EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1863719
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1863719_10-K_2024_0001410578-24-000472.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on March 8, 2021 as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K we refer to this as our initial business combination. Our ability to locate a potential target is subject to the uncertainties discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenue to date. Based on our business activities, we are a “shell company” as defined under the Exchange Act because we have no operations and nominal assets consisting almost entirely of cash. Since our IPO, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates.
Our executive offices are located 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660 and our telephone number is (949) 610-0835. We maintain a corporate website at www.belayoneverest.com. The information contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to invest in our securities.
Founders
We have assembled a team consisting of our management, board of directors and strategic advisors, which we refer to, collectively, as our Founders, who we believe have deep expertise financial services industry and have collectively grown businesses, scaled technology, developed and marketed new products, and implemented risk management policies. Experience among our Founders includes senior executive management positions at leading wealth management providers including Goldman Sachs Global Private Client, Citigroup Global Private Bank, Envestnet / Yodlee, BNY Mellon, Boston Private Financial Holdings, Fidelity, Hartford Funds, Mercer Advisors, MetLife Investment Management, TIAA, U.S. Trust and the Harvard Management Company Endowment Board. We will seek to capitalize on the decades of industry expertise, deep network of relationships, and significant access to deal flow offered by industry veterans who comprise our Founder group.
Initial Public Offering
On November 29, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (our “IPO”) of 17,250,000 units (including 2,250,000 units sold pursuant to the full exercise of the IPO underwriters’ option to purchase additional units to cover over-allotments). Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “public warrants”), with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one whole share of Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $172,500,000.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we completed the private sale of 6,333,333 warrants (the “private placement warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.50 per private placement warrant (the “private placement”), to the sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of $9,500,000. The private placement warrants are identical to the public warrants sold as part of the units in the IPO, except that the sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private placement warrants (except to certain permitted transferees) until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The private placement warrants will not be redeemable for cash by the Company and will be exercisable on a cashless basis.
Following the consummation of the IPO, total of $175,950,000 of the net proceeds from the IPO and the private placement, which included the $6,037,500 deferred underwriting commission, were placed in a U.S.- based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, acting as trustee (the “Trust Account”).
Proposed Business Combination
Business Combination Agreement
On May 19, 2023, the Company entered into a business combination agreement with Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“New PubCo” or “Unifund”), Unifund Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Merger Sub”), Unifund Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Credit Card Receivables Fund Incorporated, an Ohio corporation (“CCRF”), USV, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company (“USV” and together with Holdings and CCRF, the “Target Companies”), and, solely for limited purposes set forth therein, the Sponsor (the “Business Combination Agreement” and the proposed business combination contemplated thereby, the “Unifund Business Combination”). The Target Company group specializes in the acquisition and servicing of consumer debt receivables and offers consumer data analytics and tailored recovery solutions for major banks, financial institutions and other creditors across the United States. The Business Combination Agreement has been approved by the boards of directors or board of managers, as applicable, of each of the Company, the Target Companies and New PubCo. In connection with the Unifund Business Combination, certain related agreements have been, or will be entered into on or prior to the closing of the Unifund Business Combination, including the New PubCo Registration Rights and Lock-up Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement and the Holder Support Agreement (each as defined and described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023).
The consummation of the proposed Unifund Business Combination is subject to certain conditions as further described in the Business Combination Agreement. The closing of the proposed Unifund Business Combination is expected to occur no later than three business days following the satisfaction or waiver of all of the closing conditions, or at such other time date and place as the Company and the Target Companies may mutually agree in writing. The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated under certain customary and limited circumstances at any time prior to the consummation thereof and the Company can provide no assurance that the Business Combination will be consummated at the expected time, or at all.
For a description of the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and related agreements, refer to Note 1. Description of Organization and Business Operations to the audited financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023, and to the prospectus/proxy statement included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-273362) initially filed with the SEC on July 21, 2023 by the Company and the NewPubco in relation to the proposed Unifund Business Combination (such registration statement, as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”).
Waiver and Consent to Business Combination Agreement
On February 25, 2024, the Company, Sponsor and Holdings entered into a Waiver and Consent to Business Combination Agreement (the “Waiver and Consent”). The Waiver and Consent, among other things, permits the solicitation of, exploration and negotiation of, entry into, and consummation of (a) one or more potential sales, whether structured as a sale of equity of some or all of the Unifund Entities, a sale of some, all or substantially all of the assets of some or all of the Unifund Entities or as a merger, consolidation or otherwise, including, without limitation, sales of one or more of the receivables portfolios held by any of the Unifund Entities, which may or may not be made in the ordinary course of their respective business (a “Sale Transaction”) and (b) one or more financing transactions whether structured as debt, equity or a combination thereof, to provide for among other things the refinancing of the Unifund Entities’ existing senior secured credit facility (each, a “Financing Transaction” and together with any Sale Transaction, each, a “Strategic Transaction”). The Waiver and Consent further waived any past, current, or future defaults under the Business Combination Agreement caused by, arising from, or in connection with, any Strategic Transaction and further waived any and all defaults or breaches of the Business Combination Agreement by the Unifund Entities that may have occurred prior to or on the date of signing the Waiver and Consent. The Waiver and Consent resulted in amendments to the termination provisions of the Business Combination Agreement as discussed below.
This Annual Report does not give effect to the proposed Unifund Business Combination and does not contain the risks associated with the proposed Unifund Business Combination. Such risks and effects relating to the proposed Unifund Business Combination are included in the Registration Statement.
Extensions of the Period to Complete the Initial Business Combination
On February 28, 2023, in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the terms of the trust agreement entered into between us and Equiniti Trust, LLC (f/k/a American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC), dated as of November 23, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company extended the period it has to consummate an initial Business Combination by a period of three months, from February 28, 2023 until May 28, 2023 (the “Initial Extension”). In connection with the Initial Extension, the Company’s Sponsor deposited an aggregate of $1,725,000 into the Company’s Trust Account, representing $0.10 per public share, in exchange for the Company’s issuance to the Sponsor of 1,150,000 Private Placement Warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per private placement warrant, with the same terms as the Private Placement Warrants issued in connection with the closing of the Company’s IPO.
On May 26, 2023, the Company further extended the period it has to consummate an initial business combination by a period of three months, or until August 28, 2023 (the “Second Extension”). In connection with the Second Extension, the Company’s Sponsor deposited an aggregate of $1,725,000 into the Company’s Trust Account, representing $0.10 per public share, in exchange for the Company’s issuance to the Sponsor of 1,150,000 Private Placement Warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per private placement warrant, with the same terms as the Private Placement Warrants issued in connection with the closing of the Company’s IPO.
The Company’s stockholders were not entitled to vote on or redeem their shares in connection with the Initial Extension or the Second Extension.
In connection with the financing of the Initial Extension and the Second Extension, the Sponsor entered into promissory notes in the aggregate amount of $3,450,000 ($1,725,000 for each extension) at an interest rate of 16% per annum (each, an “Extension Note” and together, the “Extension Notes”) with Everest Consolidator - A Series of Master Fund I LLC (the “Noteholder”), a third-party investor. In connection with the Sponsor’s issuance of the Extension Notes, the Company entered into a Conditional Guaranty Agreements in favor of the Noteholder in respect of each Note (each term as defined herein). See “Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Contractual Obligations and Commitments” for a description of the Conditional Guarantees.
2023 Special Meeting of Stockholders
On August 24, 2023, the Company convened a special meeting of stockholders (the “2023 Special Meeting”) at which the stockholders approved, among other items, (i) a proposal to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to provide the board of directors with the right to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from August 28, 2023 to February 28, 2024 (as extended, the “Extended Date”) (the “2023 Extension Amendment Proposal”); (ii) a proposal to approve the adoption of an amendment (the “2023 Trust Amendment”) to the Trust Agreement to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from August 28, 2023 to February 28, 2024, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, the lesser of (a) $280,000 and (b) $0.035 per public share then outstanding (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”); and (iii) a proposal to amend the amended and restated certificate of incorporation to eliminate the limitation that the Company shall not redeem public shares to the extent that such redemption would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) to allow the Company to redeem public shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation (the “2023 Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal” and together with 2023 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, the “2023 Charter Amendment Proposals”).
In connection with the 2023 Charter Amendment Proposals, holders of the Company’s public shares were given the opportunity to redeem their public shares for a pro rata share of the funds on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Stockholders holding the aggregate of 3,825,869 shares of Class A Common Stock elected to redeem their shares at a per share redemption price of $10.73, for the total redemption of $41,057,655. Following the 2023 Special Meeting and associated redemptions, the Company had approximately $144.9 million remaining in the Trust Account.
The Company utilized the six one-month extensions of the Combination Period permitted by the 2023 Charter Amendment Proposals to extend the Combination period from September 28, 2023 to February 28, 2024, in connection with which the Sponsor deposited an aggregate of $1,680,000 into the Company’s Trust Account.
2024 Special Meeting of Stockholders
The Company’s board of directors determined that there would not be sufficient time before the February 28, 2024 extension deadline to complete a business combination. Accordingly, the Company convened a special meeting of stockholders on February 26, 2024 (the “2024 Special Meeting”) at which at which our stockholders approved (i) a proposal to further amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to provide our board of directors with the right to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from February 28, 2024 to August 28, 2024 (the “2024 Charter Amendment Proposal”) and (ii) a proposal to approve the adoption of an amendment to the Trust Agreement to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from February 28, 2024 to August 28, 2024, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, the lesser of (a) $150,000 and (b) $0.030 per public share then outstanding (the “2024 Trust Amendment Proposal,” and together with Extension Amendment Proposal and the 2024 Trust Amendment Proposal, the “2024 Charter Amendment Proposals”).
In connection with the 2024 Charter Amendment Proposals, holders of the Company’s public shares were given the opportunity to redeem their public shares for a pro rata share of the funds on deposit in the Trust Account, including any interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Stockholders holding 6,032,023 Public Shares exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Company’s trust account. As a result, approximately $67.4 million (approximately $11.17 per Public Share) was removed from the Company’s trust account to pay such redeeming holders of Public Shares. Following the redemptions, a total of 7,392,108 Public Shares remained outstanding and eligible for redemption, and the Company had approximately $82.7 million remaining in the Trust Account.
On February 28, 2024, the Company further extended the period it has to consummate an initial Business Combination by a period of one month, or until March 28, 2024. In connection with the one-month extension, the Company’s Sponsor deposited $150,000 into the Company’s Trust Account.
On March 26, 2024, the Company further extended the period it has to consummate an initial Business Combination by a period of one month, or until April 28, 2024. In connection with the one-month extension, the Company’s Sponsor deposited $150,000 into the Company’s Trust Account.
The Combination Period currently expires on April 28, 2024. The Company may extend the Combination Period for up to four additional one-month periods to August 28, 2024 pursuant to the 2024 Charter Amendment Extensions.
Our Investment Themes and Acquisition Criteria
While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry, we are concentrating our efforts in identifying businesses in the financial services sector. We will leverage our reputational credibility through a broad network of industry relationships to seek out category leaders with significant recurring revenue that are at a strategic inflection point. We are particularly interested in businesses that present significant growth potential through organic and transaction-driven opportunities to expand into adjacent markets and to use digital transformation as a force multiplier.
