Item 1. Business.
Introduction
We are a blank check company formed 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 (the “business combination”). While we may pursue an initial business combination
target in any industry or geographic region, we intend to focus on companies that have an aggregate enterprise value of approximately
$500 million to $5 billion or more, are North American- or Western European-based, have excellent management teams, have a robust outlook
for long-term growth and would benefit from access to capital to fund organic growth or acquisitions.
Our strategy will be to capitalize on inefficiencies
we identify in the market, specifically with regards to private equity funds and private companies looking for liquidity. Consistent with
this strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective
target businesses. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter
into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines.
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Middle-Market Businesses. We intend to seek to acquire one or more businesses with an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $500 million to $5 billion or more, determined in the sole discretion of our officers and directors according to reasonably accepted valuation standards and methodologies. Although we have no commitment as of the date of the initial public offering (as defined below), we will likely need to issue a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock, or a combination thereof, either to sellers of a target company or to investors that will provide us capital, to complete a business combination. We believe that the middle market segment provides the greatest number of opportunities for investment. This segment is where we believe we have the strongest network to identify the greatest number of attractive opportunities. |
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Companies Which Have Strong Public Comparables. We intend to seek to acquire one or more businesses where strong public comparables exist. The existence of public companies which operate in similar industry sectors or have similar operating metrics to a potential target business will be important in helping to establish that the valuation of our initial business combination is attractive relative to such public companies. |
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Established Companies with Proven Track Records. We intend to seek to acquire one or more established companies with consistent historical financial performance. We intend to focus on companies with a history of strong operating and financial results and strong fundamentals. We also intend to focus on companies where we are able to gain a clear understanding of their market and growth strategy. We do not currently intend to acquire start-up companies or companies with recurring negative free cash flow. |
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Companies with Proven Revenue and Earnings Growth or Potential for Revenue and Earnings Growth. We intend to seek to acquire one or more businesses that have achieved or have the potential for significant revenue and earnings growth through a combination of organic growth, synergistic add-on acquisitions, new product markets and geographies, increased production capacity, expense reduction and increased operating leverage. We intend to focus on companies that have a scalable, capital efficient business model, operate in industries that have strong barriers to entry and have a sustainable competitive advantage in an attractive industry. |
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Experienced Management Team. We intend to seek to acquire one or more businesses with a strong, driven and experienced management team that provides a platform for us to further develop the acquired business’s management capabilities. We may also seek to partner with a potential target’s management team where the operating and financial abilities of our executive team and board could complement their own capabilities. |
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Sectors Exhibiting Secular Growth or with Potential for Cyclical Uptick. We intend to focus on acquisition targets in sectors which exhibit positive secular growth or potential for near-term cyclical uptick. We plan to identify sectors that have demonstrated strong positive growth in recent years, possess drivers for continued growth and are strategically positioned to benefit from upswings in their respective industry cycles. |
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Benefit from Being a Public Company. We intend to acquire one or more businesses that will benefit from being publicly-traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and the public profile that are associated with being a publicly-traded company. |
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 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 stockholder communications
related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in the initial public offering prospectus, would be in the form of proxy
solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as amended on March 17, 2021, our “amended and restated certificate of incorporation”)
prohibits us from effectuating a business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations.
We have neither engaged in any operations nor
generated any revenue to date. Based on our business activities, the Company is a “shell company” as defined under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) because we have no operations and nominal assets consisting almost entirely
of cash.
On March 22, 2021, we consummated our initial
public offering (the “initial public offering”) of 30,000,000 units (the “units” and, with respect to the shares
of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, included in the units sold, the “public shares”). Each unit consists
of one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A common stock”) and one-fourth of one redeemable
warrant (“public warrant”), with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one 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 of $300 million. We granted the underwriters
for the initial public offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 4,500,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any. On March
30, 2021, in connection with the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option, we consummated the sale of an additional
3,601,509 units at a price of $10.00 per unit and the sale of an additional 72,301 private placement units (as defined below) at a price
of $10.00 per private placement unit, generating total gross proceeds of $36,738,100.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the initial
public offering, we completed the private sale (the “private placement”) of an aggregate of 930,000 units (the “private
placement units”) at a price of $10.00 per private placement unit in which Forum Investors IV LLC, our sponsor (the “Sponsor”),
purchased 780,000 private placement units and Jefferies LLC purchased 150,000 private placement units, generating gross proceeds of $9,300,000.
In connection with the underwriters’ partial exercise of the over-allotment option on March 30, 2021, the Sponsor purchased an additional
54,022 private placement units and Jefferies LLC purchased an additional 18,008 private placement units. Each private placement unit consists
of one share of Class A common stock (“private placement share”) and one-fourth of one warrant (each, a “private placement
warrant”, and collectively with the public warrants, the “warrants”). Each private placement warrant is exercisable
to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The private placement units
are identical to the units sold in the initial public offering except that (a) private placement units (including the underlying securities)
may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of
our initial business combination and (b) the private placement warrants, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or Jefferies LLC or their
permitted transferees, (i) will not be redeemable by us (subject to certain limited exceptions), (ii) may be exercised by the holders
on a cashless basis, (iii) will be entitled to registration rights and (iv) for so long as they are held by the underwriters, will not
be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which the initial public offering prospectus
forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A). The holders will be permitted to transfer the private placement units held by
them to certain permitted transferees, including our and the underwriters’ officers and directors and other persons or entities
affiliated with or related to them, but the transferees receiving such securities will be subject to the same agreements with respect
to such securities as the Sponsor and Jefferies LLC. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical
to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in the initial public offering, including as to exercise price, exercisability
and exercise period.
Prior to the consummation of the initial public
offering, on January 15, 2021, we issued an aggregate of 8,625,000 shares of our Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the
“founder shares” or “Class B common stock”), to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash.
Up to 1,125,000 founder shares were subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment
option was exercised. As a result of the underwriters’ election to partially exercise their over-allotment option on March 30, 2021,
a total of 224,623 founder shares were forfeited and 900,377 founder shares are no longer subject to forfeiture, resulting in an aggregate
of 8,400,377 founder shares issued and outstanding.
