused to execute a waiver would be the engagement of a third party consultant who cannot sign such an agreement due to regulatory restrictions, such as our auditors who are unable to sign due to independence requirements, or whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or a situation in which management does not believe it would be able to find a provider of the required services willing to provide the waiver. There is also no guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below $10.00 per public share, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a valid and enforceable agreement with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Our board of directors has evaluated our sponsor’s financial net worth and believes they will be able to satisfy any indemnification obligations that may arise. However, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations, as we have not required our sponsor to retain any assets to provide for its indemnification obligations, nor have we taken any further steps to ensure that it will be able to satisfy any indemnification obligations that arise. Moreover, our sponsor will not be liable to our public stockholders and instead will only have liability to us. As a result, if we liquidate, the per-share distribution from the trust account could be less than approximately $10.00 due to claims or potential claims of creditors. We will distribute to all of our public stockholders, in proportion to their respective equity interests, an aggregate sum equal to the amount then held in the trust account, inclusive of any interest not previously released to us (subject to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors as described below).
If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination and are forced to redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a portion of the funds held in the trust account, we anticipate notifying the trustee of the trust account to begin liquidating such assets promptly after such date and anticipate it will take no more than 10 business days to effectuate the redemption of our public shares. Our initial stockholders have waived their rights to participate in any redemption with respect to their founder shares. We will pay the costs of any subsequent liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has agreed to pay the funds necessary to complete such liquidation and have agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses. Each holder of public shares will receive a full pro rata portion of the amount then in the trust account, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us or necessary to pay our taxes. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to claims of our creditors that are in preference to the claims of public stockholders.
Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of our failure to complete our initial business combination in the required time period or if the stockholders
seek to have us redeem their respective shares of Class A common stock upon a business combination which is actually completed by us. In no other circumstances shall a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. Claims may be brought against us for these reasons.
Amended and restated certificate of incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains certain requirements and restrictions that apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. If we hold a stockholder vote to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (1) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO or (2) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will, in each case, provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares 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, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, in connection with any such vote. Our initial stockholders have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares they may hold in connection with any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
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prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we shall either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public stockholders may seek to have their shares of Class A common stock redeemed, regardless of whether they vote for or against (or vote at all with respect to) the proposed business combination, into a portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares of Class A common stock to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, in each case subject to the limitations described herein;
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we will consummate our initial business combination only if public stockholders do not exercise redemption rights in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 and a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination;
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if our initial business combination is not consummated within 24 months of the closing of our IPO, then our existence will terminate and we will distribute all amounts in the trust account to all of our public holders of shares of Class A common stock;
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immediately after the consummation of our IPO, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds and certain other amounts as specified in our IPO registration statement shall be placed into the trust
account (accordingly approximately $82.6 million ($10.00 per share) of the net proceeds of the sale of the shares in the IPO and the private placement were placed in a trust account);
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we may not consummate any business combination, merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar transaction with another blank check company as our initial business combination; and
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prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination.
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, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have significant 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, the requirement that we acquire a target business or businesses that satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.
Employees and Human Capital Resources
We currently have five 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 currently anticipate having any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We have registered our shares of Class A common stock 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, such as this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 any proxy solicitation sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, the financial information included in the proxy solicitation materials will need to be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. The financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with GAAP for the Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days thereafter. We cannot assure you that any particular target business selected by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial information. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. A target company 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 Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 , or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 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 securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
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 any fiscal year for so long as either (1) the market value of our shares of common stock held by non-affiliates does not equal or exceed $250.0 million as of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues did not equal or exceed $100.0 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our shares of common stock held by non-affiliates did not equal or exceed $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of any reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before making a decision to invest in our Class A common stock. 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. This Annual Report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”) Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below.
We are a newly formed blank check company at an early stage with no operating history and no revenues, and our stockholders have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a recently formed blank check company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until consummating our initial business combination. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning our initial business combination and may
be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by 5AM, including our management team, may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Any past experience and performance of 5AM or our management team is not a guarantee either: (1) that we will be able to successfully identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination; or (2) of any results with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of 5AM or our management team’s performance 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 in us is not an investment in 5AM. None of our sponsor, officers, directors or 5AM has had experience with a blank check company or special purpose acquisition company in the past.
Because we intend to seek a business combination with a target business in the healthcare industry, we expect our future operations to be subject to risks associated with the healthcare industry.
Healthcare and biotechnology related companies are generally subject to greater governmental regulation than most other industries at the U.S. state and federal levels, and internationally. In recent years, both local and national governmental budgets have come under pressure to reduce spending and control healthcare costs, which could both adversely affect regulatory processes and public funding available for healthcare products, services and facilities. In March 2010, comprehensive healthcare reform legislation was enacted in the United States. These laws are intended to increase health insurance coverage through individual and employer mandates, subsidies offered to lower income individuals, tax credits available to smaller employers and broadening of Medicaid eligibility.
While one intent of healthcare reform is to expand health insurance coverage to more individuals, it may also involve additional regulatory mandates and other measures designed to constrain medical costs, including coverage and reimbursement for healthcare services. Healthcare reform has had a significant impact on the healthcare industry in the United States and consequently has the ability to affect companies within the healthcare industry and the biotechnology sector. The ultimate effects of federal healthcare reform or any future legislation or regulation, or healthcare initiatives, if any, on the healthcare industry, including the biotechnology sector, whether implemented at the federal or state level or internationally, cannot be predicted with certainty and such reform, legislation, regulation or initiatives may adversely affect the performance of a potential business combination.
Changes in governmental policies may have a material effect on the demand for or costs of certain products and services. A healthcare or biotechnology related company must receive government approval before introducing new drugs and medical devices or procedures. This process may delay the introduction of these products and services to the marketplace, resulting in increased development costs, delayed cost recovery and loss of competitive advantage to the extent that rival companies have developed competing products or procedures, adversely affecting the company’s revenues and profitability. Failure to obtain governmental approval of a key drug or device or other regulatory action could have a material adverse effect on the business of a target company. Additionally, expansion of facilities by healthcare related providers is subject to “determinations of need” by the appropriate government authorities. This process not only increases the time and cost involved in these expansions, but also makes expansion plans uncertain, limiting the revenue and profitability growth potential of healthcare related facilities operators.
Certain healthcare and biotechnology related companies depend on the exclusive rights or patents for the products they develop and distribute. Patents have a limited duration and, upon expiration, other companies may market substantially similar “generic” or “biosimilar” products that are typically sold at a lower price than the patented product, causing the original developer of the product to lose market share and/or reduce the price charged for the product, resulting in lower profits for the original developer. As a result, the expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. The profitability of healthcare and biotechnology related companies may also be affected, among other factors, by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising or falling costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure, an increased emphasis on outpatient services, a limited product offering, industry innovation, changes in technologies and other market developments. Finally, because the products and
services of healthcare and biotechnology related companies affect the health and well-being of many individuals, these companies are especially susceptible to product liability lawsuits.
The healthcare industry and the biotechnology sector spend heavily on research and development. Research findings (e.g., regarding side effects or comparative benefits of one or more particular treatments, services or products) and technological innovation (together with patent expirations) may make any particular treatment, service or product less attractive if previously unknown or underappreciated risks are revealed, or if a more effective, less costly or less risky solution is or becomes available. Any such development could have a material adverse effect on the companies that are target businesses for investment.
The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination.
Nasdaq rules and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation require that we complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. We refer to this as the 80% of net assets test. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete a business combination with. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and our stockholders will only be entitled to receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account, which may be less than $10.00 per share.
The holders of our public shares, or our public stockholders, may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. The Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares (excluding the private placement shares) to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock (excluding the private placement shares), we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve the business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors and officers have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, or, collectively, our common stock, owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not to exercise redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not to sell any shares of common stock in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, if we sought stockholder approval of a proposed transaction, we would need only minority of our public shares to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved. Our directors and officers have also entered into a letter agreement, imposing similar obligations on them with respect to public shares acquired by them, if any. We expect that our sponsor, directors, officers and their permitted
transferees will own at least 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of any such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if such persons agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.
The only opportunity for our stockholders to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of their rights to redeem their shares from us for cash unless we seek stockholder approval of such business combination.
Because our board of directors may consummate our initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination unless we seek such stockholder approval. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, our stockholders’ only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising their 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 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 our initial business combination with a target.
We may enter into a 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 may not be able to meet such closing condition, and as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriter will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with a business combination and such amount of deferred underwriting discount is not available for us to use as consideration in an initial business combination. 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 and the payment of the deferred underwriting commissions. 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.
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 would be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into our initial business combination transaction with us.
The ability of a large number of our stockholders to exercise redemption rights may not allow us to consummate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
In connection with the successful consummation of our business combination, we may redeem up to that number of shares of common stock that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001. If our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, the redemption threshold may be further limited. Alternatively, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination in case a larger percentage of stockholders exercise their redemption rights than we expect. If the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to the target or its stockholders to make up for the failure to satisfy a minimum cash requirement. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
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 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, 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 is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. The above considerations may also limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.