We have developed the following strategic, non-exclusive investment exhibits criteria that we will use to screen for and evaluate target businesses. We will seek to acquire a business that exhibits some or all of the following criteria:
● operates in the financial services sector
● has a strong management team with a track record of driving growth and profitability, and can benefit from the vast network, experience and guidance of our Founders
● can benefit from being a publicly-traded company, with access to broader capital markets, to achieve the company’s business strategy
● can enhance stockholder value through a combination with us, and offer an attractive risk-adjusted return for our stockholders
These criteria and guidelines 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 criteria and 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 and guidelines in our shareholder communications related to our initial business combination, which would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC
We may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination. We intend to acquire a company with an enterprise value significantly above the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants. Depending on the size of the transaction or the number of public shares we become obligated to redeem, we may potentially utilize several additional financing sources, including but not limited to the issuance of additional securities to the sellers of a target business, debt issued by banks or other lenders or the owners of the target, a private placement of equity or debt, or a combination of the foregoing. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, including because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient to meet our obligations or our working capital needs, we may need to obtain additional financing.
Our Acquisition Process
We believe that conducting comprehensive due diligence on prospective investments is particularly important within the financial services industry. We will utilize the diligence, rigor and expertise of our management and members of our board of directors to evaluate potential targets’ strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to identify the relative risk and return profile of any potential target for our initial business combination. Given our management team’s extensive tenure investing in the financial services industry, we expect that we will often be familiar with the prospective target’s end-market, competitive landscape and business model.
In evaluating a potential target business, we expect to conduct a comprehensive due diligence review to seek to determine a company’s quality and its intrinsic value. That due diligence review may include, among other things, financial statement analysis, detailed document reviews, multiple meetings with management, consultations with relevant industry experts, competitors, customers and suppliers, as well as a review of additional information that we will seek to obtain as part of our analysis of a target company.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or strategic advisors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor or our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team, including our officers and directors, will directly or indirectly own our securities following the IPO and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target company is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Each of our officers and directors, as well as our management teams, may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers, directors, and management team members was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to such business combination.
Each of our directors, director nominees and officers presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then- current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will be permitted by our organizational documents to discharge his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any business combination opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officers of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and strategic advisors may sponsor, form or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly in the event there is overlap among investment mandates. However, we do not currently expect that any such other blank check company would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor, officers, directors or strategic advisors are not required to commit any specified amount of time or resources to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time and resources among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
Initial Business Combination
So long as our securities are then listed on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% of net assets threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
Giving effect to the extensions under the 2024 Charter Amendment Proposals and subject to the Company making the required trust account deposits, we have until August 28, 2024 (the “Termination Date”), to complete an initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination by the Termination Date, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, 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 as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate.
Any such parties may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by issuing to such parties a class of equity or equity-linked securities. We refer to this potential future issuance, or a similar issuance to other specified purchasers, as a “specified future issuance.” The amount and other terms and conditions of any such specified future issuance would be determined at the time thereof. We are not obligated to make any specified future issuance and may determine not to do so. This is not an offer for any specified future issuance. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of our Class B common stock, any such specified future issuance would result in an adjustment to the conversion ratio such that our sponsor and its permitted transferees, if any, will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all common stock outstanding upon completion of the IPO plus all shares issued in the specified future issuance, unless the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of our Class B common stock agreed to waive such adjustment with respect to the specified future issuance at the time thereof. We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time of any such specified future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. If such adjustment is not waived, the specified future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of shares of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the specified future issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-business combination company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-business combination company owns or acquires less than 100%
of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Even if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-business combination company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. If our securities are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net asset test.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in us incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination with us. In a business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of stock, shares or other equity interests in the target business for our Class A common stock (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of our Class A common stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. We believe target businesses will find this method a more expeditious and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial public offering process takes a significantly longer period of time than the typical business combination transaction process, and there are significant expenses in the initial public offering process, including underwriting discounts and commissions, that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriter’s ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring or have negative valuation consequences. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital, an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public company can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While we believe that our structure and our management team’s backgrounds will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history and our ability to seek stockholder approval of any proposed initial business combination, negatively.
Emerging Growth Company Status
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 $1.235 billion (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of shares of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or 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.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of shares of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues equals or exceeds $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of shares of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.
Effecting Our Initial 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 our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, our equity, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt, or not all of the funds released from the Trust Account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of shares of our Class A common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the Trust Account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-business combination company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Although our management will assess the risks inherent in a particular target business with which we may combine, we cannot assure you that this assessment will 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 affect a target business.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the Trust Account. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater
than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the Trust Account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the Trust Account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the initial business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the IPO. None of our sponsor, officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will be prohibited from issuing additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond the completion window or (y) amend the foregoing provisions, unless (in connection with any such amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation) we offer our public stockholders the opportunity to redeem their public shares.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity groups, investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since some of these sources will have read our prospectus and our other publicly available filings with the SEC and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors. We may engage professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions, including the underwriter or one of its affiliates, 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. In no event, however, will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or their respective affiliates be paid by us any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We have agreed to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative support and to reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-business combination company following our initial business combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, or our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor or any of our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
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 entities that are affiliates of our sponsor, pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual
obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, subject to their fiduciary duties under Delaware law.
Evaluation of a Target Business and Structuring of Our Initial Business Combination
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct an extensive due diligence review which may encompass, as applicable and among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities and a review of financial and other information about the target and its industry. We will also utilize our management team’s operational and capital planning experience. If we determine to move forward with a particular target, we will proceed to structure and negotiate the terms of the business combination transaction.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. The company will not pay any consulting fees to members of our management team, or their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
● subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination; and
● 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’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Permitted Purchases and Other Transactions with Respect to Our Securities
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination.
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
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 or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.
The purpose of any such transaction could be to (i) vote in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination, (ii) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (iii) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders (in the case of Class A common stock) following our mailing of tender offer or proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the Trust Account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already been voted at the stockholder meeting related to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, executive officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase shares from based on the negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. We expect any such purchases would be reported by such person pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the Trust Account was initially anticipated to be $10.20 per public share. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Further, we will not proceed with redeeming our public shares, even if a public stockholder has properly elected to redeem its shares, if a business combination does not close. Our sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with (i) the completion of our initial business combination, and (ii) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business by the Termination Date or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of our Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval. We currently intend to conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote unless stockholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC for business or other reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, we will be required to comply with the NYSE rules.
If we held a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
● conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and
● file proxy materials with the SEC.
In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. In such case, our sponsor and each member of our management team have agreed to vote their founder shares and public shares in favor of our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or vote at all. In addition, our sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with (i) the completion of a business combination, and (ii) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of shares of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of shares of our Class A common stock.
If we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
● conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and
● file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than the number of public shares we are permitted to redeem. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination.
Public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” will be required to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, mailed to such holders, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/ Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, in each case up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote to approve the business combination. The proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate the applicable delivery requirements,
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination If We Seek Stockholder approval
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO, which we refer to as “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then- current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us, our sponsor or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in the IPO without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash.
However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation If No Initial Business Combination
As stated above, if we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Termination Date, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then- outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to consummate an initial business combination within 33 months from the closing of the IPO or any other approved extension of such period. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, if we wind up for any other reason prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the Trust Account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to applicable Delaware law.
Our sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to consummate an initial business combination within the Combination Period or any other approved extension of such period (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame).
Our sponsor, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of shares of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of shares of our Class A common stock, unless we 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 the then-outstanding public shares. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our sponsor, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person.
We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining outside the Trust Account, plus up to $100,000 of funds from the Trust Account available to us to pay dissolution expenses, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose.
If we were to expend all of the proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the Trust Account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be $10.20 per share. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be less than $10.20 per share. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, 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, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account including, but not limited, to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any
third-party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third-party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third-party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third-party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. BofA Securities Inc. and Marcum LLP have not executed an agreement with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account. 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. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by (A) a third-party for services rendered or products sold to us (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), or (B) 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) $10.20 per 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 $10.20 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third-party or prospective target business that executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the IPO underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. 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. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would 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.
In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per 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 $10.20 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.20 per share.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the IPO underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We had access to up to $2,000,000 following the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our Trust Account could be liable for claims made by creditors, however such liability will not be greater than the amount of funds from our Trust Account received by any such stockholder.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period or any other approved extension of such period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period or any other approved extension of such period, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period or any other approved extension period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the Termination Date and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the Trust Account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the Trust Account are not reduced below (i) $10.20 per share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the IPO underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our bankruptcy or insolvency estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy or insolvency claims deplete the Trust Account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.20 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only (i) in the event of the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period or such longer period as approved by the stockholders and reflected in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation from the closing of the IPO, (ii) in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of shares of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of shares of our
Class A common stock, or (iii) if they redeem their respective shares for cash upon the completion of the initial business combination. Public stockholders who redeem their shares of our Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote described in clause (ii) in the preceding sentence shall not be entitled to funds from the Trust Account upon the subsequent completion of an initial business combination or liquidation if we have not consummated an initial business combination within the Combination Period or any other approved extension period, with respect to such shares of our Class A common stock so redeemed. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the Trust Account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the Trust Account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. 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.
Employees
We currently have two non-employee executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any employees prior to the completion of our 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, public companies, operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than us. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
Our units, Class A common stock and warrants are registered under the Exchange Act, and we have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with or reconciled to United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or international financial reporting standards (IFRS) as promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial statements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We are required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on internal control over financial reporting. 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.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our business involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The occurrence of any of the events described below could harm our business, operating results, financial condition, liquidity, or prospects. In any such event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
For a discussion of risks factors related to proposed Unifund Business Combination, see the Registration Statement (File No. 333-273362) initially filed by the Company and NewPubco with the SEC on July 21, 2023 and subsequently amended.
Risk Factor Summary
An investment in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. Among these important risks are the following:
● We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share (the initial per share amount deposited in the Trust Account following the IPO) or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
● Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of the business combination.
● Past performance by our management team and members of our Board may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
● Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though holders of a majority of our common stock do not support such a combination.
● If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor has agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
● The ability of our public stockholders to exercise their redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that the proposed Unifund Business Combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
● The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination.
● 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 COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and interest rates and geopolitical events globally, and the status of debt and equity markets.
● Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
● As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets.
● Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
● If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public warrants from public stockholders or public warrant holders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock.
● If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
● Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
● If the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain loans from our sponsor or management team, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
● Certain agreements related to the IPO may be amended without stockholder approval.
● You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the Trust Account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
● If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share.
● 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.
● We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants effectively worthless.
● We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination, and may issue shares of common stock to redeem the warrants or issue shares of common stock or preferred stock under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
● Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Risks Relating to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination and Post-Business Combination Risks
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Under the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we must complete our initial business combination by August 28, 2024 (33 months from the closing of our IPO). We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete 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.
If we have not completed our initial business combination by the Termination Date, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account (less up to $100,000 of interest released to us to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share (the initial per share amount deposited in the Trust Account following the IPO), and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our management team, sponsor or directors or any of their respective affiliates to fund our search, to pay our taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain such loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of the business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you were not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of one or more target businesses. Since our Board may complete a business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
We are a recently formed company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a recently formed company with no operating results. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. If we fail to complete our business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though holders of a majority of our common stock do not support such a combination.
We may not hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons. Except as required by law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our common stock do not approve of the business combination we complete.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor has agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Unlike many other blank check companies in which the initial stockholders agree to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by the public stockholders in connection with an initial business combination, our sponsor has agreed to vote its founder shares, as well as any public shares purchased during or after the IPO, in favor of our initial business combination. Our sponsor owns shares representing 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock following the completion of the IPO. 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 our sponsor agreed to vote its founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise their redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that the proposed Unifund Business Combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
The business combination agreement for the proposed Unifund Business Combination requires us to meet the Minimum Cash Condition (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) at closing. If a number of our public stockholders redeem their shares for cash, such that the amount of Available Cash, as defined by the Business Combination Agreement, is below $40 million, we may need to complete additional equity or debt financing in order to consummate the proposed Unifund Business Combination. We do not know how many stockholders will ultimately exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination. As such, the Business Combination is structured based on our expectations (and those of the other parties to the Business Combination Agreement) as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption.
