Blaize Holdings, Inc. (BZAI) FY 2023 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 2, 2021, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We are an emerging growth company and, as such, we are subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.
On December 15, 2021, we completed the IPO of 28,750,000 units, including 3,750,000 units from the full exercise of the overallotment option by the underwriters, at $10.00 per unit (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one Class A common stock and one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”). Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we consummated the private placement of 898,250 units (the “Private Placement Units”) to our sponsor, including 93,750 units from the full exercise of the overallotment option by the underwriters, at a price of $10.00 per units, generate an aggregate of $8,982,500 proceeds.
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on March 10, 2023, 22,119,297 shares were tendered for redemption. As a result, approximately $227.8 million (approximately $10.30 per share redeemed) was removed from the Company’s trust account to pay holders. Following redemptions, the Company has 6,630,703 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, and approximately $68.0 million will remain in the Company’s trust account.
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the Second Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on December 11, 2023, The Company’s stockholders redeemed 2,285,040 shares during the Second Special Meeting. As a result, approximately $24.5 million (approximately $10.74 per share) was removed from the Company’s trust account to pay such holders. The amount was removed from the Trust Account on January 5, 2024.
In conjunction with the above redemptions, the stockholders’ also voted on extending the original liquidation from March 15, 2023 to December 15, 2023, (the “extended liquidation date”) extending the life of the Company to complete an initial business combination. We will have only 23 months from the closing of the IPO (the “Combination Period”) to complete the initial Business Combination. On December 11, 2023 (the “Second Special Meeting”), the Company entered into an amendment to the investment management trust agreement dated as of December 10, 2021, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Second Trust Amendment”). Pursuant to the Second Trust Amendment, the Company has the right to extend the time to complete a business combination twelve (12) times, each such extension for an additional one (1) month period (each an “Extension”), until December 15, 2024, by depositing into the Trust Account the lesser of $0.03 per unredeemed share of Class A common stock or $150,000 (the “Extension Payment”) for each one-month Extension. On January 16, 2024, February 9, 2024, March 12, 2024 and April 10, 2024, the
23
Table of Contents
Sponsor deposited $130,370 on each date into the Trust account to extend the life of the Company from January 15, 2024 to May 15, 2024.
If we are unable to complete the initial business combination within the Combination Period. we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following the redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above 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 the warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete the initial business combination within the Combination Period.
Business Combination
As previously announced, on December 22, 2023, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, Merger Sub a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Blaize, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Blaize”), and, solely for the limited purposes set forth therein, Burkhan Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Burkhan”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Blaize, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and Blaize will be the surviving company and continue in existence as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the “Merger” and, collectively with the other transactions described in the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”). In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, The Company will be renamed “Blaize Holdings, Inc.” (“New Blaize”).
The Merger Agreement further provides that as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of the Merger Agreement, Burkhan and/or its affiliates and/or nominees shall purchase from Blaize (i) convertible promissory notes of Blaize and (ii) a pre-funded warrant to purchase up to a number of shares of common stock of Blaize, par value $0.00001 per share (“Blaize Common Stock”), that, following the conversion of Blaize Common Stock at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) pursuant to the Merger Agreement, would result in up to 6,833,333 shares of The Company Class A common stock (the “Warrant”) for aggregate gross proceeds to Blaize of $25.0 million. Blaize issued the Warrant, which has an aggregate exercise price of $68,333.33 and an assumed purchase price of $68,333.33, to Burkhan concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement.