A total of $300,000,000, comprised of $296,000,000
of the proceeds from the initial public offering (which amount includes $10,500,000 of the underwriters’ deferred discount) and
$6,000,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the private placement units, was placed in a U.S.-based trust account (the “trust account”)
at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. On March 30, 2021, in
connection with the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option, a total of $36,015,090 was deposited into the
trust account, bringing the aggregate proceeds held in the trust account to $336,015,090 (which amount includes $11,760,528 of the underwriters’
deferred discount).
The funds held in the trust account are invested
in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7
of the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
As of December 31, 2022, there was $340,048,153 in investments and
cash held in the trust account, which includes interest income available to us for franchise and income tax obligations of approximately
$1,059,920. As of December 31, 2022, we have not withdrawn any interest earned from the trust account to pay taxes.
Extension
Our initial public offering
prospectus and amended and restated certificate of incorporation provided that we had until March 22, 2023 (the date which was 24 months
after the consummation of the initial public offering) to complete an initial business combination. As stated in the Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with SEC on March 9, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders and approved a proposal to amend (the “Extension
Amendment”) our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the date (the “completion window”, and any
extensions of that date pursuant to the Extension Amendment Proposal, an “Extension”) by which we have to consummate a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses
from March 22, 2023 (the “Current Outside Date”) to April 22, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors,
and such later date, the “Extended Date,” and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the completion
window to consummate a business combination on a monthly basis up to seven times by an additional one month each time after the Extended
Date, by resolution of our board of directors, if requested by the Sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable
completion window, until November 22, 2023 (each, an “Additional Charter Extension Date”) or a total of up to eight months
after the Current Outside Date, unless the closing of a business combination shall have occurred prior thereto (the “Extension Amendment
Proposal”). In connection with the approval of the Extension, stockholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 27,240,210 public shares,
of which we paid cash from the trust account in the aggregate amount of approximately $276,640,526.86 (approximately $10.16 per share)
to redeeming stockholders.
Extension Promissory
Note
We agreed to deposit
from our working capital account into the trust account, for each such Additional Charter Extension Date, the lesser of (a) $175,000
or (b) $0.05 for each public share then outstanding, which we agreed to deposit into the trust account at the beginning of each month
(the “Monthly Deposit”), for an aggregate deposit of up to the lesser of (a) $1,225,000 or (b) $0.05 for each public share
then outstanding (if all additional extensions are exercised) (the “Extension Deposits”). In the event our working capital
account has been depleted, the Sponsor, or one or more of its affiliates, members of third party designees (collectively, the “Lender”))
agreed to lend us the Monthly Deposit in the form of a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note (the “Note”),
which we agreed to deposit into the trust account. If we complete a business combination and have borrowed money from the Lender under
the Note, we will, at the option of the Lender, repay the amounts loaned under the Note or convert a portion or all of the amounts loaned
under such Note into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the Lender, which
units will be identical to the private placement units. Additionally, if we do not complete a business combination by the Extended Date
(or Additional Charter Extension Date, if applicable), and a Note has been issued to us by the Lender, such Note will be repaid only
from funds held outside of the trust account or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven. If the Sponsor designates a third
party as Lender, we may negotiate with the Lender and vary the terms of the Note and its conversion, issue securities and pay certain
fees to the Lender in connection with the Note. In the event our working capital account has been depleted, the Lender agreed to lend
us the Monthly Deposit in the form of the Note, which we shall deposit into the trust account.
Letter of Intent
As disclosed in a Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023, we have entered into a letter of intent
with a target (the “LOI Target”) that is non-binding with respect to all its material terms, except with respect to provisions
regarding a limited period of exclusivity. We are currently in discussions with the LOI Target to extend the limited period of
exclusivity in the letter of intent. The LOI Target is a profitable and growing company in the online
gaming industry, providing its customers with an expansive portfolio of digital gaming products and services. Subject to completion of
its related audit, for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022, the LOI Target expects adjusted revenue in excess of $300 million and
expects adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 30%. The LOI Target also expects strong free cash flow conversion for fiscal year 2023
substantially in excess of 2022 levels. The execution and negotiation of a definitive business combination agreement is subject to several
conditions, including the completion of due diligence, securing certain concurrent financing and negotiation and preparation of related
definitive documentation. We cannot assure stockholders that it will be able to enter into a definitive business combination agreement
with the LOI Target on terms acceptable to us or the LOI Target prior to the Extended Date. In the event we and the LOI Target enter into
a business combination agreement and related definitive documents, we can also not provide any assurance that the business combination
agreement will be consummated prior to the Extended Date.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not
engage in, any operations until the consummation of our initial business combination. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination
using cash held in the trust account, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including
pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued
to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business
combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject
us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for
using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in
connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our Class A common stock, we may apply the balance of the
cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the
post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination,
to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Selection of a target business and structuring
of our initial business combination
The listing rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market
(“Nasdaq”) and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation require that we must complete one or more business combinations
having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting
commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection
with our initial business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business
combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination
target, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent valuation or
appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be
able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it
is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the
value of a target’s assets or prospects. In addition, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved
by a majority of our independent directors.
We anticipate structuring our initial business
combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire
100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses, or (ii) in such a way so that the post-transaction company
owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management
team or stockholders, or for other reasons. However, we will only complete an initial business combination if the post-transaction company
owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target
business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction
company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination
may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the
initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange
for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However,
as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination
could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity
interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business
or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of net assets test described above.
If the initial 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 evaluating a prospective target business, we
expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document
reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information that
will be made available to us. We will also utilize our operational and capital allocation experience in evaluating each prospective business
combination.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial
business combination with a business that is affiliated with our Sponsor or our officers or directors or completing the business combination
through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our
initial business combination with a business that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation)
with our Sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment
banking firm that is a member of FINRA another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions stating that the consideration
to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Our officers and directors indirectly own founder
shares and/or private placement units. Because of this ownership, our Sponsor and our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest
in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.
Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination
if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors were to be included by a target business as a condition to any agreement
with respect to our initial business combination. Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may
have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required
to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. 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 to present
the opportunity to such entity, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such
entity. Our directors and officers are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have
conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations
and monitoring the related due diligence. In addition, our officers or directors may be investors, or have other direct or indirect interests,
in a business with which we may enter into a business combination agreement and/or in certain funds or other persons that may purchase
shares of our Class A common stock in the public market. In addition, our Sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other
special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we
are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest
in pursuing an initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest
in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in
his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to
undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity
to us without violating another legal obligation.
Amendments to Facilitate the Consummation
of an Initial Business Combination
On March 7, 2023, we
held a special meeting of stockholders and approved four proposals to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that
will facilitate the consummation of an initial business combination.
The first amendment extended
the date by which we have to consummate an initial business combination from March 22, 2023 to April 22, 2023 or such earlier date
as determined by our board of directors, and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the completion window to
consummate a business combination on a monthly basis up to seven times by an additional one month each time after the Extended Date, by
resolution of our board of directors, if requested by the Sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable completion
window, until November 22, 2023 or a total of up to eight months after the Current Outside Date, unless the closing of a business combination
shall have occurred prior thereto. The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow us sufficient time to complete its initial business
combination.
The second amendment (the
“Founder Share Amendment”) provided holders of Class B common stock the right to convert any and all their Class B
common stock into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis prior to the closing of a business combination at the election
of the holder. The purpose of the Founder Share Amendment is to allow
us to convert the founder shares at any point in time prior to the business combination and give us further flexibility to retain stockholders
and meet Nasdaq continued listing requirements following any stockholder redemptions.
The third amendment (the “Redemption Limitation
Amendment”) deleted the limitation that we shall not redeem public shares that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than
$5,000,001 following such redemptions. The purpose of the Redemption Limitation Amendment is to eliminate the requirement that we have
at least $5,000,001 in tangible net assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) under the Exchange Act)
in order to consummate the business combination.
The
fourth amendment (the “Liquidation Amendment”) permitted our board of directors, in its sole discretion, to elect to wind
up our operations on an earlier date than the Extended Date (including prior to the Current Outside Date or an Additional Charter Extension
Date, as applicable) as determined by our board of directors and included in a public announcement. The purpose of the Liquidation Amendment
is to enable our board of directors, in its sole discretion, to liquidate the trust account and dissolve in accordance with applicable
law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date following the filing of the amendment to the amended and restated certificate
of incorporation and prior to the Extended Date (or Additional Charter Extension
Date, if applicable) (including a date prior to the Current Outside Date), after taking into account various factors, including, but not
limited to, the prospect of identifying a target and negotiating and consummating a business combination prior to the Extended Date (or
Additional Charter Extension Date, if applicable), as well as the planned implementation of the Excise Tax (as defined herein) beginning
in 2023.
Redemption rights for holders of public
shares upon consummation of the initial business combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the
opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection
with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) without a stockholder vote by means of a tender
offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial 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.
Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with
our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend
our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval. So long as we obtain and maintain
a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with Nasdaq’s stockholder approval rules.
If we provide our public stockholders with the
opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with a stockholder meeting, we will:
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conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and |
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file proxy materials with the SEC. |
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete
our initial business combination only if a majority of the then outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote at the
meeting to approve the initial business combination when a quorum is present 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.
Our initial stockholders will count towards this quorum and, pursuant to the letter agreement, our Sponsor, officers and directors have
agreed to vote any founder shares and private placement shares held by them and any public shares acquired by them during or after our
initial public offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.
For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the
approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements
of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder
may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or whether they were a
stockholder on the record date for the stockholder meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
We will provide our public stockholders with the
opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination
at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior
to the consummation of the initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously
released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations
described herein. The amount in the trust account is approximately $10.11 per public share as of December 31, 2022. The per-share amount
we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will
pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to
validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to
our warrants.
Our proposed initial business combination may
impose a minimum cash requirement for: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or
other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. In the event the aggregate cash consideration
we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required
to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available
to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares in connection with such initial business combination,
and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof. We may, however, raise funds
through the issuance of 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 arrangements we may enter into following consummation of the
initial public offering, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such net tangible assets or minimum cash requirements.
Conduct of redemptions pursuant to tender
offer rules
If we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender
offer rules of the SEC, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation: (a) conduct the redemptions pursuant
to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and (b) 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.
Submission of our initial business combination
to a stockholder vote
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 business combination.
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, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated
transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit
on the number of shares or warrants our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions,
subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. 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. If they engage in such transactions, they
will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic 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 comply with such rules. We expect that
any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject
to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants
in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could
be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval
of the initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum
net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would
otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding
or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination.
Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been
possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or 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.
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 seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the initial
public offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. Such restriction will also be applicable
to our affiliates. 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 initial 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 initial public offering
could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium
to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15%
of the shares sold in the initial public offering 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
an initial 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
Our amendment to the amended and restated certificate
of incorporation provides that we will have until April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, to complete our initial business
combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and 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, 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 complete
our initial business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target
business for our initial business combination, we may encounter competition from other entities having a business objective similar to
ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic
business combinations. 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 similar or greater financial, technical, human and other resources
than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation
gives others an advantage in pursuing the initial business combination 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.
Employees
We currently have two officers, Marshall Kiev
and David Boris, our Co-Chief 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 initial business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees
prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We are required to file Annual Reports on Form
10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q with the SEC on a regular basis, and are required to disclose certain material events in a Current
Report on Form 8-K. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s Internet website is located at www.sec.gov. In addition, the
Company will provide copies of these documents without charge upon request from us in writing at 1615 South Congress Avenue, Suite 103,
Delray Beach, Florida or by telephone at (212) 739-7860.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial
statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to stockholders
to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance
with, or reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), or international
financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), depending on the circumstances
and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential targets
we may conduct an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose
such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial
statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its
financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not
be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We are required to evaluate our internal control
procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).
Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company,
will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target 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 business combination.