The requirement that we maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash could increase the probability that we cannot consummate our business combination and that our stockholders would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem their shares.
If, pursuant to the terms of our proposed business combination, we are required to maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash in trust in order to consummate the business combination and regardless of whether we proceed with redemptions under the tender offer or proxy rules, the probability that we cannot consummate our business combination is increased. If we do not consummate our business combination, our stockholders would not receive their pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate. As a result, our stockholders may suffer a material loss on their investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or such stockholders are able to sell their shares in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning our initial business combination will be aware that we must consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO. Consequently, such target businesses may obtain leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
We may not be able to consummate our 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 receive only $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and consummate our initial business combination within such time period. 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 herein, including as a result of terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of infectious diseases. For example, the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to grow both in the United States and globally and, while the extent of the impact of the outbreak on us will depend on future developments, it could limit our ability to complete our initial business combination, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all. Additionally, the outbreak of COVID-19 and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter (subject to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and applicable law), distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), pro rata to our public stockholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein. This redemption of public stockholders from the trust account shall be effected as required by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and prior to any voluntary winding up.
If we seek stockholder approval of our business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares from stockholders, in which case they may influence a vote in favor of a proposed business combination that you do not support.
If we seek stockholder approval of our business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions either prior to or following the consummation of our initial business combination. Such purchases will not be made if our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates are in possession of any material non-public information that has not been disclosed to the selling stockholder. Such a purchase would include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, to the extent it applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume of purchases.
The purpose of such purchases would be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination or (2) 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 the business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the consummation of an initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
Purchases of shares of common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may make it difficult for us to maintain the listing of our shares on a national securities exchange following the consummation of an initial business combination.
If our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares of common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, the public “float” of our shares of common stock and the number of beneficial holders of our securities would both be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain the listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange following consummation of the business combination.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed.
Our public stockholders do not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate their investment, therefore, our public stockholders may be forced to sell their public shares, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of a redemption to public stockholders prior to any winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation, if they redeem their shares in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate or if we seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (1) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our
public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO or (2) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to the funds in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate their investment, our public stockholders may be forced to sell their public shares, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders are not entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
We may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 and have 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 promulgated under the Securities Act, and, such rule, Rule 419. Accordingly, our stockholders are not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our Class A common stock was immediately tradable following our IPO and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, offerings subject to Rule 419 would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us.
If we seek stockholder approval of our business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our shares of common stock, such stockholders will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our shares of common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, individually or together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO. A public stockholder’s inability to redeem more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO will reduce its influence over our ability to consummate our initial business combination and such stockholder could suffer a material loss on its investment in us if it sells such excess shares in open market transactions. As a result, any public stockholder who continues to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell its shares in open market transaction, potentially at a loss.
If our working capital funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months following the consummation of our IPO, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months following our IPO, assuming that our initial business combination is not consummated during that time. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we are unable to fund such down payments or “no shop” provisions, our ability to close a contemplated transaction could be impaired. Furthermore, if we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business.
If we are 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 respective affiliates is under any obligation to loan funds
to, or otherwise invest in, us in such circumstances. Any such loans may be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive a pro rata portion of the amount then in the trust account (which may be less than $10.00 per share) on our redemption.
Subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges.
Even if we conduct thorough due diligence on a target business with which we combine, this diligence may not surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that would be possible to uncover through a customary amount of due diligence. Additionally, no matter how thorough our due diligence of any target business, we cannot guarantee that factors outside of the target business’ control or 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.
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 $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (excluding 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.
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 consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, 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 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per public share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.
Pursuant to a letter agreement, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (excluding 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 transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 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 $10.00 per public 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 tax obligations, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who 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 underwriter of our IPO 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 we believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. 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 indemnification obligations against 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 $10.00 per share 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 on our behalf whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations on our behalf, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and 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 petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. Claims may be brought against us for these reasons.
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.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including restrictions on the nature of our investments and restrictions on the issuance of
securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including registration as an investment company, adoption of a specific form of corporate structure and reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
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 consummate our initial business combination.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination, our public stockholders may be forced to wait up to 24 months or longer before redemption from our trust account.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter (subject to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and applicable law), distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), pro rata to our public stockholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs by way of a voluntary liquidation, as further described herein. Any redemption of public stockholders from the trust account shall be effected as required by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to our commencing any voluntary liquidation. Except as otherwise described herein, we have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of any redemption required as a result of our failure to consummate our initial business combination within the period described above or our liquidation, unless we consummate our initial business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their shares of common stock. Only upon any such redemption of public shares as we are required to effect or any liquidation, will public stockholders be entitled to distributions if we are unable to complete our initial business combination.
The grant of registration rights to sponsor and certain other stockholders may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our shares of Class A common stock.
Our sponsor (and/or our sponsor’s designees), certain of our stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register shares of our common stock for their benefit. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares of 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 shares of Class A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our sponsor and other stockholders or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
Because we have not selected a particular business or specific geographic location or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, our public stockholders are unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
Although we have a stated focus on certain target businesses in North America or Europe, we may pursue acquisition opportunities in any geographic region. While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business industry or sector, we intend to initially focus on those industries or sectors that complement our management team’s background. Except for the limitations that a target business must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination and that we are not permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Because we have not yet selected any specific target business with respect to our initial business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we consummate 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 an early stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. In addition, investors will be relying on the business judgment of our board of directors, which will, subject to limited exceptions, have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of a particular target business. An investment in our Class A common stock may not ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in an acquisition target.
We may seek investment opportunities outside our management’s area of expertise and our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all significant risks associated with the target company.
There is no limitation on the industry or business sector we may consider when contemplating our initial business combination. We may therefore be presented with a business combination candidate in an industry unfamiliar to our management team, but determine that such candidate offers an attractive investment opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an investment outside of our management’s expertise, our management’s experience may not be directly applicable to the target business or their evaluation of its operations.
Although we identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified specific criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these attributes. If we consummate 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 our initial 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 Nasdaq, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or even less on our redemption.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private or early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings 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, an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings. As a result, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our directors and officers will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business with which we pursue a business combination. Additionally, 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.
Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with our management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interests of our stockholders.
Subject to the requirement that our initial business combination must satisfy the 80% of net assets test at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Investors will be relying on management’s ability to identify business combinations, evaluate their merits, conduct or monitor diligence and conduct negotiations. Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interests of our stockholders, which would be the case if the trading price of our shares of common stock after giving effect to such business combination was less than the per-share trust liquidation value that our stockholders would have received if we had dissolved without consummating our initial business combination.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, and consequently, an independent source may not confirm that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.
Unless we consummate our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm 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 tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or pursuant to an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of our shares of Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our public stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or pursuant to an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock 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 described in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that prior to the completion of 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 preferred stock:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of our public stockholders, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the shares of Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the shares of Class B common stock;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of shares of Class A common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our shares of Class A common stock;
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could cause a change in control if a substantial number of our shares of Class A common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
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may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A common stock.
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not consummated.
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 consummate our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or even less on our redemption.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be largely dependent upon the efforts of our officers, directors and key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
The role of such persons in the target business following the initial business combination cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our officers or directors may remain with the target business in senior management 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, our assessment of these individuals may not 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.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our 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 us after the consummation 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 consummation of the business
combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether 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 consummation of our initial business combination. Our key personnel may not 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.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effectuate 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’ management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we thought they had. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted.
The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon consummation of our initial business combination. The loss of an acquisition 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 consummation 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 some members of the management team of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.
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 currently anticipate having any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our executive officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our executive officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Certain of 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.
Certain of our officers and directors are affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Certain of our officers and directors may be affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business to the type of business we may combine with. Our officers may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. If any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to
present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us.
Any conflict of interest may not be resolved in our favor and potential target businesses may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
Certain shares beneficially owned by our officers and directors will not participate in liquidation distributions and, therefore, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors have waived their right to redeem any shares in connection with our initial business combination, or to receive distributions with respect to their founder shares and private shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Accordingly, these securities will be worthless if we do not consummate our initial business combination. 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.
We may engage in our initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our officers, directors or existing holders, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In light of the involvement of our sponsor, officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers and directors. Our directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities. Our sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to consummate our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any 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 our initial business combination and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we seek to acquire, regarding the fairness to our stockholders from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our officers, directors or existing holders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest. Our directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our stockholders, whether or not a conflict of interest may exist.
Our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Until we consummate 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, including private funds under the management of 5AM and their respective portfolio companies, pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. In addition, existing and future funds managed by 5AM and their respective portfolio companies may compete with us for business combination opportunities and, if such opportunities are pursued by such entities, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may
not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or ventures may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination.