If too many of our public stockholders elect to redeem their shares and we are unable to meet the Minimum Cash Condition at closing or that we are unable to satisfy redemptions by our stockholders, and additional third-party financing is not available to us, there is an increased probability that the Business Combination would be unsuccessful. If the Business Combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account until we liquidate the Trust Account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our Class A common stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the Trust Account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with your exercise of the redemption rights of our Class A common stock until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination, including Unifund, will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period (by the August 28, 2024 Termination Date). Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
Our financial conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern” if a business combination is not consummated and there is no guarantee that we will have access to sufficient capital to meet the expenditures required for operating our business prior to the consummation of the proposed Business Combination.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company held $103,976 outside of the Trust Account and had a working capital deficit of $19,254,333, which is not sufficient to allow the Company to operate for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of the financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, assuming that the proposed Business Combination is not consummated during that time. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of consummating the proposed Business Combination. While the Company expects to have sufficient access to additional sources of
capital under the Working Capital Loans, there is no current commitment on the part of any financing source to provide additional capital and no assurances can be provided that such additional capital will ultimately be available if necessary. Further, if a business combination is not consummated by August 28, 2024, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but are not limited to, curtailing operations, reducing overhead expenses and suspending the pursuit of the proposed Business Combination. The Company cannot provide any assurance that financing sources will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms or if at all, or that it will be able to consummate the proposed Business Combination within the Combination Period. Management has determined that the liquidity condition, potential mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public warrants from public stockholders or public warrant holders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. There is no limit on the number of shares our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and the rules of the NYSE. However, other than as expressly stated herein, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants in such transactions. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination, or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent the purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the 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. For example, we
may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
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 COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and interest rates and geopolitical events globally, and the status of debt and equity markets.
The COVID-19 pandemic remains on-going and continues to impact the global economy. The extent to which COVID-19 may impact our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new variants of the COVID-19 virus 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 for an extensive period of time, 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, inflation, fluctuations in interest rates, geopolitical events globally, and other related events could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise adequate financing, 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.
Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses.
Furthermore, because we are obligated to pay cash for the shares of Class A common stock that our public stockholders redeem in connection with our initial business combination, target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. This may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share upon our liquidation. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient to allow us to operate our business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
The funds available to us outside of the Trust Account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate during the Combination Period, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that the proceeds raised in the IPO and the funds potentially available from loans from the sponsor or any of their affiliates will be sufficient to allow the Company to meet the expenditures required for operating its business. However, if the estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the initial business combination. 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 or merger agreements 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. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share upon our liquidation. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our sponsor or management team to fund our search for a business combination, to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, only approximately $2,000,000 were available to us initially outside the Trust Account to fund our working capital requirements. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to withdraw interest from the Trust Account and/or borrow funds from our sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate, or we may be forced to liquidate. None of our sponsor, members of our management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the Trust Account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our Trust Account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. Consequently, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.20 per share on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike some other blank check companies, if (i) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share; (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
Subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, investments and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time 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, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, investments and results of operations.
Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance becomes available. For example, on January 24, 2024, the SEC issued final rules and guidance relating to special purpose acquisition companies, like us, regarding, among other things, disclosure in SEC filings in connection with initial business combination transactions; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transaction; and the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. A failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations and any subsequent changes, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, including the proposed Unifund Business Combination, and results of operations.
Because we are not limited to a particular industry, sector or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
We may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company in any industry or sector. However, we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to complete our business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. To the extent we complete our business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, including Unifund, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues or earnings or difficulty in retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our business combination with an affiliated entity or our board cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our Board, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public shareholders on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Members of our management team may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Members of our management team may be able to remain with the company after the completion of our business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations could take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. There is no certainty, however, that any members of our management team will remain with us after the completion of our business combination. We cannot assure you that any members of our management team will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any members of our management team 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 complete our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company, which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.
Of the net proceeds from our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants of $178,550,000 was initially available to complete our business combination and pay related fees and expenses.
We may complete our business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to complete our business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in 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, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our business combination.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to complete our initial business combination with a privately held company. 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.
In order to complete our initial business combination, we may seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or other governing instruments, including our warrant agreement, in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination but that our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.
In order to complete a business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments, including their warrant agreement. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, changed industry focus and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or other governing instruments or change our industry focus in order to complete our initial business combination.
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our Trust Account) may be amended with the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Trust Agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter that prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company’s pre-business combination activity, without approval by a certain percentage of the company’s stockholders. In those companies, amendment of these provisions requires approval by between 90% and 100% of the company’s public stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of the IPO and the private placement of warrants into the Trust Account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the Trust Agreement governing the release of funds from our Trust Account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or in our initial business combination. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of the IPO will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or Trust Agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the Combination Period, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of amounts released to us to pay taxes and expenses related to the administration of the Trust Account), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, this letter agreement and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor, officers or directors for any breach of the letter agreement. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
Certain agreements related to our IPO may be amended without stockholder approval.
Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to our IPO, the letter agreement among us and our sponsor, officers and directors, and the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders, may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
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 the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be
available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account) on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include target historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”). These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
Transactions in connection with or in anticipation of our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to our stockholders and warrant holders. As a result of our business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.
Although we will attempt to structure transactions in connection with our initial business combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and we may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in anticipation of or as a result of our initial business combination and subject to requisite stockholder approval, we may enter into one or more transactions that require stockholders and/or warrant holders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes or otherwise increase their tax burden. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to stockholders or warrant holders to pay taxes in connection with our business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a stockholder or a warrant holder may be required to satisfy any liability resulting from any such transactions with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of such holder’s shares or warrants. In addition, we may effect a business combination with a target company in another jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located). As a result, stockholders and warrant holders may be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after our initial business combination.
Risks Relating to Our Securities
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the Trust Account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of our common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to certain limitations described in the prospectus, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to
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 the Combination Period and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our Trust Account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond the end of the Combination Period before they receive funds from our Trust Account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the Trust Account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
The NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on the NYSE in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on the NYSE prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Generally, following our IPO, we must maintain a minimum amount in stockholders’ equity (generally $2,500,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 public holders). Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with the NYSE’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than the NYSE’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and our stockholders’ equity would generally be required to be at least $5.0 million. We cannot assure you that we will continue to meet those listing requirements.
If the NYSE delists our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
● a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
● reduced liquidity for our securities;
● a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;
● a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
● a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on the NYSE, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on the NYSE, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the
United States securities laws. However, because we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the completion of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants 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. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if the IPO were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account to us unless and until the funds in the Trust Account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share.
Our placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent auditors), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.20 per share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.20 per share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes as well as expenses relating to administration of the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the 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, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.20 per share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our independent directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per share or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes as well as expenses relating to administration of the Trust Account, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations.
While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.20 per share.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and officers.
We have agreed to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, our directors and officers have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account and to not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by us only if: (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination. Our obligation to indemnify our directors and officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and we and our Board may be exposed to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our Board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the Trust Account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our business combination or force us to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination, including the proposed Unifund 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 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.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.
The SEC recently provided guidance that the determination of whether a special purpose acquisition company, like us, is an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act is a facts and circumstances determination requiring individualized analysis and depends on a variety of factors, including a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities, and “is a question of facts and circumstances” requiring individualized analysis. When applying these factors to us we do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the Company was formed for the purpose of completing an initial business combination with one or more businesses. Since our inception, our business has been and will continue to be focused on identifying and completing an initial business combination, and thereafter, operating the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. Further, we do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale and we do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our principal activities currently subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the Trust Account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 180 days or less or in mutual funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act that invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we do not believe we are an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our primary business objective, which is a business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to 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 the Combination Period; or (iii) absent a business combination, our return of the funds held in the Trust Account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares.
Further, investing in our securities is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. Instead, the Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of either: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our Articles (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business
combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within the completion window, our return of the funds held in the Trust Account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as described above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act.
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 complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month from the closing of our IPO in the event we do not complete our business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could delay the opportunity for our stockholders to elect directors.
In accordance with the NYSE’s corporate governance requirements, a listed company is required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders during each fiscal year. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, holders of our Class B common stock have the exclusive right to elect directors prior to the closing of an initial business combination. During the year ended December 31, 2023, in lieu of an annual meeting, our Sponsor, as sole holder of all outstanding shares of or Class B common stock, elected directors by written consent. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and
thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.
We have not registered the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we will use our reasonable best efforts to file, and within 60 business days following our initial business combination to have declared effective, a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such shares and maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will be required to use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant upon the exercise thereof. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
Our warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of shares of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We issued public warrants to purchase 8,625,000 shares of Class A common stock as part of the units offered in the IPO and private placement warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,333,333 shares of Class A common at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. In connection with the Initial Extension and Second Extensions, we issued to our sponsor an aggregate of 2,300,00 Extension Private Placement Warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per private placement warrant, on the same terms as the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor in connection with the closing our IPO. In addition, if the sponsor, its affiliates or a member of our management team makes any working capital loans, it may convert up to $1,500,000 of such loans into up to an additional 1,000,000 private placement warrants, at the price of $1.50 per warrant. We may also issue shares of our Class A common stock in connection with our redemption of our warrants.
To the extent we issue shares of our common stock for any reason, including to effectuate a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of our Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Such warrants, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the shares of our Class A common stock issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business transaction or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The warrants may become exercisable and redeemable for a security other than the shares of our Class A common stock, and you will not have any information regarding such other security at this time.
In certain situations, including if we are not the surviving entity in our initial business combination, the warrants may become exercisable for a security other than the shares of our Class A common stock. As a result, if the surviving company redeems your warrants for securities pursuant to the warrant agreement, you may receive a security in a company of which you do not have information at this time. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, the surviving company will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register the issuance of the security underlying the warrants within twenty business days of the closing of an initial business combination.
If you exercise your public warrants on a “cashless basis,” you will receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
Under the following circumstances, the exercise of the public warrants may be required or permitted to be made on a cashless basis: (i) if a registration statement covering the sale of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption; (ii) if our common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement; and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available; and (iii) if we call the public warrants for redemption under certain circumstances described in the warrant agreement. In the event of an exercise on a cashless basis, a holder would pay the warrant exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock calculated under the applicable provision in the warrant agreement. As a result, you would receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the closing of the IPO, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register their founder shares, after those shares convert to our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, holders of our private placement warrants can demand that we register the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants, and holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such warrants or the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the shareholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the common stock owned by our initial stockholders, holders of our private placement warrants or holders of our working capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our warrants are issued in registered form under the warrant agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then
outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement do not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the closing price of shares of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption to the warrants holders and provided certain other conditions are met. We will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to (i) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.
None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us. Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to complete our business combination.
We issued public warrants to purchase 8,625,000 shares of Class A common stock as part of the units offered in the IPO and private placement warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,333,333 shares of Class A common at $11.50 per share. In connection with the Initial Extension and Second Extensions, we issued to our sponsor an aggregate of 2,300,00 Extension Private Placement Warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per private placement warrant, on the same terms as the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor in connection with the closing our IPO. Our sponsor currently owns 4,312,500 shares of our Class B common stock which are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth herein. In addition, if our sponsor makes any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to complete a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants and conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the shares of Class A common stock issued to complete the business combination. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to complete a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in the IPO except that, (i) they will not be redeemable by us for cash, (ii) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis.