Among other things, at the Effective Time, (A) the outstanding shares of Blaize Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, and following the conversion or exercise of the outstanding convertible notes, preferred stock and warrants of Blaize (but excluding any (i) shares of Blaize Common Stock held by Blaize as treasury stock, (ii) shares the holders of which perfect rights of appraisal under Delaware law, and (iii) shares of Blaize Common Stock subject to any Blaize restricted stock unit (“RSU”) and Blaize stock option that will be assumed) will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive a number of shares of the Company Class A common stock (rounded up to the nearest whole share) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) 77,000,000 by (b) the Aggregate Company Shares (the “Exchange Ratio”), (B) each Blaize stock option that is outstanding and unexercised as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into an option to purchase shares of The Company Class A common stock (“New Blaize Options”) as set forth in the Merger Agreement, and (C) each Blaize RSU that is outstanding and unsettled as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into an award of RSUs relating to shares of The Company Class A common stock (“New Blaize RSUs”) as set forth in the Merger Agreement.
“Aggregate Company Shares” means, without duplication, (i) the sum of the number of shares of Blaize Common Stock that are (a) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (following the conversion or exercise of the outstanding convertible notes, preferred stock and warrants of Blaize but excluding any shares of Burkhan Company Stock (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and any treasury stock to be cancelled) and (b) issuable upon the exercise or settlement of Blaize stock awards (in each case, whether or not vested or currently exercisable) that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time minus (ii) a number of shares of Blaize Common Stock equal to the quotient of (x) the sum of the aggregate cash exercise prices of all Blaize stock options divided by (y) the Exchange Ratio.
24
Table of Contents
In addition, 16.3 million shares of New Blaize common stock may be issued as earnout shares (the “Earnout Shares”) for a period from the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”) until the five-year anniversary thereof (the “Earnout Period”), in accordance with the schedule set forth in the Merger Agreement. The earnout shares are to be issued to Burkhan and shareholders of Blaize contingent, in each case, on the closing stock price of the New Blaize common stock exceeding the following thresholds:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | if the closing stock price of New Blaize common stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 per share for 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period during the Earnout Period, then (i) 3,750,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Blaize shareholders and (ii) 325,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Burkhan; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | if the closing stock price of New Blaize common stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 per share for 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period during the Earnout Period, then (i) 3,750,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Blaize shareholders and (ii) 325,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Burkhan; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | if the closing stock price of New Blaize common stock is greater than or equal to $17.50 per share for 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period during the Earnout Period, then (i) 3,750,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Blaize shareholders and (ii) 325,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Burkhan; and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | if the closing stock price of New Blaize common stock is greater than or equal to $20.00 per share for 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period during the Earnout Period, then (i) 3,750,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Blaize shareholders and (ii) 325,000 Earnout Shares will be issued to Burkhan. |
In addition, Blaize shareholders and Burkhan will be entitled to receive all of the remaining Earnout Shares that have not previously been issued to Blaize shareholders and Burkhan in the event there occurs a transaction resulting in a change in control of New Blaize or Blaize during the Earnout Period.
Conditions to Closing
The Merger Agreement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, including, among others, (i) approval of the Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the respective shareholders of The Company and Blaize, (ii) effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by The Company in connection with the Business Combination, (iii) expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, if applicable, (iv) approval of the Business Combination under the United Kingdom’s National Security and Investment Act 2021, (v) the absence of any injunction, order, statute, rule, or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, and (vi) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq the shares of New Blaize common stock to be issued in connection with the Merger.
Other conditions to The Company’s obligations to consummate the Merger include, among others, that as of the Closing, (i) the representations and warranties of Blaize being true and correct, subject to the materiality standards contained in the Merger Agreement, (ii) Blaize shall have performed all covenants required to be performed by Blaize in all material respects, (iii) no Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall have occurred between the date of the Merger Agreement and Closing and be continuing, and (iv) Blaize shall have effectuated the conversion or exercise of the outstanding convertible notes, preferred stock and warrants of Blaize.