Because our sponsor will lose its entire initial investment in us if our initial business combination is not consummated and our officers and directors have significant financial interests in us, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular acquisition target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
Our sponsor holds 1,944,068 shares of our Class B common stock. These shares of Class B common stock will be worthless if we do not consummate an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor previously purchased from us an aggregate of 365,126 private placement shares at $10.00 per share for a total purchase price of $3,651,260. The private placement shares will also be worthless if we do not consummate our initial business combination. Accordingly, our directors and officers and our sponsor may have a conflict of interest in approving an initial business combination in order to avoid achieving no return on these investments.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete our initial business combination, which may adversely affect our financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
We may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. If we incur any indebtedness without a waiver from the lender of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after our initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our shares of common stock;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our shares of common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of our IPO, 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.
The net proceeds from our IPO together with the funds we received from the sale of the private placement shares provided us with approximately $82.6 million that we may use to complete our initial business combination.
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously. 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 consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our 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. 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 solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products or services.
We may attempt to simultaneously consummate business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to consummate 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 each such seller 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 the initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and operations.
We may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure our initial business combination to acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only consummate such business combination if we become the majority stockholder of the target (or control the target through contractual arrangements in limited circumstances for regulatory compliance purposes) or are otherwise not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, or, to the extent permitted by law we may acquire interests in a variable interest entity, in which we may have less than a majority of the voting rights in such entity, but in which we are the primary beneficiary. Even though we may own a majority interest in the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we 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 such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that we will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise their redemption rights may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
If our initial business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public stockholders may exercise redemption rights, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such redemption, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our initial business combination. In the event that the acquisition involves the issuance of our stock as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our stock to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
In connection with any stockholder meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public stockholder the option to vote in favor of the proposed business combination and still seek redemption of his, her or its shares.
In connection with any stockholder meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public stockholder (but not our sponsor, officers or directors) the right to have his, her or its shares of common stock redeemed for cash (subject to specified limitations in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation) regardless of whether such stockholder votes for or against (or votes at all with respect to) such proposed business combination. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where stockholders are offered the right to redeem their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This threshold and the ability to seek redemption while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination even if it would not have been approved if voted on solely by our stockholders who choose not to have their shares redeemed.
A public stockholder who fails to vote either in favor of or against a proposed business combination will not be able to have his or her shares redeemed for cash.
In order for a public stockholder to have his or her shares redeemed for cash in connection with any proposed business combination, that public stockholder must vote either in favor of or against a proposed business combination. If a public stockholder fails to vote in favor of or against a proposed business combination, whether that stockholder abstains from the vote or simply does not vote, that stockholder would not be able to have his or her shares of common stock so redeemed to cash in connection with such business combination.
We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with a proposed business combination or amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we fail to timely complete a business combination or with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.
We may also 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 expiration date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or in the event we distribute proxy materials, up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination or amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (1) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO or (2) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the DWAC System, at the holder’s option. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding
that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. While we have been advised that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System, this may not be the case. Under Delaware law and our bylaws, we are required to provide at least 10 days advance notice of any stockholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a stockholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. Accordingly, depending on how long it takes for stockholders to deliver their shares, stockholders who wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to redeem their shares.
Redeeming stockholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with any proposed business combination to comply with the delivery requirements discussed above for redemption. If such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the redeeming public stockholders. Accordingly, stockholders who attempted to redeem their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our shares of our Class A common stock may decline during this time and our public stockholders may not be able to sell their securities when they wish, even while other stockholders that did not seek redemption may be able to sell their securities.
Because of our structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.
We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Therefore, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking stockholder approval of our initial business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.
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 are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or even less on our redemption.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of our private placement shares will be sufficient to allow us to consummate our initial business combination, because we have not yet selected any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction or our costs to operate or locate a transaction. If the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of our private placement shares prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. Financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. The current economic environment has made it especially difficult for companies to obtain acquisition financing. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular initial business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or even less on our
redemption. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to consummate 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.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, 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 that meets certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS as issued by the IASB, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. We will include substantially the same financial statement disclosure in connection with any tender offer documents we use, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may consummate our initial business combination with 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.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the status of debt and equity markets.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in, and a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases could result in, a widespread health crisis that has, and in the future could, adversely affected the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if concerns relating to COVID-19 continue to restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors, limit the ability to conduct due diligence, or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of and perceptions to COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.
Finally, the outbreak of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market for our securities.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Business outside of the United States
We may effect our initial business combination with a company located outside of the United States.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company located outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in the target business’ home jurisdiction, including any of the following:
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rules and regulations or currency redemption or 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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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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changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the outbreak of other infectious diseases;
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars; and
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deterioration of political relations with the United States. We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.
There are costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations.
Managing a business, operations, personnel or assets in another country is challenging and costly. Any management that we may have (whether based abroad or in the United States) may be inexperienced in cross-border business practices and unaware of significant differences in accounting rules, legal regimes and labor practices. Even with a seasoned and experienced management team, the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, personnel and assets can be significant (and much higher than in a purely domestic business) and may negatively impact our financial and operational performance.
Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments may occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination.
Political events in another country may significantly affect our business, assets or operations. Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, and policy changes or enactments could negatively impact our business in a particular country.
Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience.
Our ability to seek and enforce legal protections, including with respect to intellectual property and other property rights, or to defend ourselves with regard to legal actions taken against us in a given country, may be difficult or impossible, which could adversely impact our operations, assets or financial condition.
Rules and regulations in many countries are often ambiguous or open to differing interpretation by responsible individuals and agencies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. The attitudes and actions of such individuals and agencies are often difficult to predict and inconsistent.
Delay with respect to the enforcement of particular rules and regulations, including those relating to customs, tax, environmental and labor, could cause serious disruption to operations abroad and negatively impact our results.
If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.
The relationship between the United States and foreign governments could be subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United States may announce its intention to impose
quotas on certain imports. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the foreign government in industries that may affect our ultimate target business. Changes in political conditions in foreign countries and changes in the state of U.S. relations with such countries are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, there is no basis for our public stockholders to evaluate the possible extent of any impact on our ultimate operations if relations are strained between the United States and a foreign country in which we acquire a target business or move our principal manufacturing or service operations.
Currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, and the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.
Because foreign law could govern our material agreements, we may not be able to enforce our rights within such jurisdiction or elsewhere.
Foreign law could govern our material agreements. The target business may not be able to enforce any of its material agreements or enforce remedies outside of such foreign jurisdiction’s legal system. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws and contracts in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The judiciaries in certain foreign countries may be relatively inexperienced in enforcing corporate and commercial law, leading to a higher than usual degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation, any such jurisdictions may not favor outsiders or could be corrupt. As a result, the inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business and business opportunities.
Risks Related to Ownership of our Class A Common Stock
Our sponsor, directors and officers 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.
We have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. Further, our sponsor, officers and directors own a significant portion of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, our sponsor, officers and directors 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 sponsor, officers and directors purchase any shares of Class A common stock in the public markets or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control.
Our Class A common stock may not continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
Our Class A common stock is currently listed on Nasdaq. However, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future. Additionally, in connection with our business combination, Nasdaq may require us to file a new initial listing application and meet its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient continued listing requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
•
a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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a reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;
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a determination that our shares of common stock are a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our shares of common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our shares of common stock;
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because our shares of Class A common stock are on Nasdaq, our shares of Class A common stock will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered 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 special purpose acquisition companies, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute, and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the Court of Chancery, as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers or other employees.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following claims or causes of action under the Delaware statutory or common law: (1) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on our behalf; (2) any claim or cause of action for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, to us or our stockholders; (3) any claim or cause of action against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws (as each may be amended from time to time); (4) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws (as each may be amended from time to time, including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder); (5) any claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (6) any claim or cause of action against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. This exclusive forum provision shall not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the exclusive forum provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provision will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
These choice-of-forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company or its directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find either exclusive forum provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
General Risk Factors
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments, in particular, the SEC. 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 also may change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments 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 our business and results of operations.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021. 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 all public companies because a target company 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 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” and a “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Securities Act and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However, if our non-convertible debt issued within a three-year period or revenues exceeds $1.0 billion, or the market value of our shares of common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and we are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Additionally, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable
to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price 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, will not adopt the new or revised standard until the time private companies are required to 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 any fiscal year for so long as either (1) the market value of our shares of common stock held by non-affiliates does not equal or exceed $250.0 million as of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues did not equal or exceed $100.0 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our shares of common stock held by non-affiliates did not equal or exceed $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of any reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.

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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 501 Second Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, California 94107. 5AM provides us use of such office space and administrative and support services. While 5AM does not charge us a fee for the use of such office space and services, we may reimburse 5AM for its costs associated therewith. 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 of our officers or directors in their capacity as such, and we and our officers and directors have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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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 Class A common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FVAM” on October 14, 2020.
Holders
As of March 12, 2021, there were two holders of record of our Class A common stock. This number does not include “street name,” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers, financial institutions and other nominees.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of Class A 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 conditions 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 and subject to the Delaware law. 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.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
Not applicable.

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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.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and other parts of this report contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Item 1A “Risk Factors.”