Because each unit contains one-half of one warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-half of one warrant. Because, pursuant to the warrant agreement, the warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares, only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one whole share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
Risks Relating to Our Sponsor and Management Team
Past performance by our management team and members of our Board may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team and members of our Board is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by such individuals is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate, (ii) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (iii) that we will be able to adequately assess the risks of a potential transaction. You should not rely on the historical record of performance of our management team and members of our Board as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. Additionally, in the course of their respective careers, members of our management team and Board have been involved in businesses and deals that were unsuccessful.
We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise.
We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s area of expertise if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. Although our
management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in the prospectus regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We are dependent upon our officers and directors, and their loss could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
Recently, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed in ways adverse to us and our management team. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. These trends may continue into the future. The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors. In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
Our ability to successfully complete our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of members of our management team, some of whom may not join us following our initial business combination. The loss of such people could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully complete our business combination is dependent upon the efforts of members of our management team. The role of members of our management team in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some members of our management team may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination
cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our officers, directors and strategic advisors may allocate their time to other businesses, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers, directors and strategic advisors 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. Each of our officers, directors and strategic advisors is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers, directors and strategic advisors are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. If our officers’, directors’ or strategic advisors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see “Conflicts of Interest” under Part III, Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Certain of our Founders presently have, and any of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion of our IPO and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our Founders are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business.
Our Founders also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities in the future to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.
For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please Part III, Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance under “Conflicts of Interest” and Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our officers, directors, strategic advisors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, strategic advisors, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact (subject to certain approvals and consents) we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors, officers or strategic advisors, although we do not intend to do so. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or strategic advisors which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, officers, directors and strategic advisors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or strategic advisors. Our directors and officers also serve as
officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under “Conflicts of Interest” in Part III, Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in the section of our prospectus 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 that is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or strategic advisors, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Since our sponsor will lose its entire investment in us if our business combination is not completed (other than with respect to public shares it may acquire) and our officers and directors may have differing personal and financial interests than you, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On March 15, 2021, our sponsor acquired 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our sponsor, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. On September 24, 2021, we repurchased 1,437,500 shares of our Class B common stock from the sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $6,250, which is equal to the original purchase price therefor. Our sponsor currently holds 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock, which represents, on an as-converted basis, over 20% of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, the private placement warrants held by our sponsor will also be worthless if we do not complete a business combination. Our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by it in favor of any proposed business combination and (B) not to redeem any founder shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination. In addition, we may obtain loans from our sponsor, affiliates of our sponsor or an officer or director. The personal and financial interests of our officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the expiration of the Combination Period nears.
Since our sponsor paid only approximately $0.004 per share for the founder shares, our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we acquire a target business that subsequently declines in value.
On March 15, 2021, our sponsor acquired 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. On September 24, 2021, we repurchased 1,437,500 shares of our Class B common stock from the sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $6,250, which is equal to the original purchase price therefor. Our sponsor currently holds 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock, which it acquired for net aggregate consideration of $18,750, or approximately $0.004 per share. Our officers and directors have a significant economic interest in our sponsor. As a result, the low acquisition cost of the founder shares creates an economic incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we acquire a target business that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public investors.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure a business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target sufficient for the post-transaction company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of Class A common
stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
Our initial stockholders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Our initial stockholders own shares representing more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, our Board, whose members were elected by our initial stockholders, is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” Board, only a minority of the Board will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our business combination.
General Risk Factors
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or other material disclosures in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
As disclosed in Part II, Item 9A. “Controls and Procedures,” we have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to the identification of material contractual arrangements impacting the Company’s financial statements and related to the review, approval and reporting of cash disbursements, specifically relating to the Company’s disbursement of the Withdrawn Trust Funds restricted for payment of the Company’s tax liabilities for general operating expenses counter to the terms of the Trust Agreement. We have also identified an additional material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as a result of the restatement of our unaudited financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. As a result of these identified material weaknesses, and the Company’s failure to disclose the disbursements of the balance of the Withdrawn Trust Funds made in October and November 2023 counter to the Terms of the Trust Agreement, our management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2023 at the reasonable assurance level.
We have taken a number of measures to remediate the material weaknesses described herein. However, the elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time, and we can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. If we are unable to remediate our material weaknesses in a timely manner or we identify additional material weaknesses, we may be unable to provide required financial information in a timely and reliable manner and we may incorrectly report financial information. Likewise, if our financial statements are not filed on a timely basis, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the stock exchange on which our Class A common stock is listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The existence of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our reputation or investor perceptions of us, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our shares. As a result of the material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting and ineffective disclosure controls and procedures, we face potential for litigation or other disputes which may include, among others, claims invoking the federal and state securities laws, claims related to the preparation of our financial statements, contractual claims, including as a result of disbursing the Withdrawn Trust Funds for purposes not authorized under the terms of the Trust Agreement. As of the date of this annual report, we have no knowledge of any such litigation or dispute.
However, we can provide no assurance that such litigation or dispute will not arise in the future. Any such litigation or dispute, whether successful or not, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition or our ability to complete an initial business combination.
We can give no assurance that the measures we have taken and plan to take in the future will remediate the material weaknesses identified or that any additional material weaknesses or restatements of financial results will not arise in the future due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of these controls. Even if we are successful in strengthening our controls and procedures, in the future those controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities or errors or to facilitate the fair presentation of our financial statements.
If we identify any new material weaknesses in the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our share price may decline as a result. We cannot assure you that any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination, and may issue shares of common stock to redeem the warrants or issue shares of common stock or preferred stock under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Following the IPO, there are 82,750,000 and 5,687,500 authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, which amount does not take into account the shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of any outstanding warrants or the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock. There are currently no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein, including in certain circumstances in which we issue Class A common stock or equity-linked securities related to our initial business combination.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination (including pursuant to a specified future issuance). After the completion of our initial business combination, we may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock to redeem the warrants as described in “Description of Securities-Warrants-Public Stockholders’ Warrants” or shares of common or preferred stock under an employee incentive plan. 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 contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
● may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the IPO;
● may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
● could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and
● may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
We may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the Trust Account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the Trust Account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
● default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
● 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;
● our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
● 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;
● our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
● 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 common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;
● limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
● increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
● limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; and
● other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may be subject to a new 1% U.S. federal excise tax in connection with redemptions of our stock.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other measures, a new 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations after December 31, 2022. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from whom the shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased. For purposes of calculating the excise tax, however, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.
On December 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued Notice 2023-2 (the “Notice”) as interim guidance until publication of forthcoming proposed regulations on the excise tax. Although the guidance in the Notice does not constitute proposed or final Treasury regulations, taxpayers may generally rely upon the guidance provided in the Notice until the issuance of the
forthcoming proposed regulations. Certain of the forthcoming proposed regulations (if issued) could, however, apply retroactively. The Notice generally provides that if a covered corporation completely liquidates and dissolves, distributions in such complete liquidation and other distributions by such covered corporation in the same taxable year in which the final distribution in complete liquidation and dissolution is made are not subject to the excise tax.
In connection with the 2023 Special Meeting, the holders of an aggregate of 3,825,869 shares of Class A common stock properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash. As a result, an aggregate of $41.1 million was released from the Trust Account to pay such stockholders. Because such redemptions occurred after December 31, 2022, such redemptions are subject to the excise tax. As of December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $410,576 of excise tax liability calculated as 1% of shares redeemed at the 2023 Special Meeting.
Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax in connection with any further redemptions would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the such redemptions, together with any other redemptions or repurchases we consummate in the same taxable year, (ii) the structure of any business combination and the taxable year in which it occurs, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances, in connection with a business combination or otherwise, issued within the same taxable year, (iv) whether we completely liquidate and dissolve within the taxable year of such redemptions, and (v) the content of final and proposed regulations and further guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a business Combination and in our ability to complete a Business Combination. The proceeds placed in the Trust Account and the interest earned thereon will not be used to pay for the excise tax that may be levied on the Company in connection with such redemptions. The Company further confirms that it will not utilize any funds from the Trust Account to pay any such excise tax.
Further, the application of the excise tax in the event of a liquidation is uncertain, and it is possible that the proceeds held in the Trust Account (in the event we are unable to complete a Business Combination in the required time and redeem 100% of our public shares in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation) could be subject to the excise tax, in which case the amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced. We do not expect such redemption in connection with the liquidating distribution to be subject to the excise tax under the Notice, but such expectation is subject to a number of factual and legal uncertainties, including further guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. This may make comparison of our financial statements with
another emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period, or another company that is otherwise required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards, 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 shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates did not exceed $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues did not exceed $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates did not exceed $700 million as of the prior June 30.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to complete 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 annually in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K. In the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered Board and the ability of the Board to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
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 (“Court of Chancery”) will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers, or employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case except for such claims as to which (a) the Court of Chancery determines that it does not have personal jurisdiction over an indispensable party, (b) exclusive jurisdiction is vested in a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (c) the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our common stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of,
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 adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder and Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
We would be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company (a “PHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, more than 50% of our stock may be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by five or fewer such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following the IPO or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, subject to certain adjustments.

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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 do not own any real estate or other physical properties materially important to our operation. We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660. The cost for our use of this space is included in the $10,000 per month fee we will pay to an affiliate of our sponsor for our office space, administrative and support services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

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

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Our units, Class A common stock and warrants are each traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “MNTN.U,” “MNTN” and “MNTN WS,” respectively. Our units commenced public trading November 24, 2021, and our Class A common stock and warrants commenced separate public trading on January 14, 2022.
Holders
As of March 15, 2024, there was one holder of record of our Class A common stock and one holder of record of our Class B common stock. The actual number of stockholders of our common stock is greater than the number of record holders and includes stockholders whose common stock are held in street name by brokers and other nominees.
Dividend Policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
None.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
There was no unregistered sale of our equity securities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, that were not otherwise disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer or Affiliated Purchaser
None.
Use of Proceeds from the IPO
On November 29, 2021, we consummated our IPO of 17,250,000 units, including 2,250,000 units sold pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The units sold were registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260343), as amended, declared effective by the SEC on November 23, 2021. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we completed the private sale of 6,333,333 private placement warrants at a purchase price of $1.50 per private placement warrant to the sponsor. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to the private placement. The private placement warrants were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
The sale of the units in the IPO and the concurrent sale of the private placement warrants generated gross proceeds to the Company of $182,000,000, consisting of $172,500,000 from the sale of the units and $9,500,000 from the sale of the private placement warrants. In connection with the closing of the IPO, we paid a total of $3,450,000 in underwriting discounts and commissions and $943,614 for other costs and expenses related to the IPO. In addition, the underwriter agreed to defer $6,037,500 in underwriting discounts and commissions. No payments for such expenses were made directly or indirectly to (i) any of our officers or directors or their associates, (ii) any persons owning 10% or more of any class of our equity securities, or (iii) any of our affiliates.
There has been no material change in the expected use of the net proceeds from our IPO, as described in our final IPO prospectus, filed with the SEC on November 24, 2021.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. [Reserved]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current plans, expectations and beliefs involving risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and other factors set forth in other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on March 8, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and 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 or entities. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, equity and debt.
The issuance of additional shares of our common stock in a business combination:
● may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the IPO, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
● may subordinate the rights of holders of shares of our Class A common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A common stock;
● could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our 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;
● 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
● May adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants; and may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.
Similarly, if we issue debt or otherwise incur significant debt, it could result in:
● default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
● 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;
● our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;
● our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;
● our inability to pay dividends on our Class A common stock;
● 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 Class A common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
● limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
● increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and
● 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.