We will remain an emerging growth company until
the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of the initial public offering,
(b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer,
which means the market value of our shares of common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th,
and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt 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 our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds
$250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during
such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end
of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
An investment in our securities involves a
high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in
this Form 10-K, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition
and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you
could lose all or part of your investment.
Risk Factor Summary
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We are a blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. |
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Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination. |
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Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash. |
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders and management team have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote. |
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The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure. |
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The requirement that we complete our initial business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating an initial business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders. |
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Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets. |
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We may not be able to complete our initial business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. |
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed initial business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock. |
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If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed. |
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You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies. |
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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 $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. |
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If the net proceeds of the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least until April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our Sponsor or management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination. |
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Past performance by our management team and their affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us. |
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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. |
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Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions. |
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Because we are neither limited to evaluating a target business in a particular industry sector nor have we selected any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations. |
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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, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. |
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Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination, and a particular business combination may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous. |
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Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. |
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Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
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We may engage in an initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our Sponsor, officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest. |
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Since our Sponsor, officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination. |
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Our warrants are accounted for as liabilities and the changes in value of our warrants could have a material effect on our financial results. |
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A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares or our liquidation. |
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If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may be forced to abandon our efforts to complete a business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Company. To mitigate the risk of that result, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, we will instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing bank deposit account. |
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Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including
events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions, could adversely affect our business, financial
condition or results of operations, or our prospects. |
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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.”
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Risks Relating to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability
to Consummate, a Business Combination
Our public stockholders may not be afforded
an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even
though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not to hold a stockholder vote to
approve our initial business combination if the initial business combination would not require stockholder approval under applicable law
or stock exchange listing requirement. Except for as required by applicable law or stock exchange requirement, the decision as to whether
we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial 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 initial business combination we complete.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment
decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
At the time of your investment in us, you will
not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of our initial business combination. Since our board of directors
may complete an initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity
to vote on the initial business combination, unless we seek such stockholder vote. Accordingly, 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.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial
business combination, our Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless
of how our public stockholders vote.
Pursuant to the letter agreement, our Sponsor,
officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares and private placement shares held by them and any public shares they may
acquire during or after the initial public offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial
business combination. Our initial stockholders own shares representing 58.58% of our outstanding shares of common stock (not including
the shares of Class A common stock underlying the private placement units). Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial
business combination, the agreement by our initial stockholders to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the
likelihood that we will receive the requisite stockholder approval for such initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise
redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or
optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our
initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to
structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business
combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have
a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or
arrange for third party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for redemption than we initially expected,
we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third party financing.
Raising additional third party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable
levels. Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the Class B common stock result in
the issuance of Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock at the time of the consummation
of our business combination. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available
to us or optimize our capital structure. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted
for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to stockholders
who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission and after such redemptions,
the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the full deferred underwriting commissions.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise
redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would
be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.
If our initial business combination agreement
requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash
at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination
is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in
need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount
to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose
the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial
business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, may give potential target businesses leverage over us in
negotiating an initial business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination
targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination
on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter
into negotiations concerning an initial business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination by April
22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating an initial
business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may
be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe
described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on
terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
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 recent coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus
was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China, which has and is continuing to spread throughout China and other parts of the world, including
the United States. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a “Public
Health Emergency of International Concern.” On January 31, 2020, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared
a public health emergency for the United States to aid the U.S. healthcare community in responding to COVID-19, and on March 11, 2020
the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a “pandemic.” The COVID-19 outbreak has and a significant outbreak
of other infectious diseases could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets
worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination could be materially and adversely
affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 continues to restrict
travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers
are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a business
combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may
emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed
by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue 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 and other events, including as a
result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us
or at all.
Finally, the outbreak of COVID-19 may also have
the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market
for our securities and cross-border transactions.
We may not be able to complete our initial
business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, in which case we would cease all operations except for the
purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may receive only $10.00
per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
provides that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering. 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. For example, the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to grow both in the U.S. and globally and, while the
extent of the impact of the outbreak on us will depend on future developments, it could limit our ability to complete our initial business
combination, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable
on terms acceptable to us or at all. Additionally, the outbreak of COVID-19 may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire.
If we have not completed our initial business
combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably
possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and 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,
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. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than $10.00 per share, on the
redemption of their shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. 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 $10.00 per share”
and other risk factors herein.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial
business combination, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from public
stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed initial business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class
A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial
business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer
rules, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase public 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. 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 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 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. The
price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected
to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in
favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business
combination, or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain
amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met.
The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants
on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of
our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. We expect that
any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject
to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public
“float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced,
possibly making it difficult to 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 initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for
tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the proxy rules or tender
offer rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with
these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, such stockholder may not
become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will
furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that
must be complied with in order to validly tender or submit public shares for redemption. For example, we intend to require our public
stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,”
to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent, or to deliver their shares to our transfer
agent electronically prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy
materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the date on which the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business
combination is to be held. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public
stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business
days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. The redemption rights will also include the
requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. In the event that a stockholder fails
to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable, its shares may not be redeemed.
You will not be entitled to protections normally
afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of the initial public offering
and the sale of the private placement units 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 have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 and have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance
sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as
Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units
will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject
to Rule 419. Moreover, if the initial public offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would 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.
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 $10.00 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 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 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 similar or greater technical, human and other
resources or more industry knowledge than we do, and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of
many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of
the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain
target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others
an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, we are obligated to offer holders of our public shares
the right to redeem their shares for cash at the time of our initial business combination in conjunction with a stockholder vote or via
a tender offer. Target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination.
Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating and completing an initial business combination.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 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 $10.00 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 $10.00 per share” and
other risk factors herein.
If the net proceeds of the initial public offering
and the sale of the private placement units not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least until
April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses
and complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our Sponsor or management team to fund our search and
to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of the initial public offering
and the sale of the private placement units, only $1,850,000 were available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working
capital requirements. We believe that the funds available to us outside of the trust account are sufficient to allow us to operate for
at least until April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the
funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for
a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision
in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with
other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed initial business
combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent or merger agreement where we
paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result
of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a
target business.