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on August 31, 2020. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We are not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a business combination. We are an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, we are subject to all the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
Our sponsor is 5:01 Acquisition LLC, an entity affiliated with two of our directors. The registration statement for our IPO was declared effective October 13, 2020. On October 16, 2020, we consummated the IPO of 8,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock (each, a public share and collectively, the public shares) at $10.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $80.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $4.9 million, inclusive of $2.8 million in deferred underwriting commissions. The underwriter was granted a 45-day option from the date of the final prospectus relating to our IPO to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at $10.00 per share. The underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option and on November 12, 2020 purchased an additional 256,273 shares of Class A common stock, generating gross proceeds of approximately $2.6 million, and incurred additional offering costs of approximately $141,000 in underwriting fees (inclusive of approximately $90,000 in deferred underwriting fees).
Simultaneously with the closing of our IPO, we consummated the private placement of 360,000 shares of our Class A common stock (each, a private placement share and collectively, the private placement shares), at a price of $10.00 per private placement share to our sponsor, generating proceeds of $3.6 million. With the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment on November 12, 2020, we consummated the second closing of the private placement, resulting in the purchase by our sponsor of an aggregate of an additional 5,126 private placement shares, generating gross proceeds of approximately $51,000.
Upon the closing of the IPO and the private placement, $80.0 million ($10.00 per share) of the net proceeds of the sale of the public shares in the IPO and of the private placement shares in the private placement were placed in a trust account located in the United States, and invested in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and which invest solely in U.S. Treasuries, as determined by us, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a business combination and (ii) the distribution of the trust account.
In addition, our sponsor agreed to forfeit up to 300,000 shares of our Class B common stock, par value $0.0001, or the founder shares, to the extent that the over-allotment option was not exercised in full by the underwriters. The underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option on November 12, 2020 and on November 30, 2020, our sponsor forfeited 235,932 shares of our Class B common stock.
We only have 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or until October 16, 2022, to complete our initial business combination. We refer to this time period as the “Combination Period.” If we are unable to complete a business combination during the Combination 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 100% of the outstanding public shares (including any public shares issued in the IPO or any public shares or shares that the initial stockholders or their affiliates purchased in the IPO or later acquired in the open market or in private transactions), which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’
rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practicable following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining holders of common stock and the board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of our company, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law.
Covid-19
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization, or WHO, announced a global health emergency because of a new strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19. In March 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic based on the rapid increase in exposure globally. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the pandemic and related advisories and restrictions. These developments and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial markets and the overall economy are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If the financial markets and/or the overall economy are impacted for an extended period, our results of operations, financial position and cash flows may be materially adversely affected. Additionally, our ability to complete an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected due to significant governmental measures being implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic or treat its impact, including travel restrictions, the shutdown of businesses and quarantines, among others, which may limit our ability to have meetings with potential investors or affect the ability of a potential target company’s personnel, vendors and service providers to negotiate and consummate an initial business combination in a timely manner. Our ability to consummate an initial business combination may also be dependent on the ability to raise additional equity and debt financing, which may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting market downturn.
Results of Operations
Our entire activity since inception up to December 31, 2020 has been related to our formation, IPO, which was consummated on October 16, 2020, and since the IPO, our activity has been limited to the search for a prospective initial business combination, and we will not be generating any operating revenues until the closing and completion of our initial business combination. We expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, we had a net loss of approximately $209,000, which consisted of approximately $163,000 in general and administrative expenses, approximately $47,000 in franchise tax expense, offset by approximately $480 in interest income on the trust account.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $1.1 million outside of the trust account, approximately $480 of interest income available in the trust account to pay for tax obligations and working capital of approximately $1.3 million.
Our liquidity needs to date have been satisfied through a capital contribution of $20,000 from our sponsor to purchase the founder shares (as defined below), the related party loan under a promissory note of $300,000, which was repaid in full on October 16, 2020, and the net proceeds from the consummation of the private placement not held in the trust account. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, our officers, directors and initial stockholders may, but are not obligated to, provide working capital loans. As of December 31, 2020, there were no amounts outstanding under any working capital loans.
Based on the foregoing, management believes that we will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity from our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors to meet our needs through the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or one year from this filing. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for paying existing accounts payable, identifying and
evaluating prospective initial business combination candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to merge with or acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination.
Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of founder shares and private placement shares are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and stockholder rights agreement. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities, subject to specified conditions. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of the business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. However, the registration and stockholder rights agreement will provide that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period.
Underwriting Agreement
We granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional units to cover any over-allotments, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On November 12, 2020, the underwriter partially exercised the over-allotment option.
The underwriter was entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per share, or $1.6 million in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the IPO. In addition, $0.35 per share, or $2.9 million in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriter from the amounts held in the trust account solely in the event that we complete a business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
The underwriter received an additional fee of approximately $51,000 upon closing of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and approximately $90,000 in deferred underwriting commissions.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Investments held in Trust Account
Our portfolio of investments held in trust is comprised solely of investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities. Our investments held in the trust account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these investments are included in interest income held in trust account in the accompanying statement of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the trust account are determined using available market information, other than for investments in open-ended money market funds with published daily net asset values, or NAV, in which case we use NAV as a practical expedient to fair value. The NAV on these investments is typically held constant at $1.00 per unit.
Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
Class A common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A common stock are classified as stockholders’ equity. Our Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at December 31, 2020, 7,593,256 shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption were presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of our balance sheet.
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
Our statement of operations includes a presentation of income per share for common stock subject to redemption in a manner similar to the two-class method of income per share. Net income per share, basic and diluted for Class A common stock is calculated by dividing the interest income held in the trust account of approximately $480, net of applicable income and franchise taxes of approximately $480 for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020, respectively, by the weighted average number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding for the period. Net loss per share, basic and diluted for Class B common stock for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 is calculated by dividing the net loss of approximately $209,000, less net income attributable to Class A common stock of approximately $0, resulting in a net loss of approximately $209,000, by the weighted average number of Class B common stock outstanding for the period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Our management does not believe that there are any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our balance sheet.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2020, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations.
JOBS Act
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or 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 IPO 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 on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

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

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2020. Based on that evaluation, as of December 31, 2020, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Inherent Limitations on Controls and Procedures
Our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurances that the objectives of the control system are met. The design of a control system reflects resource constraints; the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because there are inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, for our company have been or will be detected. As these inherent limitations are known features of the disclosure and financial reporting processes, it is possible to design into the processes safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, these risks. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. While our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by the rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
PART III

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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 directors and executive officers and their ages as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Andrew J. Schwab
Co-chief executive officer and director
Kush M. Parmar, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-chief executive officer and director
Galya D. Blachman, Ph.D., Esq.
General counsel and secretary
Rebecca L. Lucia, CFA
Chief financial officer and treasurer
Jason R. Ruth, Ph.D.
Chief business officer
Daniella Beckman
Director
Martin Mackay, Ph.D.
Director
Matthew Patterson
Director
Samantha Singer
Director
Executive Officers
Andrew J. Schwab has served as our co-chief executive officer and as a member of our board of directors since our inception in August 2020. Mr. Schwab also is a Founder and Managing Partner of 5AM. Prior to founding 5AM in 2002, Mr. Schwab was a Principal at Bay City Capital where he was involved with companies such as Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., PTC Therapeutics, Inc., Symyx Technologies, Inc. and Syrrx, Inc. Previously Mr. Schwab was Vice President of Business Development at Digital Gene Technologies, Inc. and a Vice President in the life science investment banking group of Montgomery Securities. At 5AM, he has led the firm’s investments in and served on the boards of BlueLight Therapeutics, Inc., Bird Rock Bio, Inc., Camp4 Therapeutics Corporation, Cleave Therapeutics, Inc., DVS Sciences, Inc. (which was acquired by Fluidigm Corporation), Escient Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLXN), Ikaria, Inc. (which was acquired by Mallinckrodt plc and spun-out Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH)), Ilypsa, Inc. (which was acquired by Amgen, Inc.), Miikana Therapeutics, Inc. (which was acquired by EntreMed, Inc.), Novome Biotechnologies, Inc., Panomics Inc. (which was acquired by Affymetrix, Inc.), Pear Therapeutics, Inc., Precision NanoSystems, Inc., Purigen Biosystems, Inc., Synosia Therapeutics Holding AG (which was acquired by Biotie Therapies Corp.), Rarecyte, Inc., The Assay Depot (d.b.a. Scientist.com), TMRW Life Sciences, Inc. and Viveve Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIVE). Mr. Schwab also serves on the boards of trustees of the California Academy of Sciences, Davidson College and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Mr. Schwab received a B.S. with Honors in Genetics & Ethics from Davidson College.
We believe Mr. Schwab is qualified to serve on our board due to his extensive experience in both private and public companies in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors.