Other conditions to Blaize’s obligations to consummate the Merger include, among others, that as of the Closing, (i) the representations and warranties of The Company and Merger Sub being true and correct, subject to the materiality standards contained in the Merger Agreement, (ii) The Company shall have performed all covenants required to be performed by The Company in all material respects, (iii) no Acquiror Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall have occurred between the date of the Merger Agreement and Closing and be continuing, (iv) the amount of cash available in the trust account into which substantially all of the proceeds of The Company’s initial public offering and private placement of its warrants have been deposited for the benefit of its public shareholders following redemptions by The Company’s stockholders in connection with the The Company stockholder meeting held for purposes of approving the Business Combination (the “Trust Account”), plus the proceeds of any financing transaction of The Company or Blaize prior to the Closing, plus the aggregate gross proceeds of $5.0 million received by Blaize pursuant to a previous convertible note financing transaction, and subject to the deductions and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including deductions for certain The Company and Blaize transaction expenses, is equal to or greater than $125,000,000 and (v) other than persons designated by the parties to the Merger Agreement to be nominated for election to the board of directors of New Blaize in accordance
25
Table of Contents
with the terms of the Merger Agreement, all members of the board of directors and executive officers of The Company shall have executed written resignations effective as of the Effective Time.
Covenants
The Merger Agreement contains additional covenants, including, among others, providing for (i) the parties to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct their respective businesses in the ordinary course through the Closing, (ii) Blaize to prepare and deliver to The Company certain audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of Blaize, (iii) The Company to prepare and file a registration statement on Form S-4 and take certain other actions to obtain the requisite approval of The Company shareholders of certain proposals regarding the Business Combination and (iv) the parties to use reasonable best efforts to obtain necessary approvals from governmental agencies.
Representations and Warranties
The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties by The Company, Merger Sub and Blaize that are customary for transactions of this type. The representations and warranties of the respective parties to the Merger Agreement will not survive the Closing.
Termination
The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing (i) by mutual written consent of The Company and Blaize, (ii) by The Company or Blaize, if requisite approvals of the shareholders of The Company are not obtained as set forth therein, (iii) by Blaize if there is a Modification in Recommendation (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (iv) by The Company if requisite approvals of the shareholders of Blaize are not obtained as soon as reasonably practicable following the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by The Company in connection with the Business Combination, (v) by Blaize if Burkhan, its affiliates and/or nominees fail to fund certain principal amounts of the Burkhan Convertible Notes (as defined in the Merger Agreement) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and (vi) by either The Company or Blaize in certain other circumstances set forth in the Merger Agreement, including (a) if any Governmental Authority (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall have issued or otherwise entered a final, nonappealable order making consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Merger, (b) in the event of certain uncured breaches by the other party or (c) if the Closing has not occurred on or before December 31, 2024.
Exclusivity
Between the date of the Merger Agreement and the Closing, The Company has agreed that it will not, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding a Business Combination Proposal (as defined below); (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any person concerning a possible Business Combination Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding a Business Combination Proposal. The Company also agreed to cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any persons (other than Blaize and its representatives) previously conducted with respect to, or that could lead to, any Business Combination Proposal; provided, that The Company is not restricted from responding to unsolicited inbound inquiries to the extent required for the board of directors of The Company to comply with its fiduciary duties. “Business Combination Proposal” means any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest (whether written or oral, binding or non-binding), relating to a Business Combination.
Between the date of the Merger Agreement and the Closing, Blaize has agreed that it will not, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal (as defined below); (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any person concerning a possible Company Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal. The Company also agreed that it will cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any persons (other than The Company and its representatives) previously conducted with respect to, or that could lead to, any Company Acquisition Proposal. “Company Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer concerning a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other transaction involving the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of more than fifteen percent (15%) of the properties or assets or equity interests of Blaize or any of its subsidiaries, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Company Financing.
26
Table of Contents
“Company Financing” means, subject to certain limited exceptions contained in the Merger Agreement, a private placement of (i) secured convertible promissory notes of Blaize by, or any other form of investment in or financing of (either directly or indirectly), Blaize that is consummated with Burkhan and/or its affiliates and/or nominees after December 22, 2023 and prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing providing up to an aggregate amount of $25.0 million to Blaize, and (ii) equity, equity-linked or debt securities of Blaize by, or any other form of investment or financing of (either director or indirectly), Blaize that is consummated with any person (other than Burkhan and/or its affiliates and/or nominees) after December 22, 2023 and prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing.