If we are required to seek additional capital,
we would need to borrow funds from our Sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. 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. Up to $1,200,000 of such working capital loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent units at a price
of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek
loans from parties other than our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such
funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans,
we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we 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 an estimated $10.00 per share, or possibly less, on our redemption of our public shares, and our
warrants will expire worthless. 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 $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
If third parties bring claims against us, the
proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00
per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may
not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective
target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim
of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such
agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including,
but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the
enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds
held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account,
our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that
has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us
than any alternative. The underwriters of the initial public offering will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies
held in the trust account. 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 initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with
our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought
against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could
be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to the letter agreement,
the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which the initial public offering prospectus forms a part, our
Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold
to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement
or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share
and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less
than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will
not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held
in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters
of the initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked
our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds
to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot
assure you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against
the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public
share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share
in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties
including, without limitation claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our directors may decide not to enforce the
indemnification obligations of our Sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution
to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account
are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of
the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets,
less taxes payable, 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 and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance 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 $10.00 per share.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the
trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that
is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having
breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive
damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust
account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not
dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either
a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover
some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty
to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims
of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.
Changes in the market for directors and officers
liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
In recent months, the market for directors and
officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for
directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies
have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability
of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business
combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company,
the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to
obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability
to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an
initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct
alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business
combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need
for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability
to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
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 initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under
the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
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restrictions on the nature of our investments; and |
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restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. |
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome
requirements, including:
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registration as an investment company with the SEC; |
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adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and compliance other rules and regulations that we are currently not subject to. |
In order not to be regulated as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business
other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding
or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities
and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete an initial business combination and thereafter
to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale
or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal
activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in
United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity
of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which
invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in
other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted
at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or
private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company
Act. The initial public offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment
securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial
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 (A) 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 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering or (B) with respect
to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent
an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering, our return of the funds held in the
trust account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed
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 complete an initial business combination or may result in our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination,
our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 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 $10.00 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 $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
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
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 and results of operations.
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 Delaware General Corporation Law (the
“DGCL”), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions
received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption
of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable,
may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section
280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during
which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims
brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders
with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount
distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However,
it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month from the closing of the initial
public offering in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing
procedures.
Because we will not be complying with Section
280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment
of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution.
However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective
target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or
prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with
respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed
to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot
assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially
be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend
beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders
upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended
Date, if applicable, 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.
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 Nasdaq corporate governance
requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq.
Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, 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. We may not hold an annual meeting
of stockholders to elect new 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.
Because we are neither limited to evaluating
a target business in a particular industry sector nor have we selected any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial
business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
We may pursue business combination opportunities
in any industry or geographic region, except that we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted
to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we
have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate
the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial
condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the
business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established
record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development
stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot
assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete
due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances
that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove
to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly,
any stockholders or warrantholders who choose to remain stockholders or warrantholders following our initial business combination could
suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrantholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction
in value.
We may seek business combination opportunities
in industries or sectors which may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.
We will consider an initial business combination
outside of our management’s areas of expertise if an initial business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine
that such candidate offers an attractive business combination opportunity for our company or we are unable to identify a suitable candidate
in these areas of expertise after having expanded a reasonable amount of time and effort in an attempt to do so. Although our management
will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately
ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately
prove to be less favorable to investors in the initial public offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in
an initial business combination candidate.
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 applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements,
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 $10.00 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 $10.00
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 $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
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 initial 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 valuation
or appraisal firm that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders
will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted
by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable,
related to our initial business combination.
The warrants may become exercisable and redeemable
for a security other than the shares of 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
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
fifteen business days of the closing of an initial business combination.
We may issue additional common stock or preferred
stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination.
We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at
the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
authorizes the issuance of up to 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. After the initial public
offering, there were 56,745,576 and 1,599,623 authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively,
available for issuance, which amount takes into account the shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding
warrants but not the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock. Immediately after the consummation
of the initial public offering, there were 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.
We may issue a substantial number of additional
shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive
plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock in connection with the redemption
of our warrants or 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 as set forth therein. 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 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 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering or (y) amend
the foregoing provisions. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
The issuance of additional shares of common or
preferred stock:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the initial public offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock; |
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may subordinate the rights of holders of our common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock; |
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could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; |
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may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and |
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants. |
Resources could be wasted in researching business
combinations that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another
business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00
per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific
target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require
substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys, consultants 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 $10.00 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 $10.00
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 $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
As the number of special purpose acquisition
companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets.
This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate
an initial business combination.
Recently, the number of special purpose acquisition
companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already
entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial
public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available
to consummate an initial business combination. In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter
into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business
models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer
for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital
needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise
complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate
an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
We may engage in an initial business combination
with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our Sponsor, officers, directors
or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our Sponsor, officers
and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors.
Our directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under the section
of the initial public offering prospectus entitled “Management–-Conflicts of Interest.” In addition, our Sponsor and
our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business
or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments
may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. However, we do not believe that any such potential
conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Such entities may compete with us for business
combination opportunities. Our Sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete
our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning
an initial business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any
transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria
and guidelines for an initial business combination as set forth in the section of the initial public offering prospectus entitled “Proposed
Business–-Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination” and such transaction was approved
by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that
is a member of FINRA, or from an independent valuation or appraisal firm, regarding the fairness to our stockholders from a financial
point of view of an initial business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, officers
or directors, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the initial business combination may not
be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Since our Sponsor, officers and directors will
lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining
whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On January 28, 2021, our Sponsor purchased an
aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. As a result of the
underwriters’ election to partially exercise their over-allotment option on March 30, 2021, a total of 224,623 founder shares were
forfeited and 900,377 founder shares are no longer subject to forfeiture, resulting in an aggregate of 8,400,377 founder shares issued
and outstanding. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by the Sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible.