Kush M. Parmar, M.D., Ph.D. has served as our co-chief executive officer and as a member of our board of directors since our inception in August 2020. Dr. Parmar is also Managing Partner at 5AM and joined in 2010 from Harvard Medical School, where he was an NIH-sponsored M.D./Ph.D. Physician Scientist Fellow in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program. Dr. Parmar serves or has served as a director on the boards of Akouos, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKUS), Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN), Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. (which was acquired by Astellas Pharma Inc.), Entrada Therapeutics, Inc., Homology Medicines, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIXX), Rallybio Holdings, LLC, scPharmaceuticals, Inc (Nasdaq: SCPH), Vor Biopharma Inc. (Nasdaq: VOR), and Ensoma Inc. He previously served as Acting VP of Strategy and Corporate Development at Novira Therapeutics, Inc. (which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson) and served as board observer for Envoy Therapeutics Inc. (which was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited), Achaogen, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKAO) and Pulmatrix, Inc. (Nasdaq: PULM). Dr. Parmar serves on the
advisory boards of Harvard Medical School, Penn Medicine, Princeton University’s Department of Molecular Biology, and the Grace Science Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Society of Kauffman Fellows. Before joining 5AM, Dr. Parmar completed clinical clerkships at the Massachusetts General & Brigham and Women’s Hospitals. He holds an A.B. in Molecular Biology and Medieval Studies from Princeton University, a Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from Harvard University and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School.
We believe Dr. Parmar is qualified to serve on our board due to his extensive experience in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies.
Galya D. Blachman, Ph.D., Esq., has served as our general counsel and secretary since September 2020. Dr. Blachman joined 5AM in 2018 and serves as its General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Dr. Blachman joined 5AM from AbbVie where she was on the Legal R&D transactions team. Prior to that, she was a Director in the legal group of Stemcentrx before it was acquired by AbbVie in 2016. Dr. Blachman began her career at Slaughter & May and also practiced intellectual property law at Simmons & Simmons. She currently serves on the board of directors of and as the General Counsel at Biotech Connection Bay Area, a non-profit that focuses on career development for academic scientists. Dr. Blachman received her law degree in England and completed a postgraduate diploma in intellectual property law from Oxford University. She earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Cambridge University and an M.Sc. in Pharmacology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She holds a B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry and Hebrew. Dr. Blachman is based in the San Francisco, CA office.
Rebecca L. Lucia, CFA has served as our chief financial officer and treasurer since September 2020. Ms. Lucia joined 5AM in 2016 and serves as its Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Partner. Ms. Lucia has over 25 years of experience in venture capital, finance, and the life sciences industry. She was previously the CFO for Prospect Venture Partners, a venture capital firm investing in biotechnology and medical device companies. Ms. Lucia also served as CFO for Asset Management Ventures. She held senior finance positions at CV Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CVTX), Chiron Corporation (Nasdaq: CHIR) and at Deloitte. Ms. Lucia has earned a Chartered Financial Analyst designation as well as a Canadian Chartered Accountant designation and received an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of VCBC, a VC industry finance organization. Ms. Lucia is based in the San Francisco, CA office.
Jason Ruth, Ph.D. has served as our chief business officer since September 2020. Dr. Ruth is also a Principal at 5AM, which he joined in 2017 from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where he studied precision medicine and high throughput screening in Levi Garraway’s laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow. He serves or has served as an Observer on the boards of directors of Expansion Therapeutics, Inc., Entrada Therapeutics, Inc., Vor Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: VOR), Homology Medicines, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIXX), and Cabaletta Bio Inc. (Nasdaq: CABA). Dr. Ruth also serves as Chief Scientific Officer and as a Scientific Advisory Board member for the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network. He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania as an HHMI-Interfaces Fellow and received a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Ruth received a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California in Irvine. His work is published in journals including Science and Lancet Hematology. Dr. Ruth is based in the Boston, MA office.
Non-Employee Directors
Daniella Beckman. Ms. Beckman has served on our board of directors since the completion of our IPO. Ms. Bechman has served as the chief financial officer of Tango Therapeutics, Inc. since September 2019. Prior to Tango, Ms. Beckman provided consulting and interim chief financial officer services for early-stage biotechnology companies through Beckman Consulting LLC from November 2015 to September 2019. Prior to consulting, Ms. Beckman was the chief financial officer of Idenix Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Merck in 2014. Ms. Beckman serves as Chair of Audit Committee for the boards of directors of Translate Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBIO) and Vor Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: VOR). Ms. Beckman has a B.S. in business administration/accounting from Boston University and is a certified public accountant in Massachusetts.
We believe Ms. Beckman is qualified to serve on our board due to her extensive experience in both private and public companies in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors.
Martin Mackay, Ph.D. Dr. Mackay has served on our board of directors since the completion of our IPO. Dr. Mackay currently is co-founder and chief executive officer of Rallybio, a privately-held early-stage biotechnology company incorporated in January 2018. Previously, Dr. Mackay was Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Alexion from 2013 until 2017. Prior to joining Alexion, Dr. Mackay served as President, Research and Development at AstraZeneca from 2010 to 2013, where he led the research and development (R&D) functions worldwide, including discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, and key related R&D functions. From 1995 to 2010, he held various positions at Pfizer Inc., including Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development, President of Global R&D, President, Pfizer PharmaTherapeutics and was a member of the Executive Leadership Team. From 1986 to 1995, Dr. Mackay worked at Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) in the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and held various positions in academic research prior to that time. Dr. Mackay obtained a First-Class Honours degree from Heriot-Watt University and his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. His postdoctoral work was conducted at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Mackay also serves as a board member of Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL), Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and is a senior advisor to New Leaf Venture Partners.
We believe Dr. Mackay is qualified to serve on our board due to his extensive experience in both private and public companies in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors.
Matthew Patterson. Mr. Patterson has served on our board of directors since the completion of our IPO. Mr. Patterson is the co-founder of Audentes Therapeutics, where he currently serves in the role of strategic advisor. Previously, he served as Audentes’ chief executive officer from inception in November 2012 until its acquisition by Astellas Pharma Inc. in January 2020. Mr. Patterson was also Audentes’ chairman of the board of directors and formerly served as President until May 2018. Previously, Mr. Patterson worked for Genzyme Corporation, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, and Amicus Therapeutics. Prior to Audentes he was an Entrepreneur-In-Residence with OrbiMed. Mr. Patterson also currently serves as chairman of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, the international advocacy organization representing the gene and cell therapy and broader regenerative medicine sector, and is a member of the board of directors for Homology Medicines, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIXX) and Vor Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: VOR). Mr. Patterson received his B.A. in Biochemistry from Bowdoin College.
We believe Mr. Patterson is qualified to serve on our board due to his extensive experience in both private and public companies in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors.
Samantha Singer. Ms. Singer has served on our board of directors since November 2020. Ms. Singer has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Third Rock Ventures, LLC, a venture capital firm, since December 2018. Previously, Ms. Singer served as Chief Operating Officer at The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard from February 2014 to December 2018. Ms. Singer received her B.S. in Biology / Genetics from the University of Kansas, her M.S. in Molecular Biology from The Rockefeller University and M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
We believe Ms. Singer is qualified to serve on our board due to her extensive experience in working with companies and investors in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Certain Corporate Governance Matters
Code of Ethics
We adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees. The code of ethics codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business. A copy of the code of ethics is filed as Exhibit 14.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and 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.
Identification of Audit Committee and Financial Expert
Our board of directors has a standing audit committee that operates under a written charter approved by our board of directors, which charter reflects the applicable standards and requirements adopted by the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq. A copy of the charter is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The audit committee is chaired by Ms. Beckman and consists of Ms. Beckman, Dr. Mackay and Mr. Patterson, each of whom is an independent director. Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Beckman qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.
Conflicts of Interest
Investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
•
None of our officers and directors is required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities.
•
In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to our company as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our officers and directors may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
•
Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by our company.
•
We may engage in our initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our officers, directors or existing holders, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
•
Unless we consummate our initial business combination, our officers, directors and other insiders will not receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them to the extent that such expenses exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the trust account.
•
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our 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.
The founder shares beneficially owned by our officers and directors will be released from the lock-up arrangement only if our initial business combination is successfully completed. Additionally, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time frame, our officers and directors will not be entitled to receive any amounts held in the trust account with respect to any of their founder shares or private shares. Furthermore, 5:01 Acquisition LLC has agreed that the private shares will not be sold or transferred by it until after we have completed our initial business combination. For the foregoing reasons, our board may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effect our initial business combination.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
•
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
•
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
•
it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, our officers and directors (other than our independent directors) have agreed to present to us for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity, any suitable opportunity to acquire a target business, until the earlier of: (1) our consummation of an initial business combination and (2) 24 months from the date of our IPO. This agreement is, however, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations such officer or director may from time to time have to another entity. Accordingly, if any of them becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. We do not believe, however, that the pre-existing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers and directors will materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination.