Stock Exchange Listing
If required under applicable rules of the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of the Company’s Class A common stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination to be approved for listing on Nasdaq at the Closing. Until the Closing, The Company must use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company to remain listed as a public company on Nasdaq.
Company Support Agreement
On December 22, 2023, concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of Blaize entered into a Company Support Agreement (the “Company Support Agreement”) with the Company and Blaize, pursuant to which such stockholders have agreed to, among other things, (i) support and vote in favor of (a) the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination, (b) the conversion of each issued and outstanding share of preferred stock of Blaize into one share of Blaize Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (c) any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval with respect to the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination, (ii) vote against and withhold consent with respect to any Company Acquisition Proposal or other business combination transaction (other than the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination), (iii) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would (a) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of the Company Support Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the timely consummation of the Merger, (b) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Blaize under the Merger Agreement, (c) result in any of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (d) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of such stockholder contained in the Company Support Agreement, and (iv) be bound by certain other covenants and agreements related to the Business Combination, including a restriction on the transfer of the Company’s Capital Stock (as defined in the Company’s Support Agreement), subject to certain exceptions, and termination of certain stockholder agreements and other affiliate agreements of Blaize.
Sponsor Support Agreement
On December 22, 2023, concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company and Blaize entered into an agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) with the Sponsor, pursuant to which, among other things, in connection with the Closing, the Sponsor agreed to (i) vote all its shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in favor of (a) each Transaction Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), including, without limitation, the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination, and (b) any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval with respect to the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination is sought, (ii) vote against and withhold consent with respect to any Business Combination Proposal or other business combination transaction (other than the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination), (iii) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would (a) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of the Sponsor Support Agreements, the Merger Agreement or the timely consummation of the Merger, (b) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement, (c) result in any of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (d) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Sponsor contained in the Sponsor Support Agreements, (iv) waive any adjustment to the conversion ratio or any other anti-dilution or similar protection set forth in the governing documents of the Company with respect to the Class B common stock of the Company, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sponsor Support Agreement, and (v) be bound by certain other covenants and agreements related to the Business Combination, including a restriction on the transfer of the Company’s Class B common stock and private placement units of the Company, subject to certain exceptions.
27
Table of Contents
Registration Rights Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, New Blaize, the Sponsor, certain significant securityholders of Blaize and certain of their respective affiliates will enter into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which New Blaize will agree to register for resale, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), certain shares of New Blaize common stock and other equity securities of New Blaize that are held by the parties thereto from time to time on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.
Lock-up Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, New Blaize will enter into lock-up agreements (the “Lock-up Agreements”) with (i) certain of New Blaize’s directors and officers, (ii) certain stockholders of New Blaize and (iii) Burkhan, in each case, restricting the transfer of New Blaize common stock and any shares of New Blaize common stock issuable upon the exercise or settlement, as applicable, of New Blaize Options or New Blaize RSUs held by it immediately after the Effective Time from and after the Closing. The restrictions under the Lock-up Agreements begin at the Closing and end on the date that is 180 days after the Closing, or upon the earlier of (x) the last reported sale price of New Blaize common stock reaching $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing and (y) the liquidation of New Blaize.
Stockholders’ Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, New Blaize will enter into a stockholders’ agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”), with the Sponsor, Burkhan and certain other controlled affiliates of Burkhan (collectively, the “Stockholder Group”), which will provide, among other things, that so long as the Stockholder Group beneficially owns, in the aggregate, ten percent (10%) or more of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of the New Blaize Common Stock, the Stockholder Group will have the right to designate two out of nine individuals to the Company’s board of directors, subject to step-downs based on ownership of the New Blaize Common Stock as described in the Stockholders’ Agreement.