Proposed Business Combination
As discussed above in Part I, Item 1. “Business,” on May 19, 2023, the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement with the Unifund Target Company group. The Business Combination Agreement has been approved by the boards of directors or board of managers, as applicable, of each of the Company, the Target Companies and New PubCo. In connection with the Unifund Business Combination, certain related agreements have been, or will be entered into on or prior to the closing of the Unifund Business Combination, including the New PubCo Registration Rights and Lock-up Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement and the Holder Support Agreement (each as defined and described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023). On February 25, 2024, the Company, Sponsor and Holdings entered into the Waiver and Consent to Business Combination Agreement.
The consummation of the proposed Unifund Business Combination is subject to certain conditions as further described in the Business Combination Agreement. For a description of the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and related agreements, refer to Note 1. Description of Organization and Business Operations to the audited financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023, and to the prospectus/proxy statement included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-273362) initially filed with the SEC on July 21, 2023 by the Company and the NewPubco in relation to the proposed Unifund Business Combination (such registration statement, as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”).
This Annual Report on form 10-K does not give effect to the proposed Unifund Business Combination and does not contain the risks associated with the proposed Unifund Business Combination. Such risks and effects relating to the proposed Unifund Business Combination are included in the Registration Statement.
Extension of Time to Complete an Initial Business Combination
For a discussion of each of the Company’s Combination Period extensions, see Part I, Item 1. “Business.” Giving effect to the 2024 Charter Amendment Extension and subject to the Company making the required trust account deposits, we have until August 28, 2024 (33 months from the closing of our IPO) to complete an initial Business Combination.
In connection with each of the 2023 and 2024 Charter Amendment Extensions, holders of our public shares were given the opportunity to redeem their public shares for a pro rata share of the funds on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to such approval at the respective Special Meeting, including any interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. In connection with the 2023 Special Meeting, stockholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 3,825,869 shares of Class A Common Stock at a per share redemption price of $10.73, totaling $41,057,655. In connection with the 2024 Special Meeting, stockholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 6,032,023 shares of Class A Common Stock at a per share redemption price of $11.17, totaling $67,377,697. Following the 2024 Special Meeting and associated redemptions, a total of 7,392,108 shares of Class A common stock remain outstanding and eligible for redemption.
As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Sponsor has deposited an aggregate of $1,980,000 into the Trust Account in connection with the initial six one-month extensions of the Combination Period pursuant to the 2023 Charter Amendment Extensions and the first and second one-month extension from February 28, 2024 to April 28, 2024 pursuant to the 2024 Charter Amendment Extensions. The Combination Period currently expires on April 28, 2024. The Company may extend the Combination Period for up to four additional one-month periods to August 28, 2024.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from March 8, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2023 were organizational activities, the activities necessary for our IPO, and those to complete the initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held in the Trust Account established at the time of the IPO to hold certain proceeds from the IPO and the concurrent sale of the private placement warrants. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as the transaction costs in relation to the proposed Unifund Business Combination.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had a net loss of $10,036,413, which consists of investment income held in the Trust Account of $8,237,882, offset by general and administrative expenses of $12,427,095, Conditional Guarantee expense of $3,845,474, interest expense of $315,450 and the provision for income taxes of $1,686,276. Of the $12,427,095 of general and administrative expenses, approximately $9.8 million relate to business combination costs and the remaining approximately $2.5 million consisted of operating expenses, including but not limited to legal, accounting, and insurance costs.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net income of $158,386, which consists of investment income held in Trust Account of $2,536,113, offset by general and administrative expenses of $1,922,290 and the provision for income taxes of $455,437. General and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2022 consisted of operating expenses, including but not limited to legal, accounting, and insurance costs, and costs to identify an acquisition target.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
Our liquidity needs were satisfied prior to the completion of our IPO through $18,750 paid by our sponsor, Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC (after giving effect to the repurchase by us of 1,437,500 shares of our Class B common stock from our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $6,250) to cover certain of our offering and formation costs in exchange for the issuance of the founder shares to our sponsor.
During 2021, we generated net proceeds of $ 177,606,386 from the (i) the sale of the units in the IPO, after deducting offering expenses, underwriting commissions, but excluding deferred underwriting commissions, and (ii) the sale of the private placement warrants. Of this amount, $175,950,000 were deposited in the Trust Account, which included $6,037,500 of deferred underwriting commissions (entitlement to which has since been waived by the underwriter). The proceeds held in the Trust Account are invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 180 days or less or in mutual funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
On May 7, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) in the principal amount of up to $1,500,000 to the Sponsor. The Promissory Note obligates the Company to repay the total amount drawn (in the form of a non-convertible working capital loan), together with accrued interest at the rate of 6% on the total amount drawn (the “Interest”), provided that the total repayment amount shall not exceed $1,500,000 plus the applicable Interest.
On December 7, 2023, the Company amended and restated the Promissory Note (the “Amended Promissory Note”) to, among other things (i) increase the principal amount that may be drawn upon by the Company to up to $3,500,000, (ii) amend the rate at which interest accrues on outstanding principal amounts to (a) 6.0% for any principal amount drawn down up to $1,500,00 and (b) 18.0% for any principal amount drawn down greater than $1,500,000, and (iii) amend the maturity date to the earlier of (a) the closing of the Business Combination or (b) February 28, 2024. Through December 31, 2023, the Company received an aggregate of $2,752,500 in proceeds from the Sponsor under the Amended Promissory Note. The Company recorded the interest expense of $315,450 on the Amended Promissory Note for the year ended December 31, 2023. From January 1, 2024 to March 29, 2024, the Company drew an aggregate of $875,000 of funds under its Second A&R Promissory Note in order to fund the First 2024 Monthly Extension, the Second 2024 Monthly Extension, and working capital needs.
On March 26, 2024, the Company and the Sponsor further amended and restated Amended and Restated Promissory Note (the “Second A&R Promissory Note”), to, among other things, (i) increase the principal amount of the Second A&R Promissory Note that may be drawn upon by the Company up to $4,000,000, and (ii) amend the maturity date to the earlier of (x) the closing of the Business Combination or (y) May 7, 2024.
On May 8, 2023, the Company received a letter providing notice from the representative of the underwriters in the Company’s IPO, waiving any entitlement to their portion of the $6,037,500 deferred underwriting fee that accrued from their participation as the underwriters of the IPO as they have not been involved in the Business Combination process.
In connection with the shareholder vote to approve the 2023 Charter Amendment Proposals at the 2023 Special Meeting, the holders of 3,825,869 shares of Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem such shares at a per share redemption price of approximately $10.73, and an aggregate of $41,057,656 was withdrawn from the Trust Account.
In connection with the shareholder vote to approve the 2024 Charter Amendment Proposals at the 2024 Special Meeting, the holders of 6,032,023 shares of Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem such shares at a per share redemption price of approximately $11.17, and an aggregate of $67,377,697 was withdrawn from the Trust Account.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $3,045,455, which is related primarily to the payments of transaction costs.
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash of $103,976 held outside of the Trust Account (reserved for tax payment) and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $148,555,898 consisting of securities held in a mutual fund that invests in U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of 180 days or less. Interest income on the balance in the Trust Account may be used by us to pay income and franchise taxes.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Company withdrew $101,749 in order to satisfy its federal income taxes and Delaware Franchise taxes. These funds were remitted to the taxing authorities during the year ended December 31, 2023.
In the second quarter of 2023, the Company withdrew $520,000 in order to satisfy its federal income taxes and Delaware Franchise taxes. These funds were remitted to the taxing authorities during the year ended December 31, 2023.
In August 2023, the Company withdrew an additional $1,075,252 of interest and dividend income earned in the Trust Account (the “Withdrawn Trust Funds”) for payment of the Company’s estimated franchise and income tax liabilities. The Withdrawn Trust Funds were restricted for payment of such tax liabilities under the Company’s certificate incorporation and the terms of the Trust Agreement. During the third and fourth quarters of 2023, the Company disbursed the aggregate amount of Withdrawn Trust Funds for the payments of general operating expenses counter to the terms of the Trust Agreement. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, none of the $1,075,252 had been remitted to satisfy franchise and income tax liabilities and such liabilities remain outstanding. The Company intends to raise additional funds prior to the closing of the Business Combination to satisfy income and franchise tax liabilities. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, any loan made to the Company for the purpose of paying overdue tax obligations that should have been paid using the Withdrawn Trust Funds would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. As of the date of this Annual Report on form 10-K, the Company has not obtained any commitments to provide additional funds and the Company’s board of directors has not approved any method of funding the Company’s income and franchise tax obligations.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we withdrew $375,865 of interest earned on the trust account to pay $111,220 of federal income taxes and $264,645 of Delaware franchise taxes.
On each of February 29, 2024 and March 26, 2024, the Company deposited $150,000 into the Trust account for the first and second one-month extension from February 28, 2024 to April 28, 2024 pursuant to the 2024 Charter Amendment Extensions.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less taxes payable), to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest income (if any) to pay franchise and income taxes. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account. To the extent that our equity or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
The $103,976 held outside of the Trust Account as of December 31, 2023, in combination with the working capital deficit of $19,254,333, will not be sufficient to allow the Company to operate for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of the financial statements contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K, assuming that a Business Combination is not consummated during that time.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. Through December 31, 2023, the Company received an aggregate of $2,752,500 in the form of a non-convertible working capital loan (in the form of the Amended Promissory Note) from its Sponsor. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company does not have any commitments to provide any additional Working Capital Loans.
The Company believes that the proceeds raised in the IPO, and the funds potentially available from loans from the Sponsor or any of their affiliates will be sufficient to allow the Company to meet the expenditures required for operating its business. However, if the estimate of the costs to complete the proposed Business Combination with Unifund is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the initial Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete the Business Combination or because the Company becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of public shares upon completion of the Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. We cannot provide any assurance that any new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
Giving effect to the 2024 Charter Amendment Extensions and subject to the Company making the required trust account deposits, we have until August 28, 2024, the Termination Date, to complete an initial business combination. It is uncertain whether the Company will be able to consummate the proposed business combination by the Termination Date. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination by the Termination Date we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish our public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law and as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate.
Management has determined that our liquidity condition, potential mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, assuming a Business Combination is not consummated before August 28, 2024. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into prior to the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The holders of these securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company register the resale of any or all of these securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an underwritten offering. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration
statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial business combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Deferred Underwriting Commissions
The underwriters were entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per unit, or $6,037,500 in the aggregate. Subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement, the deferred fee was placed in our Trust Account to be released to the underwriters only upon the completion of our initial business combination. On May 8, 2023, the Company received a letter providing notice from the representative of the underwriters, waiving any entitlement to their portion of the $6,037,500 deferred underwriting fee that accrued from their participation as the underwriters of the IPO as they have not been involved in the Proposed Business Combination process.
Administrative Services Agreement
We are party to an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which the Company has agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month, until the earlier of the completion of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation of the trust assets, for office space, secretarial and administrative services. Upon completion of the initial Business Combination or liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company expensed $120,000 and $122,425, respectively, for the services provided through the Administrative Services Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, the balance due under the agreement was $90,000 and was included in Due to related party. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had no amounts due to the Sponsor related to the Administrative Services Agreement.
Conditional Guarantees
In connection with the Initial Extension and the Second Extension, the Company entered into a Conditional Guaranty Agreement in favor of the Noteholder in respect of each Extension Note. Pursuant to each Conditional Guaranty Agreement, the Company has agreed, subject to the Company’s consummation of an Initial Business Combination prior to the Termination Date), to guarantee the payment by the Sponsor to the Noteholder when due of all principal and accrued interest owed to the Noteholder under the respective Extension Note. The Company’s obligations under each Conditional Guaranty Agreement will terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) the payment in full or discharge and termination of the Extension Note, (ii) the failure to consummate an initial business combination prior to the Termination Date or (iii) immediately prior to the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The Noteholder has waived any right, title, interest and claim of any kind as it relates to the Trust Account.