The following table summarizes the current material pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers, directors and director nominees:
Name of Individual
Name of Affiliated Company
Entity’s Business
Affiliation
Andrew J. Schwab
BirdRock Bio, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Chairman and director
BlueLight Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
California Academy of Sciences
Research institute and museum
Director
Davidson College
Educational organization
Director
Escient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Camp4 Therapeutics Corporation, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Novome Biotechnologies, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)
Trade association
Director
Pear Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Rarecyte, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Presidio Terrace
HOA Board
Board Member
Scientist.com
Scientific research e-commerce platform
Director
TMRW Life Sciences, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
5:01 Acquisition LLC
SPAC investment
Manager
5AM Partners, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Partners II, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
Name of Individual
Name of Affiliated Company
Entity’s Business
Affiliation
5AM Partners III, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Partners IV, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Partners V, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Partners VI, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Opportunities I (GP), LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Venture Management, LLC
Venture capital investment
Member
Kush M. Parmar
Akouos, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Ensoma, Inc.
Management consulting company
President, chairman and director
Entrada Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Homology Medicines, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Immuneel Therapeutics Private Limited
Biotechnology company
Co-founder
RallyBio Holdings, LLC
Biotechnology company
Director
Vor Biopharma, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Chairman and director
5:01 Acquisition LLC
SPAC investment
Manager
5AM Partners V, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Partners VI, LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Opportunities I (GP), LLC
Venture capital investment
Managing Member
5AM Venture Management, LLC
Venture capital investment
Member
Galya D. Blachman
5AM Venture Management, LLC
Venture capital investment
Officer
Biotech Connection Bay Area
Nonprofit association
Director and officer
Rebecca L. Lucia
5AM Venture Management, LLC
Venture capital investment
Officer
VCBC
Nonprofit association
Director
Jason R. Ruth
5AM Venture Management, LLC
Venture capital investment
Principal
Castleman Disease Collaborative Network
Research organization
Officer
Daniella Beckman
Tango Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Officer
Translate Bio Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Name of Individual
Name of Affiliated Company
Entity’s Business
Affiliation
Vor Biopharma Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Martin Mackay
Rallybio Holdings, LLC
Biotechnology company
Officer
Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc.
Laboratory services company
Director
Novo Nordisk A/S
Biotechnology company
Director
Matthew Patterson
Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
Advocacy organization
Director
Homology Medicines, Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Vor Biopharma Inc.
Biotechnology company
Director
Samantha Singer
Third Rock Ventures, LLC
Venture capital firm
Entrepreneur in Residence
We have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. Further, our insiders, including our officers and directors, have agreed to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to receive any amounts held in the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the required time frame. If they purchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market, however, they would be entitled to receive their pro rata share of the amounts held in the trust account with respect to these shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the required time frame, but have agreed not to exercise redemption rights with respect to such shares in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested and independent directors, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested and independent directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with 5AM, our sponsor, founders, officers or directors, unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking or accounting firm as to the fair market value of the target business and that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view, (ii) the approval by our audit committee and (iii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors. We do not currently anticipate that our sponsor or our co-chief executive officers will be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other similar compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We may in the future amend the terms of our non-employee director compensation policy or enter into consulting or employment agreements with additional members of our management team, pursuant to which such persons may be entitled to cash or equity compensation. We have not yet entered into any such agreement and, accordingly, the compensatory terms for any such agreement have not yet been determined (other than the terms of our non-employee director compensation policy that we adopted in November 2020 is described in more detail in Item 11 “Executive Compensation”).
Our office space and administrative and support services will be provided to us by 5AM. While 5AM will not charge us a fee for the use of such office space and services, we may reimburse 5AM for its costs associated therewith.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Prior to our IPO, we did not pay any cash or equity compensation to our directors. On November 16, 2020, our board of directors adopted a non-employee director compensation policy, effective retroactive to the closing of our IPO for our non-employee directors who were then serving on our board, pursuant to which we will pay each non-employee director $50,000 annually, payable in equal monthly installments, for service on our board of directors. Amounts are pro-rated as appropriate for any non-employee director who does not serve for the full month. Our sponsor transferred 30,000 of its founder shares to each of Ms. Beckman, Dr. Mackay, Mr. Patterson and Ms. Smith when they joined our board of directors.
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We do not currently anticipate that compensation of any kind (including finder’s fees, consulting fees or other similar compensation) will be paid to our sponsor or either of our co-chief executive officers, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We may in the future enter into consulting or employment agreements with additional members of our management team, pursuant to which such persons may be entitled to cash or equity compensation. We have not yet entered into any such agreements and, accordingly, the compensatory terms for any such agreements have not yet been determined (other than the terms of our non-employee director compensation policy which we adopted in November 2020).
Our sponsor, members of our management team and their affiliates will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account and the interest income earned on the amounts held in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination.
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 stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock as of February 28, 2021 by:
•
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock;
•
each of our executive officers and directors; and
•
all of our officers and directors as a group.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws.
Applicable percentage ownership is based on 8,621,399 shares of Class A common stock and 2,064,068 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2021. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o 5:01 Acquisition Corp., 501 Second Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, California 94107.
Beneficial Ownership
Class A
Common Stock
Class B
Common Stock
% of
Total
Voting
Power†
Beneficial Owner
Number of
Shares
%
Number of
Shares
%
5% Stockholders:
5:01 Acquisition LLC(1)
365,126
4.2%
1,944,068
94.2%
21.9%
RA Capital Management, L.P.(2)
750,000
8.7
-
-
8.7
Alyeska Investment Group, L.P.(3)
600,000
7.0
-
-
7.0
BlueCrest Capital Management Limited(4)
600,000
7.0
-
-
7.0
Glazer Capital, LLC(5)
492,008
5.7
-
-
5.7
Directors and Named Executive Officers:
Andrew J. Schwab(1)
365,126
4.2
1,944,068
94.2
21.9
Kush M. Parmar, M.D., Ph.D.(1)
365,126
4.2
1,944,068
94.2
21.9
Galya D. Blachman, Ph.D., Esq.
-
-
-
-
-
Rebecca L. Lucia, CFA
-
-
-
-
-
Jason R. Ruth, Ph.D.
-
-
-
-
-
Daniella Beckman(6)
-
-
30,000
1.5
*
Martin Mackay, Ph.D.(7)
-
-
30,000
1.5
*
Matthew Patterson(8)
-
-
30,000
1.5
*
Samantha L. Singer(9)
-
-
30,000
1.5
*
All executive officers and directors as a group
(9 persons)﻿(10)
365,126
4.2%
2,064,068
100.0%
22.7%
†
Percentage of total voting power represents voting power with respect to all shares of our Class A and Class B common stock, as a single class. The holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to one vote per share, and the holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share.
*
Represents less than one percent.
(1)
Mr. Schwab and Dr. Parmar are the managers of our sponsor. 5AM Partners VI, LLC is the general
partner of 5AM Ventures VI, L.P., the sole member of our sponsor, and may be deemed to have sole investment and voting power over the shares held by our sponsor. Mr. Schwab and Dr. Parmar may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares held by our sponsor.
(2)
Based solely on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 16, 2021 by RA Capital Management, L.P. The address for RA Capital Management, L.P. is 200 Berkeley Street, 18th Floor, Boston, MA 02116.
(3)
Based solely on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 16, 2021 by Alyeska Investment Group, L.P. The address for Alyeska Investment Group, L.P. is 77 West Wacker Drive, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601.
(4)
Based solely on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on October 23, 2020 by BlueCrest Capital Management Limited. The address for BlueCrest Capital Management Limited is Ground Floor, Harbour Reach, La Rue de Carteret, St Helier, Jersey Channel Islands JE2 4HR.
(5)
Based solely on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 16, 2021 by Glazer Capital, LLC. The address for Glazer Capital, LLC is 250 West 55th Street, Suite 30A, New York, NY 10019.
(6)
Includes 28,750 shares subject to forfeiture.
(7)
Includes 28,750 shares subject to forfeiture.
(8)
Includes 28,750 shares subject to forfeiture.
(9)
Includes 30,000 shares subject to forfeiture.
(10)
Consists of (a) 365,126 shares of Class A common stock and 2,064,068 shares of Class B common stock (including 116,250 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture held by our non-employee directors).

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Below we describe transactions since our formation in August 2020 to which we were a party or will be a party, in which
•
the amounts involved exceeded or will exceed the lesser of (i) $120,000, or (ii) one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years; and
•
any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any member of the immediate family of, or person sharing the household with, the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
5:01 Acquisition LLC, our sponsor, is an entity affiliated with certain our directors, and is our “promoter,” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. Our co-Chief Executive Officers and directors, Mr. Schwab and Dr. Parmar, are the managers of our sponsor. 5AM Partners VI, LLC is the general partner of 5AM Ventures VI, L.P., the sole member of our sponsor, and may be deemed to have sole voting power over the shares held by our sponsor.
Issuance of Founder Shares
On September 2, 2020, our sponsor purchased 2,300,000 shares of our initial common stock, which, upon filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, were reclassified into 2,300,000 shares of our Class B common stock, for an aggregate purchase price of $20,000. The founder shares include an aggregate of up to 300,000 shares that were subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part. As such option was only partially exercised, 235,932 shares were forfeited and immediately canceled.