The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement, the Company’s Support Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Lock-up Agreement, and the Stockholders’ Agreement and the transactions and documents contemplated thereby, are not complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, the Company’s Support Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the form of Registration Rights Agreement, the form of Lock-up Agreement, and the form of Stockholders’ Agreement, copies of which are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1, Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2, Exhibit 10.3, Exhibit 10.4, and Exhibit 10.5 respectively, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The Merger Agreement, the Company’s Support Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Lock-up Agreement, and the Stockholders’ Agreement and the other documents related thereto (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) have been included to provide investors with information regarding their terms. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about The Company, Blaize or their respective affiliates. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in the Transaction Documents were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement as of the specific dates therein, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Transaction Documents and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Transaction Documents instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under the Transaction Documents and should not rely on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of representations and warranties may change after the applicable dates of the Transaction Documents, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in The Company’s public disclosures.
28
Table of Contents
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities through December 31, 2023 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, described below, and identifying a target company for a Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest dividends on marketable securities held in the Trust Account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence and transaction expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had a net income of $1,339,142, which consisted of interest from investments held in our Trust Account of $5,751,596, offset by $3,384,810 in operating costs and franchise taxes and provision for income taxes of $1,027,644.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had a net income of $1,673,607, which consisted of interest from marketable securities held in our Trust Account of $3,989,294, offset by formation and operating costs of $1,523,929 and provision for income taxes of $791,758.
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $843,313 in its restricted cash account and $71,432,177 in investments held in trust. Restricted cash is held exclusively for payment of current tax liabilities. The investments held in trust are to be used for Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem its Public shares, which includes $24,539,002 restricted to pay its current redemption liability. As of December 31, 2023, $5,751,596 of the amount on deposit in the Trust Account represents interest income.
Our liquidity needs up to December 31, 2023 had been satisfied through a payment from our sponsor of $25,000 for the Founder Shares to cover certain offering costs, the loan under an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of $810,345 and the net proceeds from the consummation of the Initial Public Offering held outside of the trust account. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $810,345 outstanding under a Convertible Promissory Note. As of December 31, 2023, no working capital loans were outstanding.
Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination. The Company expects it will need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its Sponsor, stockholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and the Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
The Company is less than 7 months from its mandatory liquidation as of the time of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern,” Management has determined that the liquidity condition due to insufficient working capital, described above, and mandatory liquidation raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date the financial statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are issued.
These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements 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.
29
Table of Contents
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2023. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an affiliate of our financial advisor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, utilities and administrative support. Upon completion of our Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We have identified the following as our critical accounting policies:
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 4,345,663 and 28,750,000 Class A common stock subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our balance sheets, respectively.
We recognize changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
Warrants
We do not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and ASC 815-15.
We account for the public warrants and private warrants collectively (“Warrants”), as either equity or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the specific terms of the Warrants and the applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the Warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the Warrants are indexed to our own common stocks and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of our control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of issuance of the Warrants and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the Warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, such warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, such warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet
30
Table of Contents
date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of liability-classified warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations.
We evaluated the public warrants and private warrants in accordance with ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity,” and concluded that they met the criteria for equity classification and are required to be recorded as part a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance.
Net Income Per Common Stock
We have two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. The 29,648,250 potential common stocks for outstanding warrants to purchase our shares were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 because the warrants are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met and its inclusion would be anti-dilutive. As a result, diluted net income or loss per common stock is the same as basic net income or loss per common stock for the periods.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the 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. As a smaller reporting company, ASU 2020-06 is effective January 1, 2024 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. We are currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We have not adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2023.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which requires disclosure of incremental income tax information within the rate reconciliation and expanded disclosures of income taxes paid, among other disclosure requirements. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company’s management does not believe the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have a material impact on its financial statements and disclosures.
Our management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statement.