The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder
shares issued. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our Sponsor and
Jefferies LLC purchased an aggregate of 1,002,030 units at a price of $10.00 per unit, consisting of 834,022 units by our Sponsor and
168,008 units by the Jefferies LLC for an aggregate purchase price of $10,020,300, or $10.00 per unit, that will also worthless if we
do not complete an initial business combination. Our Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them
in favor of any proposed initial business combination and (B) not to redeem any founder shares or private placement shares held by them
in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination or in connection with a tender offer. 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 24-month anniversary of the closing of the initial public offering nears, which is the deadline for our completion of an
initial business combination.
On March 7, 2023, we
held a special meeting of stockholders and approved the Extension Amendment to extend the date by which we have to consummate an initial
business combination from March 22, 2023 to April 22, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors and to allow us,
without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the completion window to consummate a business combination on a monthly basis up
to seven times by an additional one month each time after the Extended Date, by resolution of our board of directors, if requested by
the Sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable completion window, until November 22, 2023 or a total of
up to eight months after the Current Outside Date, unless the closing of a business combination shall have occurred prior thereto. In
connection with the Extension, we agreed to deposit from our working capital account into the trust account, for each such Additional
Charter Extension Date, the lesser of (a) $175,000 or (b) $0.05 for each public share then outstanding, which we agreed to deposit into
the trust account at the beginning of each month, for an aggregate deposit of up to the lesser of (a) $1,225,000 or (b) $0.05 for each
public share then outstanding (if all additional extensions are exercised). In the event our working capital account has been depleted,
the Lender agreed to lend us the Monthly Deposit in the form of a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note, which we agreed
to deposit into the trust account. If we complete a business combination and have borrowed money from the Lender under the Note, we will,
at the option of the Lender, repay the amounts loaned under the Note or convert a portion or all of the amounts loaned under such Note
into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the Lender, which units will be
identical to the private placement units. Additionally, if we do not complete a business combination by the Extended Date (or Additional
Charter Extension Date, if applicable), and a Note has been issued to us by the Lender, such Note will be repaid only from funds held
outside of the trust account or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven. If the Sponsor designates a third party as Lender,
we may negotiate with the Lender and vary the terms of the Note and its conversion, issue securities and pay certain fees to the Lender
in connection with the Note. In the event our working capital account has been depleted, the Lender agreed to lend us the Monthly Deposit
in the form of the Note, which we shall deposit into the trust account.
We may issue notes or other debt securities,
or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete an initial business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial
condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following the initial
public offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We have agreed that we will not
incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the
monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust
account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; |
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand; |
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding; |
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock; |
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes; |
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; |
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; |
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and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
We may only be able to complete one business
combination with the proceeds of the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units, which will cause us to be solely
dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of services and limited operating activities. This lack of diversification
may negatively impact our operating results and profitability.
Of the net proceeds from the initial public offering
and the sale of the private placement units, approximately $52,842,245 is available to complete our initial business combination and pay
related fees and expenses (which includes 11,760,528 for the payment of deferred underwriting commissions).
We may effectuate our initial business combination
with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able
to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence
of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating
results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial
business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory
developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting
of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different
areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
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solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or |
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dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
This lack of diversification may subject us to
numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry
in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business
combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise
to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several
businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent
on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete
our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens
and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional
risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating
business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business
combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in an initial business combination with
a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our initial business combination strategy,
we may seek to effectuate 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 an initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected,
if at all.
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, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and 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 sales 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, intense competition
and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent
in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not
have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability
to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption
threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete an initial business combination with which
a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even
though a substantial majority of our public stockholders or warrantholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares
or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial
business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our
Sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay
for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant
to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the
initial business combination or redeem any shares, all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the
holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business
combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments,
including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that our stockholders
or warrantholders may not support.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination,
blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including
their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption
thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant
agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. Amending our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation to extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of the initial public
offering requires the approval of holders of a majority of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and amending other such provisions
of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires the approval of holders of at least 65% of our common stock, and amending
our warrant agreement will require a vote of holders of at least 50% of the public warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment
to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants,
50% of the number of the then outstanding private placement warrants. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
requires us to provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we propose an amendment
to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) 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 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering
or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity.
To the extent any such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of any securities offered through this registration
statement, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities. We cannot assure you that we will not
seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate
our initial business combination.
We have amended our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation to extend the time we have to consummate our initial business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of the initial
public offering which was approved by a majority of the then outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote at the meeting
to approve such amendment when a quorum is present. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that any of its
other provisions related to pre-initial business combination activity (and the corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the
release of funds from our trust account), including an amendment to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per
share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated, may be amended with the
approval of holders of at least 65% of our common stock, which are lower amendment thresholds than that of some other blank check companies.
It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate
the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
provides that we may amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the time we have to consummate our initial
business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering if such amendment is approved by a majority of the
then outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve such amendment when a quorum is present.