The Company accounts for the Conditional Guarantees in accordance with the guidance in ASC 460, “Guarantees” (“ASC 460”) as the Conditional Guarantees contingently require the Company to make payments to a guaranteed party. As required by ASC 460, at the inception, the Company assessed the need to recognize a liability for the contingent component of the guarantee (the obligation to make future payments upon the occurrence of certain events) in accordance with the guidance in ASC 450, “Contingencies” (“ASC 450”). Under ASC 450, a Company is required to record a liability if it is probable that the Company would have to make a payment under the guarantee, and the payment can be reasonably estimated. See Note 4 for further detail as it relates to the Conditional Guarantees.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company deemed that the payment of the Extension Notes on behalf of the Sponsor was probable and recorded a liability of $3,845,474, including $3,450,000 of principal and $395,474 of accrued interest related to the Extension Notes.
Working Capital Loan -Promissory Note
See “-Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern,” above for a description of the Promissory Note, as subsequently amended and restated by the Amended Promissory note and the Second A&R Promissory Note) issued by the Company in connection with amounts received in the form of working capital loans during the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company recorded the interest expense of $315,450 on the Amended Promissory Note for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Our management believes that the estimates, judgment and assumptions used are reasonable based upon information available at the time they are made. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies and estimates:
Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Shares of common stock subject to mandatory redemption, if any, is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that is either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s common stock features 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, 2023 and 2022, common stock subject to possible redemption is presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.
The Class A common stock subject to possible redemption reflected on the balance sheet as December 31, 2023 are reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds
$
172,500,000
Less:
Class A common stock issuance costs
(10,100,667)
Fair value of Public Warrants at issuance
(4,672,162)
Redemption of Class A common stock
(41,057,655)
Plus:
Re-measurement of carrying value to redemption value
18,222,829
Accretion of trust earnings
12,919,599
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption
$
147,811,944
The Class A common stock subject to possible redemption reflected on the balance sheet as December 31, 2022 are reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds
$
172,500,000
Less:
Class A common stock issuance costs
(10,100,667)
Fair value of Public Warrants at issuance
(4,672,162)
Plus:
Re-measurement of carrying value to redemption value
18,222,829
Accretion of trust earnings
1,717,994
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption
$
177,667,994
Net (loss) income Per Share of Common Stock
We comply with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Net (loss) income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. We have not considered the effect of the warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement in the calculation of diluted income per share, because the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events and the inclusion of such warrants would be anti- dilutive. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A common stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and net operating and capital loss carryforwards using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The valuation allowance is reduced when it is determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. The Company recognizes any interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.
There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
Recent accounting standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective January 1, 2024 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. Management is currently evaluating the new guidance but does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” that addresses requests for improved income tax disclosures from investors that use the financial statements to make capital allocation decisions. Public entities must adopt the new guidance for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The amendments in this ASU must be applied on a retrospective basis to all prior periods presented in the financial statements and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our financial statements. See Note 2 to the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding these and our other significant accounting policies.
Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012
Under the JOBS Act, an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an “emerging growth company” to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different transition dates for public and private companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We meet the definition of an “emerging growth company” and have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards until the earlier of the date we (x) are no longer an emerging growth company, or (y) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements and the reported results of operations contained therein may not be directly comparable to those of other public companies.

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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.
The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this report. An index of those financial statements is found in Item 15 of Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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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.
Limitations on effectiveness of controls and procedures
In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer (our “Certifying Officers”), we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, and as a result of the material weaknesses described below, and the disclosure control deficiency identified in the Company’s Form 10-Q/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024, our Certifying Officers concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of our company,
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and
(3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2023. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on these assessments and those criteria and the material weaknesses discussed below, management concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as of December 31, 2023.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.
Previously Identified Material Weaknesses
A material weakness is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of its financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. These deficiencies could result in additional material misstatements to our financial statements that could not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
As previously reported, in connection with the preparation of our unaudited condensed financial statements included in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023, a material error was identified in the calculation of the deferred underwriting commission during the second quarter of 2023 as result of not accounting for a contractual arrangement under which the underwriters agreed with the Company to waive any entitlement to their portion of the deferred underwriting fee. As a result of this error, management concluded that existing controls failed and that a material weakness exists in our internal control over financial reporting related to the identification of material contractual arrangements impacting the Company’s financial statements. This error was corrected prior to the issuance of the unaudited financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company withdrew $1,075,252 of interest and dividend income earned in the Trust Account. Such Withdrawn Trust Funds were restricted for payment of the Company’s tax liabilities as provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and the terms of the Trust Agreement. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company mistakenly used $752,885 of the Withdrawn Trust Funds for the payments of general operating expenses counter to the terms of the Trust Agreement. Subsequent to the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company disbursed an aggregate of $322,267, the balance of the Withdrawn Trust Funds, for payment of general operating expenses between October 1, 2023 and November 6, 2023. The Withdrawn Trust Funds were disbursed without appropriate review and approval to ensure that the disbursements were made in accordance with the Trust Agreement ensuring an appropriate safeguarding of assets. As a result of the foregoing, management concluded that the existing control structure failed and that a material weakness exists in our internal control over financial reporting related to the review and approval of cash disbursements. In addition, the disbursement of the balance of the Withdrawn Trust Funds subsequent to September 30, 2023 was not reported in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, originally filed with the SEC on December 19, 2023 (the “Original Filing”). This omission resulted in the restatement of the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The Company’s controls over the completeness of subsequent events disclosure failed and as a result of this restatement, management concluded that there was an additional material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting relating to the reporting of material subsequent event information in the notes to the financial statements.
Remediation Efforts to Address Previously Identified Material Weaknesses
To address these material weaknesses, management has devoted, and plans to continue to devote, significant effort and resources to the remediation and improvement of its internal control over financial reporting. In particular, management’s plans include enhanced controls and improved internal communications within the Company and its financial reporting advisors related to the identification of any new contractual arrangements, as well as controls to ensure the Company has oversight of the cash availability for operating needs, including more clearly designating in the Company’s internal books and records the cash that is restricted in its use and the implementation of an additional layer of review of payments for operating expenses to ensure that restricted cash is not used for payment of general operating expenses, and conducting remedial training for management, relevant staff and service providers to reiterate and reinforce the terms of the Trust Agreement. Management’s remediation plan also includes the addition of a
control requiring the Company’s audit committee to approve any withdrawals from the Trust Account and requiring the placement of such withdrawn funds in a restricted account for the payment of taxes. To address the material weakness identified in connection with the restatement of the Company’s financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, management has added a control requiring enhanced documentation of discussions between management, the Company’s advisors and the Company’s audit committee regarding subsequent events to ensure appropriate consideration of the completeness of subsequent event disclosures.
As of December 31, 2023, we continue to implement our remediation plan and we believe we have put in place the processes, procedures and reviews necessary to address the material weaknesses, however until the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively, the material weaknesses will not be considered remediated. We can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. We are committed to the continuous improvement of our internal control over financial reporting and will continue to diligently review our internal control over financial reporting.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Except as described above under “Remediation Efforts to Address Previously Identified Material Weaknesses,” there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
(a)None.
(b)During the three months ended December 31, 2023, no director or “officer” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and members of our board of directors (ages as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K):
Name
Age
Position
Adam Dooley
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer, Secretary and Director
Jacqueline S. Shoback
Chief Operating Officer and Director
Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann*
Director
Elizabeth Mora*
Director
Peter K. Scaturro*
Director
* Member of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee
The experience of our directors and executive officers is as follows:
Executive Officers
Adam Dooley
Mr. Dooley has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer and Director since March 2021 as our Secretary since May 2021 and as our Chairman since October 2021. Mr. Dooley has deep expertise in the private wealth management sector and has led international transformation initiatives for several leading publicly traded financial services companies across North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Since January 2021, Mr. Dooley has served as the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Belay International Corporation, a financial sponsor focused on technology enabled companies in the wealth and asset management sector. From December 2019 to December 2020, Mr. Dooley served as President of PREP Securities, a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Prep Property Group, a fully integrated real estate development and management company. From February 2014 to December 2019, Mr. Dooley served as a Managing Director and Partner of CR Capital Group LLC, where he led advisory and joint partnerships with alternative investment managers to create capital raising platforms in the private wealth management sector. From November 2012 to December 2013, Mr. Dooley served as Vice President and National Sales Manager of U.S. Individual Retirement Savings and Structured Product Solutions at MetLife, Inc. From March 2008 to October 2012, Mr. Dooley served as Managing Director and Head of Wealth Management, EMEA at MetLife, where he led wealth management and structured product solutions across Europe and the Middle East with accountability for 12 countries. Mr. Dooley started his career in the Fixed Income Trading Division of Salomon Smith Barney in 1994.
Mr. Dooley received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. He also received an MBA from IMD University in Switzerland, where he was awarded the prestigious International Consulting Project Award for his work with Swiss Life and Bain Consulting analyzing Europe’s retail financial advice sector.
Jacqueline S. Shoback
Ms. Shoback has served as our Chief Operating Officer since March 2021 and as a Director since September 2021. Ms. Shoback brings extensive experience in executive leadership of wealth management companies and direct investments experience, and she has served on the board of directors of leading financial services companies.
In January 2020, Ms. Shoback co-founded and currently serves as Managing Director of 1414 Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage companies in the digital identity sector. From February 2015 to January 2020, Ms. Shoback worked at Boston Private Financial Holdings, a wealth, trust and private banking services company which was publicly-traded until it was acquired by SVB Financial Group in June 2021. She held several C-suite roles during her tenure including Chief Executive Officer of the Emerging Businesses & Client Experience at Boston Private Bank & Trust Company, or Boston Private Bank, a wholly- owned private banking and trust company subsidiary of Boston Private Financial Holdings. Ms. Shoback was also an Executive Director on the board of directors of the Boston Private Bank from October 2017 until January 2020. From December 2010 to January 2015, Ms. Shoback served as Senior Vice President and Head of Retail and Individual Marketing at Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, or TIAA, a wealth management and financial services provider. From 2006 to 2009, Ms. Shoback served as Senior Vice President and Head of High Net Worth and Mass Affluent Marketing segments at Fidelity Investments, two segments where she restructured the offering and sales and service models which drove increased loyalty and asset consolidation. Ms. Shoback also served as Senior Vice President of National Sales and Service Distribution at Fidelity Investments, from January 2004 to December 2006. Ms. Shoback previously has held various roles at Staples, including Vice President and Head of Opportunity Markets of its U.S. Retail Division.
In addition, since 2017, Ms. Shoback has served as a member of the Board of Directors and both the Audit & Human Resources and Compensation Committees of CUNA Mutual Group, a mutual insurance company that provides financial services to cooperatives, credit unions and their members, and other customers in the United States.
Ms. Shoback received an MBA from Harvard Business School and her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Wellesley College.
Non-Employee Directors
Peter K. Scaturro
Mr. Scaturro has served as our Lead Independent Director since September 2021. Mr. Scaturro has extensive senior executive leadership experience at leading global financial institutions, with a focus on wealth management and private banking.
Since 2010, Mr. Scaturro has served as a Private Investor for PKS LLC, a private investment firm that he founded. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Scaturro served as a Partner at Goldman Sachs’ Global Private Client business. During his time at Goldman Sachs, he was a member of the firm-wide Goldman Sachs Business Practices Committee and served on the Investment Management Division Operating Committee. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Scaturro served as the Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Trust, where he added significant depth to the management team, increased the size of the sales force and introduced an open architecture capability. While at U.S. Trust, Mr. Scaturro was a member of the Executive Committee of Charles Schwab, which owned U.S. Trust at the time. Mr. Scaturro also served as Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup Global Private Bank from 1999 to 2004. He is a former Partner at Bankers Trust, which was acquired by Deutsche Bank in 1999.