Our sponsor has also transferred 30,000 of its founder shares to each of our independent directors when they joined our board of directors. Of these 120,000 founder shares, 116,250 are subject to forfeiture and through completion of the business combination and expiration any related lock-up period, subject to acceleration of vesting in certain circumstances.
Private Placement
Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 365,126 shares at $10.00 per share for a total purchase price of $3,651,260 on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO. Of the gross proceeds we received from the sale of the private shares, $2,600,000 were used for estimated offering expenses and $1,000,000 will be used for working capital. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, the proceeds from the sale of the private shares will be included in the liquidating distribution to the holders of our public shares.
Related Party Loans
On September 3, 2020, our sponsor agreed to provide us financial support sufficient to satisfy our working capital needs until the earlier of the consummation of our IPO or one year from the issuance of our financial statements included in our IPO prospectus. We issued to our sponsor a promissory note in the principal amount of $300,000 in connection with the commitment letter. The promissory note did not bear interest and was payable upon the earlier of one year from the date of issuance or upon consummation of our IPO. Accordingly, we repaid this promissory note upon completion of our IPO.
Working Capital Loans
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of our IPO, our initial stockholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The promissory notes would be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest. The terms of each promissory note may also provide that a portion of the principal amount of such loan may be repaid by conversion into shares of our Class A common stock upon completion of our initial business combination. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
Registration and Stockholders Rights
The holders of our founder shares, as well as the holders of the private shares, are entitled to registration and stockholder rights pursuant to an agreement signed in connection with our IPO. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities, subject to specified conditions. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. However, the registration and stockholder rights agreement will provide that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period as described under “Securities Eligible for Future Sale-Lock-up Arrangement.”
Indication of Interest
Our sponsor has indicated an interest to purchase $25,000,000 of our shares of Class A common stock in a private placement that would occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, our sponsor may determine not to purchase any such shares, or to purchase fewer shares than it has indicated an interest in purchasing. Furthermore, we are not under any obligation to sell any such shares. If we sell shares of Class A common stock to our sponsor (or any other investor) in connection with our initial business combination, the equity interest of investors in the combined company may be diluted and the market prices for our securities may be adversely affected. In addition, if the per share trading price of our shares of Class A common stock is greater than the price per share paid in the private placement, the private placement could result in value dilution to you.
Cost Reimbursement
We reimburse our officers and directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf such as identifying and investigating possible target
businesses and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account and the interest income earned on the amounts held in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee reviews and approves all reimbursements and payments made to any initial stockholder or member of our management team, or our or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.
We do not currently anticipate that compensation or fees of any kind, including finder’s fees, consulting fees or other similar compensation, will be paid to our sponsor or either of our co-chief executive officers, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We have adopted a non-employee director compensation policy (see Item 11 “Executive Compensation”) and we may in the future enter into consulting or employment agreements with additional members of our management team, pursuant to which such persons may be entitled to cash or equity compensation. We have not yet entered into any such agreement and, accordingly, the compensatory terms for any such agreement have not yet been determined (other than the terms of our non-employee director compensation policy which is described in Item 11. “Executive Compensation”). 5AM provides us use of office space and administrative and support services. While 5AM does not charge us a fee for the use of such office space and services, we may reimburse 5AM for its costs associated therewith.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. We have entered into indemnity agreements with each of our officers and directors. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Our bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We have purchased a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.
Policy for Approval of Related Party Transactions
Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed the lesser of (i) $120,000, or (ii) one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be
no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested and independent directors, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested and independent directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, we require each of our directors and officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer. To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with 5AM, our sponsor, founders, officers or directors, unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking or accounting firm as to the fair market value of the target business and that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view, (ii) the approval by our audit committee and (iii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors. In no event will our sponsor or any of the members of our management team be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other similar compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
The following is a summary of fees paid to WithumSmith+Brown, PC, for services rendered.
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements, reviews of our quarterly financial statements and services that are normally provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. The aggregate fees for WithumSmith+Brown, PC for audit fees, inclusive of required filings with the SEC for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and of services rendered in connection with our IPO, totaled $66,435.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our year-end financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. We did not pay WithumSmith+Brown, PC any audit-related fees during the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.
Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services relating to tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. We did not pay WithumSmith+Brown, PC any tax fees during the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.
All Other Fees. All other fees consist of fees billed for all other services. We did not pay WithumSmith+Brown, PC any other fees during the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.
Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed upon the consummation of our IPO. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit).
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a) The following documents are included as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
1. Financial Statements - See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.
2. Financial Statement Schedules - Not Applicable.
3. Exhibits
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Financial Statements:
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020
Statement of Operations for the Period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020
Statement of Cash Flows for the Period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statement
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
5:01 Acquisition Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of 5:01 Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), as of December 31, 2020, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
New York, New York
March 17, 2021
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2020
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash
$ 1,144,548
Prepaid expenses
206,198
Total current assets
1,350,746
Investments held in Trust Account
82,563,213
Total Assets
$ 83,913,959
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 24,775
Accrued expenses
19,800
Franchise tax payable
47,125
Total current liabilities
91,700
Deferred underwriting commissions
2,889,696
Total Liabilities
2,981,396
Commitments and Contingencies
Class A common stock; 7,593,256 shares subject to possible redemption at $10.00 per share
75,932,560
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and
outstanding
-
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 1,028,143 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 7,593,256 shares subject to possible redemption)
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 2,064,068 shares issued and outstanding
Additional paid-in capital
5,209,123
Accumulated deficit
(209,429)
Total stockholders’ equity
5,000,003
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
$ 83,913,959
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Period from August 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020
General and administrative expenses
$ 162,781
Franchise tax expense
47,125
Total operating expenses
(209,906)
Interest income from investments held in Trust Account
Net Loss
$ (209,429)
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A common stock subject to redemption
8,166,411
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A common stock subject to redemption
$ -
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A and B common stock not subject to redemption
2,248,153
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class A and B common stock not subject to redemption
$ (0.09)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Period from August 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Class A
Class B
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Balance - August 31, 2020 (inception)
-
$ -
-
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Issuance of common stock to Sponsor
-
-
2,300,000
19,770
-
20,000
Sale of shares in initial public offering, gross
8,256,273
-
-
82,561,904
-
82,562,730
Offering costs
-
-
-
-
(5,091,998)
-
(5,091,998)
Sale of private placement shares to Sponsor in private placement
365,126
-
-
3,651,223
-
3,651,260
Forfeiture of Class B common stock
(235,932)
(24)
-
Common stock subject to possible redemption
(7,593,256)
(760)
-
-
(75,931,800)
-
(75,932,560)
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
(209,429)
(209,429)
Balance - December 31, 2020
1,028,143
$
2,064,068
$
$ 5,209,123
$ (209,429)
$ 5,000,003
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Period from August 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ (209,429)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account
(477)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses
(206,198)
Accounts payable
13,549
Franchise tax payable
47,125
Accrued expenses
19,800
Net cash used in operating activities
(335,630)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash deposited in Trust Account
(82,562,736)
Net cash used in investing activities
(82,562,736)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to Sponsor
20,000
Proceeds received from note payable to related party
300,000
Repayment of note payable to related party
(300,000)
Proceeds received from initial public offering, gross
82,562,730
Proceeds received from private placement
3,651,260
Offering costs paid
(2,191,076)
Net cash provided by financing activities
84,042,914
Net change in cash
1,144,548
Cash - beginning of the period
-
Cash - end of the period
$ 1,144,548
Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:
Offering costs included in accounts payable
$ 11,227
Deferred underwriting commissions in connection with the initial public offering
$ 2,889,696
Forfeiture of Class B Common Stock
$
Initial value of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption
$ 76,154,200
Change in value of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption
$ (221,640)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Note 1 - Description of Organization, Business Operations and Basis of Presentation
5:01 Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on August 31, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 relates to the Company’s formation and the Initial Public Offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) and since the closing of the Initial Public Offering (as described below), the search for a prospective initial Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31st as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s sponsor is 5:01 Acquisition LLC, an entity affiliated with two of the Company’s directors (the “Sponsor”). The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective October 13, 2020. On October 16, 2020, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 8,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (each, a “Public Share” and collectively, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $80.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $4.9 million, inclusive of $2.8 million in deferred underwriting commissions (Note 5). The underwriter was granted a 45-day option from the date of the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at $10.00 per share. The Underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option and on November 12, 2020 purchased an additional 256,273 shares of Class A common stock (the “Additional Shares”), generating gross proceeds of approximately $2.6 million, and incurred additional offering costs of approximately $141,000 in underwriting fees (inclusive of approximately $90,000 in deferred underwriting fees) (the “Over-Allotment”).
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) of 360,000 shares of Class A common stock (each, a “Private Placement Share” and collectively, the “Private Placement Shares”), at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Share to the Sponsor, generating proceeds of $3.6 million (Note 4). Simultaneously with the closing of the Over-Allotment on November 12, 2020, the Company consummated the second closing of the Private Placement, resulting in the purchase of an aggregate of an additional 5,126 Private Placement Shares by the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $51,000.
Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Private Placement and the Over-Allotment, approximately $82.6 million ($10.00 per share) of the net proceeds of the sale of the Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering and of the Private Placement Shares in the Private Placement and Over-Allotment were placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”) located in the United States, and invested only in U.S. government treasury bills, notes and bonds 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 and which invest solely in U.S. Treasuries, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account.
In addition, the Sponsor agreed to forfeit up to 300,000 Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Founder Shares”) to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option on November 12, 2020; thus, on November 30, 2020, the sponsor forfeited 235,932 shares of Class B common stock.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Shares, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held in trust and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the 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 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
The Company will provide the holders (the “Public Stockholders”) of the Company’s outstanding Public Shares with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then held in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Stockholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriter (as discussed in Note 5). These Public Shares will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
The Company will proceed with a Business Combination if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. The Company will not redeem the Public Shares in an amount that would cause its net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Initial Stockholders (as defined below) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined below in Note 4) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination.
The 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors (the “Initial Stockholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or October 16, 2022 (the “Combination Period”), the Company 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 100% of the outstanding Public Shares (including any Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering or any Public Shares or shares that the initial stockholders or their affiliates purchased in the Initial Public Offering or later acquired in the open market or in private transactions), which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practicable following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining holders of common stock and the board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Company’s obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law.
The Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Initial Stockholders acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriter has agreed to waive its rights to the deferred underwriting commission (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (except for the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement (a “Target”), reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or Target that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriter of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth 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. The Company has 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, the Company, 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 the Company’s financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $1.1 million outside of the Trust Account, approximately $480 of interest income available in the Trust Account to pay for tax obligations and working capital of approximately $1.3 million.
The Company’s liquidity needs to date have been satisfied through a capital contribution of $20,000 from the Sponsor to purchase the Founder Shares (as defined below), the loan under the Note of $300,000 (see Note 4), and the net proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. The Company fully repaid the Note on October 16, 2020. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s officers, directors and initial stockholders may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company Working Capital Loans (see Note 4). As of December 31, 2020, there were no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loans.
Based on the foregoing, management believes that the Company will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity from the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors to meet its needs through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from this filing. Over this time period, the Company will be using these funds for paying existing accounts payable, identifying and evaluating prospective initial Business Combination candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to merge with or acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage limit of $250,000 and investments held in Trust Account. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2020, there were no cash equivalents in the Company’s operating cash account.
Investments held in Trust Account
The Company’s portfolio of investments held in trust is comprised solely of money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities. The Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these investments are included in interest income held in Trust Account in the accompanying statement of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information, other than for investments in open-ended money market funds with published daily net asset values (“NAV”), in which case the Company uses NAV as a practical expedient to fair value. The NAV on these investments is typically held constant at $1.00 per unit.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:
•
Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;
•
Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and
•
Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. As of December 31, 2020, the investments are observed at Level 1 and there were no transfers.
As of December 31, 2020, the carrying values of accounts payable, accrued expenses, and franchise taxes payable approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of the instruments.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering
Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering and that were charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.
Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
Class A common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A common stock are classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2020, 7,593,256 shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption were presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Stock
The Company’s statement of operations includes a presentation of income per share for common stock subject to redemption in a manner similar to the two-class method of income per share. Net income per share, basic and diluted for Class A common stock is calculated by dividing the interest income held in the Trust Account of approximately $480, net of applicable income and franchise taxes of approximately $480 for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020, by the weighted average number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding for the periods. Net loss per share, basic and diluted for Class B common stock for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 is calculated by dividing the net loss of approximately $209,000, less net income attributable to Class A common stock of $0, resulting in a net loss of approximately $209,000, by the weighted average number of Class B common stock outstanding for the period.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
FASB ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2020. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2020. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3 - Initial Public Offering
On October 16, 2020, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 8,000,000 Public Shares at $10.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $80.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $4.9 million, inclusive of $2.8 million in deferred underwriting commissions. The Company granted the underwriter a 45-day option from the date of the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Initial Public Offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The Underwriters partially exercised the Over-Allotment option and on November 12, 2020 purchased an additional 256,273 shares of Class A common stock (the “Additional Shares”), generating gross proceeds of approximately $2.6 million, and incurred additional offering costs of approximately $141,000 in underwriting fees (inclusive of approximately $90,000 in deferred underwriting fees).
Note 4 - Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares
On September 2, 2020, the Sponsor purchased 2,300,000 shares of the Company’s initial common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate price of $20,000. On October 7, 2020, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the State of Delaware and reclassified the 2,300,000 shares of initial common stock into 2,300,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Founder Shares”). The Sponsor agreed to forfeit up to 300,000 Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Founder Shares”) to the extent that the Over-Allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The underwriters partially exercised their Over-Allotment option on November 12, 2020. On November 30, 2020, the remaining 235,932 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture were forfeited. In October and November 2020, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 120,000 Founder Shares to the four independent directors when they joined the board of directors and in December, amended the terms of such transfer to clarify that 116,250 shares remain subject to forfeiture through completion of the Business Combination and expiration of any related lock-up period, subject to acceleration of vesting in certain circumstances.
Concurrently with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the Private Placement of 360,000 Private Placement Shares, at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Share to the Sponsor, generating proceeds of $3.6 million. A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Shares was added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. Simultaneously with the closing of the Over-Allotment on November 12, 2020, the Company consummated the second closing of the Private Placement, resulting in the purchase of an aggregate of an additional 5,126 Private Placement Shares by the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $51,000.
Pursuant to the letter agreement, the Initial Stockholders agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares or Private Placement Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of the Public Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares will be released from the lock-up.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Related Party Loans
On September 17, 2020, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). This promissory note did not bear interest and was payable upon the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The Company fully borrowed the $300,000 Note and fully repaid the Note on October 16, 2020.
Working Capital Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with searching for a target business or consummating an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The promissory notes would be paid upon consummation of the initial Business Combination, without interest. The terms of each promissory note may also provide that a portion of the principal amount of such loan may be repaid by conversion into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock upon completion of the initial Business Combination. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Registration Rights
The holders of Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and stockholder rights agreement. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that the Company registers such securities, subject to specified conditions. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of the Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. However, the registration and stockholder rights agreement will provide that the Company will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriter was entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per share, or $1.7 million in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, Private Placement and partial exercise of the over-allotment option. In addition, $0.35 per share, or $2.9 million in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriter from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Note 6 - Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of December 31, 2020, there were no preferred shares outstanding.
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Class A Common Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of December 31, 2020, there were 8,621,399 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, including 7,593,256 shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption that were classified as temporary equity in the accompanying balance sheet.
Class B Common Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Due to the underwriters partially exercising their Over-Allotment option on November 12, 2020 235,932 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture were forfeited. As a result of this forfeiture, as of December 31, 2020, the Company had 2,064,068 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
Note 7 - Income Taxes
The Company’s taxable income primarily consists of interest income on the Trust Account. The Company’s general and administrative expenses are generally considered start-up costs and are not currently deductible. There was no income tax expense for the period from August 31, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.
The income tax provision (benefit) consists of the following:
December 31, 2020
Current
Federal
$ -
State
-
Deferred
Federal
(43,980)
State
-
Valuation allowance
43,980
Income tax provision
$ -
The Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
December 31, 2020
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss
9,796
Start-up/Organization costs
34,184
Total deferred tax assets
43,980
Valuation allowance
(43,980)
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance
$ -
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences representing net future deductible amounts become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax assets, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. After consideration of all of the information available, management believes that significant uncertainty exists with respect to future realization of the deferred tax assets and has therefore established a full valuation allowance. At December 31, 2020, the valuation allowance was approximately $44,000.
There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2020. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2020. The Company is currently not aware of any issues
5:01 ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate (benefit) to the Company’s effective tax rate (benefit) is as follows:
December 31, 2020
Statutory Federal income tax rate
21.0%
Change in Valuation Allowance
(21.0)%
Income Taxes Benefit
0.0%
Note 8 - Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any other subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020).
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020).
4.1
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020).
4.2
Description of Registrant’s Securities.
10.1
Underwriting Agreement, dated October 13, 2020, by and between the Company and BofA Securities Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2020).
10.2
Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated October 13, 2020, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39612) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2020).
10.3
Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated October 13, 2020, by and among the Company, stockholders party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39612) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2020).
10.4
Private Placement Class A Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated October 13, 2020, by and among the Company and the sponsor (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39612) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2020).
10.5
Letter Agreement, dated October 13, 2020, by and among the Company, its officers, its directors and sponsor (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39612) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2020).
10.6
Form of Indemnity Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39612) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2020).
10.7
Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39612) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2020).
14.1
Form of Code of Ethics (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Amendment No.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 8, 2020).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof).
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d- 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit
Number
Description
99.1
Form of Audit Committee Charter (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020).
99.2
Form of Nominating Committee Charter. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020).
99.3
Form of Compensation Committee Charter. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249036) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020).
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase.
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase
101.PRE
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.
101.DEF
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.