Our initial public offering prospectus and amended and restated certificate of incorporation provided that we had until March 22, 2023
(the date which was 24 months after the consummation of the initial public offering) to complete an initial business combination. As stated
in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with SEC on March 9, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders and approved the Extension
Amendment to extend the date by which we have to consummate an initial business combination from March 22, 2023 to April 22, 2023 or such
earlier date as determined by our board of directors and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the completion
window to consummate a business combination on a monthly basis up to seven times by an additional one month each time after the Extended
Date, by resolution of our board of directors, if requested by the Sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable
completion window, until November 22, 2023 or a total of up to eight months after the Current Outside Date, unless the closing of a business
combination shall have occurred prior thereto. In connection with the approval of the Extension, stockholders elected to redeem an aggregate
of 27,240,210 public shares, of which we paid cash from the trust account in the aggregate amount of approximately $276,640,526.86 (approximately
$10.16 per share) to redeeming stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
also provides that any of its other provisions related to pre-initial business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit
proceeds of the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units into the trust account and not release such amounts
except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein and including to permit
us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is
substantially reduced or eliminated) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon,
and the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved
by holders of at least 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 shares 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 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering or (y) amend the foregoing provisions. Our initial stockholders,
who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of the initial public offering (not including the shares
of Class A common stock underlying the private placement units and assuming they do not purchase any units in the initial public offering),
may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion
to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
which govern our pre-initial business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our
ability to complete an initial business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any
breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed,
pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
(i) 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 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering or (ii) with respect to any other material provisions relating
to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, 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 will be net of taxes payable) divided by the
number of then outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our Sponsor,
officers and directors. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will
not have the ability to pursue remedies against our Sponsor, officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in
the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
Certain agreements related to the initial public
offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Each of the agreements related to the initial
public offering to which we are a party, other than the warrant agreement and the investment management trust agreement, may be amended
without stockholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the letter agreement among us and our initial stockholders,
Sponsor, officers and directors; the registration rights agreement among us, our initial stockholders and the underwriters; the private
placement units purchase agreements among us, our Sponsor and Jefferies LLC; and the administrative services agreement among us and an
affiliate of our Sponsor. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example,
our letter agreement and the underwriting agreement contain certain lock-up provisions with respect to the founder shares, private placement
warrants and other securities held by our Sponsor, officers and directors. Amendments to such agreements would require the consent of
the applicable parties thereto and would need to be approved by our board of directors, which may do so for a variety of reasons, including
to facilitate our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these
agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment
and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement. Any amendment entered into in connection
with the consummation of our initial business combination will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable,
related to such initial business combination, and any other material amendment to any of our material agreements will be disclosed in
a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial
business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
For example, amendments to the lock-up provision discussed above may result in our initial stockholders selling their securities earlier
than they would otherwise be permitted, which may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing
to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure
or abandon a particular business combination.
We have not selected any specific business combination
target, but intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the initial public offering and the sale
of the private placement units. As a result, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial 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. Further, the amount
of additional financing we may be required to obtain could increase as a result of future growth capital needs for any particular transaction,
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 and/or the terms of negotiated transactions
to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete
our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to
secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of
our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 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 $10.00 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 $10.00 per share” and
other risk factors herein.
Our initial stockholders may exert a substantial
influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of the initial public offering,
our initial stockholders owned shares representing 21.9% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (including the shares of
Class A common stock underlying the private placement units and assuming they do not purchase any units in the initial public offering).
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 units in the initial public offering or if our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of common
stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered
in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition,
our board of directors, whose members were elected by our initial stockholders, is and will be divided into two classes, each of which
will generally serve for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting
of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors
will continue in office until at least the completion of the initial business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence
of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial
stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders
will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make
it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike most blank check companies, if (i) we issue
additional shares of 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 the nearest cent)to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and
the Newly Issued Price, 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, and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest
cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an
initial business combination with a target business.
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 an initial business combination include historical and pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include
the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender
offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, GAAP, or IFRS, depending
on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.
These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable
to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our
initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
Exchange rate fluctuations and currency policies
may cause a target business’s ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all
revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, and the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if
any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate
and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency
against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business
combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior
to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may
make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.
After our initial business combination, our
results of operations and prospects could be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political, social and government policies,
developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
The economic, political and social conditions,
as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. Economic growth could be
uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future
such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in
certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find
an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination,
the ability of that target business to become profitable.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources,
and increase the time and costs of completing an initial business combination.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires
that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December
31, 2022. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging
growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal
control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our 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 business combination.
Adverse developments affecting the financial
services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions, could adversely
affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or our prospects.
The funds in our operating account and our trust
account are held in banks or other financial institutions. Our cash held in non-interest bearing and interest-bearing accounts would exceed
any applicable Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Should events, including limited liquidity,
defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments occur with respect to the banks or other financial institutions that hold our
funds, or that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these
kinds or other similar risks, our liquidity may be adversely affected. For example, on March 10, 2023, the FDIC announced that Silicon
Valley Bank had been closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Although we did not have any funds in Silicon
Valley Bank or other institutions that have been closed, we cannot guarantee that the banks or other financial institutions that hold
our funds will not experience similar issues.
In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S.
or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs
and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more
difficult for us to acquire financing on terms favorable to us in connection with a potential business combination, or at all, and could
have material adverse impacts on our liquidity, our business, financial condition or results of operations, and our prospects. Our business
may be adversely impacted by these developments in ways that we cannot predict at this time, there may be additional risks that we have
not yet identified, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to avoid negative consequences directly or indirectly from any failure
of one or more banks or other financial institutions.
Risks Relating to the Post Business Combination
Company
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 identify all material issues that may be present
with a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence,
or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be
forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in
our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known
risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and
not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions
about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be
subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining debt financing to partially
finance the initial business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrantholders who choose to remain stockholders
or warrantholders following the initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders
or warrantholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Our management may not be able to maintain
control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure an initial business combination
so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets
of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more
of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for
us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that
does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders
prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending
on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we
issue a substantial number of new shares of Class A common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In
this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares
of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common
stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a
single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it
more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon
loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate
such business.
We may have a limited ability to assess the
management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may affect our initial business combination with a target business whose
management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting
our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may
be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target business’s management,
therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target
business’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and
profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrantholders who choose
to remain stockholders or warrantholders following the initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities.
Such stockholders or warrantholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim
that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they
are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable,
relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a
Business in Foreign Countries
If we effect our initial business combination
with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that
may negatively impact our operations.
If we effect our initial business combination
with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks
associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
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higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with different commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets; |
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rules and regulations regarding currency redemption; |
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complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
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laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected; |
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tariffs and trade barriers; |
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
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longer payment cycles and challenges in collecting accounts receivable; |
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tax issues, including but not limited to tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States; |
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currency fluctuations and exchange controls; |
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cultural and language differences; |
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employment regulations; |
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars, including the conflict in Ukraine and the surrounding region; |
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deterioration of political relations with the United States; and |
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government appropriations of assets. |
We may not be able to adequately address these
additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial
condition.