In addition, since June 2022, Mr. Scaturro has served as Managing Partner of the Regenerative SportsCare Institute, a pioneer in using regenerative medicine and interventional orthobiologics to treat spine and joint disorders. Since September 2020, Mr. Scaturro has served as member of the Board of Advisors of Electus Global Education Co., a developer and manufacturer of youth financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career education technology. Since June 2014, Mr. Scaturro has also served as a Director and Vice Chairman of Orthobond Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on developing antimicrobial surface technology, where he also served as Non-Executive Chairman from 2016 to 2020.
Mr. Scaturro received his Master’s degree in Engineering and his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering at Columbia University.
Elizabeth Mora
Ms. Mora has served as a Director since September 2021. Ms. Mora has more than 30 years of leadership experience in financial operations and corporate governance.
From August 2008 to August 2020, Ms. Mora served as Chief Administrative Officer, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Treasurer at Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, a $750 million research and development innovation laboratory spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 2006 to 2008, Ms. Mora served as Chief Financial Officer of Harvard University, where she served on the Harvard Management Company Endowment Board which managed approximately $35 billion in assets at the time. From 1997 to 2006, Ms. Mora served as the Associate Vice President of Research and Administration of Harvard University. Ms. Mora is a former Senior Manager of the National Regulatory Consulting Practice at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Ms. Mora currently serves as a board member of Nuburu, Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a publicly-traded company developing advanced lasers for industrial applications, MKS Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: MKSI), a publicly-traded semi-conductor and advanced market technology company, Inogen, Inc. (Nasdaq: INGN), a publicly-traded medical technology company that primarily develops, manufactures and markets portable oxygen concentrators; and Limoneira Company (Nasdaq: LMNR), a publicly-traded agribusiness, rental operations and real estate development company. In addition, since October 2018, Ms. Mora has served as an Advisory Board member at Cambridge Trust Company, a publicly-traded local wealth management bank with $4 billion in assets. From February 2016 to June 2020, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors of GCP Applied Technologies, a publicly-traded manufacturer of chemicals and materials used in construction.
Ms. Mora is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts and received an MBA from Simmons University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann
Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann has served as a director since May 2023. Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann is a seasoned Chief Executive Officer with broad leadership experience in sales, marketing, risk management and international business operations.
She is the founding member of the RMK Group, LLC, an advisory and consulting service focused on fintech, digital currency and payment systems, which was formed in June 2020. Previously, she served in various senior leadership roles at Citibank from 2008 until June 2020 and at Wells Fargo from 1996 until 2008. Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann currently serves as a board member of Blockchain Coinvestors Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: BCSA), a special purpose acquisition company. Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann previously served as a non-executive director of Flutterwave, a provider of commercial financing and mobile payment services, from February 2022 to February 2023, on the board of Revolut USA, a global financial technology company, from October 2020 to June 2022, and as a chair of the board of Banamex USA/Servicing Inc. from April 2016 to March 2020 and as a director from 2013 to 2020. She has also served since October 202 as an Executive Mentor at The ExCo Group, has served on the advisory board of DigitalDX Ventures, a majority women-owned impact fund focused on leveraging AI and big data to solve global health issues, since February 2021, as an advisor to Notabene, a privacy-preserving compliance platform for digital currency companies, since December 2020, and as the Growth Advisory Council of Duco, which provides data management for financial services firms, from September 2020 until August 2021. She also is an advisor to Banyan and Kapitalwise along with multiple other companies. In addition, Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann serves as Interim Audit Chair of the San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors.
Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann received her B.A. in semiotics from Brown University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Helsinki. We believe Ms. Macieira-Kaufmann is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her deep regulatory experience and network in the financial services sector.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors are divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Elizabeth Mora and Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Jacqueline Shoback and Peter Scaturro, will expire at our second annual meeting of the stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Adam Dooley, will expire at our third annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we complete our initial Business Combination.
Prior to our initial Business Combination, only holders of shares of our Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the appointment of directors and any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled by a nominee chosen by holders of a majority of our founder shares. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to nominate persons to the offices set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation as it deems appropriate. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers may consist of one or more chairman of the board of directors, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
NYSE listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro are “independent directors” as defined in the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, NYSE rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of the NYSE require that the compensation committee and the nominating committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee operates under a charter that has been approved by our board and has the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee is available on our website at www.belayoneverest.com.
Audit Committee
Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro serve as members of our audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that each of Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro are independent under the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Elizabeth Mora serves as the Chairman of the audit committee. Under the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules, all directors on the audit committee must be independent. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Elizabeth Mora qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
The audit committee is responsible for:
● meeting with our independent registered public accounting firm regarding, among other issues, audits, and adequacy of our accounting and control systems;
● monitoring the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm;
● verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;
● inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
● pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;
● appointing or replacing the independent registered public accounting firm;
● determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;
● establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies;
● monitoring compliance on a quarterly basis with the terms of our IPO and, if any noncompliance is identified, immediately taking all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise causing compliance with the terms of our IPO; and
● reviewing and approving all payments made to our existing stockholders, executive officers or directors and their respective affiliates. Any payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with the interested director or directors abstaining from such review and approval.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The members of our nominating committee are Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro, and Peter K. Scaturro serves as chairman of the nominating committee. Under the NYSE listing standards, we are required to have a nominating committee composed entirely of independent directors. Our board of directors has determined that each of Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro are independent.
The nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of directors. The nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, stockholders, investment bankers and others.
Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees
The guidelines for selecting nominees, as specified our nominating committee charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:
● should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service;
● should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and
● should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the stockholders.
The nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs
that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by stockholders and other persons.
Compensation Committee
The members of our compensation committee are Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro, and Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann serves as chairman of the compensation committee.
Under the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. Our board of directors has determined that each of Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro are independent. The charter adopted by our compensation committee outlines the principal functions of the compensation committee, which include the following:
● reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
● reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other Section 16 executive officers;
● reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
● implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
● administering our Clawback Policy;
● assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
● producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement, as applicable,; and
● reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser.
However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by the NYSE and the SEC.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our board of directors has adopted corporate governance guidelines in accordance with the corporate governance rules of the NYSE that serve as a framework within which our board of directors and its committees operate. These guidelines cover a number of areas including board membership criteria and director qualifications, director responsibilities, roles of the chairman of the board, and lead director, meetings of independent directors, committee responsibilities and assignments, board member access to management and independent advisors, director communications with third parties, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, evaluation of senior management and management succession planning. A copy of our corporate governance guidelines is available on our website at www.belayoneverest.com.
Conflicts of Interest
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
● the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
● the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
● it would not be fair to our company and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
Certain of our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will be permitted by our organizational documents to discharge his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. 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. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and strategic advisors may sponsor, form or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly in the event there is overlap among investment mandates and we cannot assure you that any of such conflicts will be resolved in our favor. However, we do not currently expect that any such other blank check company would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor, officers, and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time or resources to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time and resources among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any business combination opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis.
Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties, contractual obligations or other material management relationships:
Individual
Entity
Entity’s Business
Affiliation
Adam Dooley
Belay International Corporation
Private Equity
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Jacqueline Shoback
1414 Ventures
Venture Capital
Managing Director
CUNA Mutual Group
Insurance
Director
Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann
RMK Group, LLC
Advisory
Member
Blockchain Coinvestors Acquisition Corp. I
SPAC
Director
San Francisco Symphony
Non-Profit
Director
Elizabeth Mora
MKS Instruments
Semi-Conductor and Advanced Technology
Director; Chairman of Audit Committee
Inogen, Inc.
Medical Technology
Director
Limoneira Company
Agribusiness, Rental Operations, Real Estate Development
Director
Nuburu, Inc.
Industrial Lasers
Director
Peter Scaturro
Regenerative SportsCare Institute
Medical, Biotechnology
Managing Partner
PKS LLC
Private Investment Firm
Founder
Orthobond Corporation
Biotechnology
Director
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or strategic advisors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor or any of our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Furthermore, in no event will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or their respective affiliates, be paid by us any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination, except, commencing on the date our securities are first listed on the NYSE, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to us in the amount of $10,000 per month.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We have entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors. Except with respect to any public shares they may acquire in the IPO or thereafter (in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination), our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account, and not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever, including with respect to such indemnification.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at belayoneverest.com. The information contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, a copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These reporting persons are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of such forms, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2023, there were no delinquent filers.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
None of our executive officers or directors have received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on the NYSE through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will reimburse an affiliate of our sponsor for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to us in the amount of $10,000 per month. In addition, our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account.
Other than quarterly audit committee review of such reimbursements, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with our activities on our behalf in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination. Other than these payments and reimbursements, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by the company to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or their respective affiliates, prior to completion of our initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers will be determined, or recommended to the
board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Compensation Recovery Policy
On November 30, 2023, our board of directors adopted a clawback policy (the “Clawback Policy”) in accordance with the NYSE listing rules and Exchange Act Rule 10D-1. Under the Clawback Policy, which applies to the Company’s current and former executive officers (as defined under Exchange Act Rule 10D-1), the Company is required to recoup the amount of any erroneously awarded compensation (as defined in the Clawback Policy) on a pre-tax basis within a specified lookback period in the event of any accounting Restatement (as defined in the Clawback Policy), subject to limited impracticability exceptions. The Clawback Policy is overseen and administered by the Compensation Committee. The Clawback Policy is attached as Exhibit 97.1 to this Annual Report.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 15, 2024 based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of common stock, by:
● each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock;
● each of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns our common stock; and
● all our executive officers and directors as a group.
In the table below, percentage ownership is based on 11,704,608 shares of our common stock, issued and outstanding as of March 15, 2024 (consisting of 7,392,108 shares of our Class A common stock and 4,312,500 shares of our Class B common stock. Voting power represents the voting power of shares of common stock owned beneficially by such person. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common stock beneficially owned by them.
Approximate
Number of
Percentage
Shares
of
of
Outstanding
Beneficially
Common
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
Owned
Stock
Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC (our sponsor) (2) (3)
4,312,500
36.8
%
Adam Dooley(2) (3)
4,312,500
36.8
%
Jacqueline Shoback
-
*
Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann
-
*
Elizabeth Mora
-
*
Peter Scaturro
-
*
All officers, directors and director nominees as a group (2)
4,312,500
36.8
%
Other 5% Shareholders
Meteora Capital, LLC(4) +
1,290,124
11.0
%
Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund, a series of Calamos Investment Trust (5) +
1,250,000
10.7
%
First Trust Capital Management, L.P. (6) +
1,146,713
9.8
%
Fir Tree Capital Management, LP (7) +
1,082,094
9.2
%
Wolverine Asset Management LLC (8) +
864,639
7.4
%
Cowen and Company, LLC(9) +
698,401
6.0
%
Saba Capital Management, L.P. (10) +
668,580
5.7
%
* Less than one percent.
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of our stockholders is 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
(2)
Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as Class B common stock. Such shares will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination.
(3)
The shares reported are held in the name of our sponsor. Certain of our directors, officers and their affiliates hold membership interests in our sponsor. Our sponsor is controlled by Belay Associates, LLC. Adam Dooley is the manager of Belay Associates, LLC. As such, Adam Dooley may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Class B common stock held directly by our sponsor.
(4)
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by Meteora Capital, LLC and Vik Mittal. Each of Meteroa Capital, LLC and Mr. Mittal, the managing member of Meteora Capital, LCC share voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,290, 124 shares of Class A common stock. The principal business address of Meteora Capital, LLC and Mr. Mittal is 1200 N Federal Hwy, #200, Boca Raton FL 33432.
(5)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund, a series of Calamos Investment Trust. The address of the business office of the Reporting Persons is 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, IL 60563
(6)
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund (“VARBX”), First Trust Capital Management L.P. (“FTCM”), First Trust Capital Solutions L.P. (“FTCS”) and FTCS Sub GP LLC (“Sub GP”). VARBX has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,104,485 shares of Class A common stock. FTCM, FTCS and Sub GP each share voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,146,713 shares of Class A common stock. The business address for FTCM, FTCS and Sub GP is 225 W. Wacker Drive, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60606. The principal business address of VARBX is 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212.
(7)
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by Fir Tree Capital Management, LP (“Fir Tree”). The principle business address of Fir Tree is 500 5th Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10110.
(8)
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 1, 2024 by Wolverine Asset Management LLC (“WAM”), Wolverine Holdings, L.P. (“Wolverine Holdings”), Wolverine Trading Partners, Inc. (“WTP”), Christopher L. Gust and Robert R. Bellick. WAM is an investment manager and has voting and dispositive power over 864,610 shares of Class A common stock. The sole member and manager of WAM is Wolverine Holdings. Robert R. Bellick and Christopher L. Gust may be deemed to control WTP, the general partner of Wolverine Holdings. Each of Wolverine Holdings, Mr. Bellick, Mr. Gust, and WTP have voting and disposition power over 864,639 shares of Class A common stock of the Issuer. The principal business address of WAM is 175 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 340, Chicago, IL 60604.
(9)
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 5, 2024 by Cowen and Company, LLC. The principal business address of Cowen and Company, LLC is 599 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10022.
(10)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 8, 2024 by Saba Capital Management, L.P. (“Saba Capital”), Saba Capital Management GP, LLC (“Saba GP”) and Boaz R. Weinstein. Each of Saba Capital, Saba GP and Mr. Weinstein share voting and dispositive power with respect to 668,580 shares of Class A common stock. The address of the business office of each of Saba Capital, Saba GP ad Mr. Weinstein is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174.
+ The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned does not reflect the impact of any redemptions that may have occurred in connection with the 2024 Special Meeting subsequent to the filing of the Schedule 13G. As such, the number of shares of common stock and percentages disclosed in the table above may not represent the current voting interest in the Company.
Our sponsor beneficially owns 36.8% of our issued and outstanding common stock, on an as converted basis. Because of this ownership block, our sponsor may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all other matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions including our initial business combination.
Our sponsor has agreed (a) to vote any founder shares and public shares held by it in favor of any proposed business combination and (b) not to redeem any founder shares or public shares held by it in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
On March 15, 2021, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain of our offering and formation costs in consideration of 5,750,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001. On September 24, 2021, we repurchased 1,437,500 shares of our Class B common stock from the sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $6,250, which is equal to the original purchase price therefor. The number of founder shares issued (and the number of such shares subject to forfeiture) was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares upon completion of our IPO. The founder shares (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
Concurrent with the closing of our IPO, our sponsor purchased in a private placement an aggregate of 6,333,333 private placement warrants, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $9,500,000. As such, our sponsor’s interest in this transaction is valued at approximately $9,500,000. In connection with the Initial Extension and Second Extensions, we issued to our sponsor an aggregate of 2,300,00 Extension Private Placement Warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per private placement warrant, on the same terms as the private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor in connection with the closing our IPO. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
As more fully discussed in Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance under “Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
We currently maintain our executive offices at 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660. The cost for our use of this space is included in the $10,000 per month fee we will pay to an affiliate of our sponsor for office space, administrative and support services, commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on the NYSE. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
No compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to our sponsor, officers and directors, or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete an initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, its affiliates or our management team as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
Following our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder
meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
In connection with the closing of the IPO, we entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which our sponsor is entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the private placement warrants, the warrants issuable upon conversion of working capital loans (if any) and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing and upon conversion of the founder shares, as long as the sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration rights agreement. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
In connection with the Sponsor’s financing of the Initial Extension and the Second Extension, the Sponsor entered into two Extension Notes in the aggregate amount of $3,450,000 ($1,725,000 for each extension) at an interest rate of 16% per annum with the Noteholder, a third-party investor. In connection with the Sponsor’s issuance of the Extension Notes, the Company entered into a Conditional Guaranty Agreements in favor of the Noteholder in respect of each Note. See “Part II, Item 7A. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations- Contractual Obligations and Commitments” for a description of the terms of the Conditional Guaranty Agreements.”
The Company has issued to the Sponsor an unsecured promissory note in the principal amount of up to $4,000,000 to the Sponsor. Through December 31, 2023, the Company received an aggregate of $2,752,500 in proceeds from the Sponsor under the Amended Promissory Note. See “Part II, Item 7A. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations- Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a description of the terms of the Second A&R Promissory Note.”
As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Sponsor has deposited an aggregate of $1,980,000 into the Trust Account in connection with the initial six one-month extensions of the Combination Period pursuant to the 2023 Charter Amendment Extensions and the first and second one-month extension from February 28, 2024 to April 28, 2024 pursuant to the 2024 Charter Amendment Extensions.
Policy for Approval of Related Party Transactions
The audit committee of our board of directors has adopted a written policy, providing for the review, approval and/or ratification of “related party transactions,” which are those transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the SEC, by the audit committee. At its meetings, the audit committee shall be provided with the details of each new, existing, or proposed related party transaction, including the terms of the transaction, any contractual restrictions that the company has already committed to, the business purpose of the transaction, and the benefits of the transaction to the company and to the relevant related party. Any member of the committee who has an interest in the related party transaction under review by the committee shall abstain from voting on the approval of the related party transaction, but may, if so requested by the chairman of the committee, participate in some or all of the committee’s discussions of the related party transaction. Upon completion of its review of the related party transaction, the committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the related party transaction.
Director Independence
NYSE listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Elizabeth Mora and Peter K. Scaturro are “independent directors” as defined in the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Sponsor Indemnity
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or by a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.20 per share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals for tax and up to $100,000 of interest to pay
dissolution expenses, except as to any claims by a third party (including such target business) who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under our indemnity or contribution of the underwriter of the 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, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently investigated or verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have also not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification 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.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The following is a summary of the fees of Marcum LLP for services rendered and billed to the Company for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by Marcum in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees of Marcum for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled approximately $326,098 and $167,754, respectively. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.
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 financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. We did not pay Marcum any audit-related fees during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.
Tax Fees. We did not pay Marcum for tax services, planning or advice for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.
All Other Fees. We did not pay Marcum for any other services for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.
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 and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements.
The financial statements and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are listed in the “Index to Audited Financial Statements” on page and included on pages through.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules.
All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the amounts are immaterial and not required, or the required information is presented in the financial statements and notes beginning on page of this Report.
(a)(3) Exhibits.
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Filing
Filed/
Furnished
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
File No.
Exhibit
Date
Herewith
2.1
Business Combination Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2023, by and among the Company, Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., Unifund Holdings, LLC and USV, LLC
10-Q
001-41100
2.1
08/14/23
2.2
Waiver and Consent to Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 25, 2024, by and among Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation, Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC and Unifund Holdings, LLC.
8-K
001-41100
2.1
02/26/24
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-41100
3.1
11/29/21
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-41100
3.1
8/25/23
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-41100
3.1
2/26/24
3.4
Amended and Restated Bylaws
8-K
001-41100
3.2
11/29/21
4.1
Specimen Unit Certificate
S-1/A
333-260343
4.1
10/29/21
4.2
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate
S-1/A
333-260343
4.2
10/29/21
4.3
Specimen Warrant Certificate
S-1/A
333-260343
4.3
10/29/21
4.4
Description of Capital Stock
10-K
001-41100
4.4
4/18/22
4.5
Public Warrant Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent.
8-K
001-41100
4.1
11/29/21
4.6
Private Warrant Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent.
8-K
001-41100
4.2
11/29/21
10.1
Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee.
8-K
001-41100
10.1
11/29/21
10.2
Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and the Sponsor.
8-K
001-41100
10.2
11/29/21
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Filing
Filed/
Furnished
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
File No.
Exhibit
Date
Herewith
10.3
Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and the Sponsor.
8-K
001-41100
10.3
11/29/21
10.4
Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and the Sponsor.
8-K
001-41100
10.4
11/29/21
10.5
Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Adam Dooley.
8-K
001-41100
10.5
11/29/21
10.6
Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann.
10-Q
001-41100
10.1
08/14/23
10.7
Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Elizabeth Mora.
8-K
001-41100
10.7
11/29/21
10.8
Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Peter K. Scaturro.
8-K
001-41100
10.8
11/29/21
10.9
Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Jacqueline S. Shoback.
8-K
001-41100
10.9
11/29/21
10.10
Indemnity Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Adam Dooley.
8-K
001-41100
10.10
11/29/21
10.11
Indemnity Agreement, dated July 5, 2023, between the Company and Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann.
10-Q
001-41100
10.2
08/14/23
10.12
Indemnity Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Elizabeth Mora.
8-K
001-41100
10.12
11/29/21
10.13
Indemnity Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Peter K. Scaturro.
8-K
001-41100
10.13
11/29/21
10.14
Indemnity Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and Jacqueline S. Shoback.
8-K
001-41100
10.14
11/29/21
10.15
Administrative Support Agreement, dated November 23, 2021, between the Company and the Sponsor.
8-K
001-41100
10.15
11/29/21
10.16
Promissory Note, dated May 24, 2021, between the Registrant and the Sponsor.
S-1/A
333-260343
10.10
10/29/21
10.17
Extension Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated February 28, 2023, between the Company and the Sponsor.
8-K
001-41100
10.1
03/01/23
10.18
Conditional Guaranty Agreement, dated February 28, 2023
8-K
001-41100
10.2
03/01/23
10.19
Second Extension Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated May 26, 2023, between the Company and Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC
8-K
001-41100
10.1
5/30/23
10.20
Second Conditional Guaranty Agreement, dated May 26, 2023, by the Company in favor of Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC - Warrant Series
8-K
001-41100
10.2
5/30/23
10.21
Second Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated March 26, 2023, issued by Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation to Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC
8-K
001-41100
10.1
3/26/24
10.22
Company Equityholder Voting and Support Agreement, dated May 19, 2023, by and among the Company, David Rosenberg, Credit Card Receivables Fund Incorporated, The TER Trust, Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., Unifund Holdings, LLC, USV, LLC and ZB Limited Partnership
10-Q
001-41100
10.5
08/14/23
10.23
Sponsor Support Agreement, dated May 19, 2023 by the Company, Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC, Unifund Holdings, LLC, Credit Card Receivables Fund Incorporated and USV, LLC.
10-Q
001-41100
10.6
08/14/23
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Filing
Filed/
Furnished
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
File No.
Exhibit
Date
Herewith
10.24
Contribution and Exchange Agreement, dated May 19, 2023, by and among the Company, Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., David Rosenberg, ZB Limited Partnership and The TER Trust, Merger Unifund Merger Sub Inc. and Credit Card Receivables Fund Incorporated
10-Q
001-41100
10.7
08/14/23
10.25
Form of Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement by and among Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., Unifund Holdings, LLC, Credit Card Receivables Fund Incorporated, USV, LLC and Payce, LLC.
10-Q
001-41100
10.8
08/14/23
10.26
Amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2023, by and between Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation and Equiniti Trust LLC (f/k/a American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC).
8-K
001-41100
10.11
8/25/23
10.27
Second Amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2024, by and between Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
8-K
001-41100
10.1
2/26/24
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
*
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
**
97.1
Policy for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.
*
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
*
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
*
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
*
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
*
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
*
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*
*Filed herewith.
**Furnished herewith.