After our initial business combination, substantially
all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue will be derived from our operations in such
country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and
legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
The economic, political and social conditions,
as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. Economic growth could be
uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future
such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in
certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find
an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination,
the ability of that target business to become profitable.
We are currently operating in a period of economic
uncertainty and capital markets disruption, which has been significantly impacted by geopolitical instability due to the ongoing military
conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected
by any negative impact on the global economy and capital markets resulting from the conflict in Ukraine or any other geopolitical tensions.
Russian military actions and the resulting sanctions
could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets, potentially
making it more difficult for us to obtain additional funds.
Any of the above mentioned factors could affect
our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting
market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks
described in this Form 10-K.
Risks Relating to Our Sponsor and Management
Team
We are dependent upon our executive officers
and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively
small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued
service of our directors and officers, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment
agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more
of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial
business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us
following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our
post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial
business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however,
cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory
positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain
in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you
that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating
a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
In addition, the officers and directors of an initial business combination candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business
combination. The departure of an initial business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and
profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an initial business combination 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 initial business
combination candidate’s management team will remain associated with the initial business combination candidate following our initial
business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an initial business combination candidate will not wish to remain
in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment
or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination, and a particular business combination
may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation
following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular
business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with the
company after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements
in connection with the initial business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the initial
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 initial business combination. Such negotiations also could make such
key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. The personal and financial interests of such individuals
may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, subject to their fiduciary duties under Delaware law.
Our officers and directors will allocate their
time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This
conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to,
and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations
and our search for an initial business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior
to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in other business endeavors for which he may be
entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.
Our independent directors may also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’
other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels,
it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business
combination.
Certain of our officers and directors are now,
and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted
by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business
opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion of the initial public
offering 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 Sponsor and officers and directors 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 officers and directors also may become aware
of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or
contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity
should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity
prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate
opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity
as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would
otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without
violating another legal obligation.
In addition, our Sponsor and our officers and
directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures
during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional
conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would
materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers, directors, security holders and
their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits
our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment
to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into an initial
business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers, although we do not intend to do
so. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the
types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
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 occurrence of each of the following: (i) our completion of an initial business combination,
and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the
limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted 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 redeem 100% of our public
shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering or (B)
with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and
(iii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing
of the initial public offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete an
initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering 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 24 months from the closing of the initial public
offering 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
Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading
on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading
restrictions.
Our units are listed on Nasdaq and the shares
of our Class A common stock and warrants are separately listed on Nasdaq. Although we meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial
listing standards set forth in the Nasdaq listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq
in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial
business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. Generally, 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 Nasdaq’s initial
listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the
listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share, our stockholders’
equity would generally be required to be at least $5.0 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 300 round lot holders of
our securities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading
on its exchange and we are not able to list 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:
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a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
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reduced liquidity for our securities; |
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a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities; |
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act
of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred
to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be
listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will qualify as covered securities under the statute. Although the states
are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there
is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities
in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued
by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and
might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further,
if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under the statute and we would be subject
to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
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 the initial
public offering without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we would not be restricting
our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and
you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will
not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And as a result,
you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your
stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
Members of our management team and board of
directors have significant experience as founders, board members, officers or executives of other companies. As a result, certain of those
persons have been, may be, or may become, involved in proceedings, investigations and litigation relating to the business affairs of the
companies with which they were, are, or may in the future be, affiliated. This may have an adverse effect on us, which may impede our
ability to consummate an initial business combination.
During the course of their careers, members of
our management team and board of directors have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers or executives of other
companies. As a result of their involvement and positions in these companies, certain persons were, are now, or may in the future become,
involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings relating to the business affairs of such companies or transactions entered
into by such companies. Any such litigation, investigations or other proceedings may divert our management team’s and board’s
attention and resources away from identifying and selecting a target business or businesses for our initial business combination and may
negatively affect our reputation, which may impede our ability to complete an initial business combination.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future
for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These
provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series
of preferred shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve
payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions
under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more
difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
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 warrants could be converted into cash or stock, the
exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased,
all without your approval.
Our warrants are issued in registered form under
a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that
the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity or to correct any defective
provision or mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and
the warrant agreement set forth in the initial public offering prospectus, provided that the approval by the holders of at least 50% of
the then outstanding public warrants is required to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of
the 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 Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
Our warrant agreement designates the courts
of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for
certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders
to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to
applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State
of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction,
which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive
jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions
of the warrant agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim
for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing
or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions
in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope 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 of no value to you.
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 our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise
or the exercise price of a warrant for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the
date on which we send notice of such redemption to the warrant holders and provided certain other conditions are met. If and when the
warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities
for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth above even if the holders are
otherwise unable to exercise the warrants. 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.
In addition, we have the ability to redeem the
outstanding public warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.10 per warrant upon
a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds
$10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant) for any
20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to proper notice of such redemption and provided
that certain other conditions are met, including that holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption for a number
of shares of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our shares of Class A common stock.
The value received upon exercise of the warrants (1) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised
their warrants at a later time where the underlying share price is higher and (2) may not compensate the holders for the value of the
warrants, including because the number of shares of Class A common stock received is capped at 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per
warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remaining life of the warrants.
None of the private placement warrants will be
redeemable by us (except in limited circumstances) so long as they are held by our Sponsor or the underwriters or their permitted transferees.
The grant of registration rights to our initial
stockholders and the underwriters may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of
such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently
with the issuance and sale of the securities in the initial public offering, our initial stockholders and the underwriters and their permitted
transferees can demand that we register the resale of the private placement units, the private placement shares, the private placement
warrants, the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the founder shares and exercise of the private placement warrants
held, or to be held, by them and holders of securities that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we
register the resale of 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 complete. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase
the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price
of our Class A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our initial stockholders, the underwriters or holders of working
capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered for resale.
Our warrants and founder shares may have an
adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We issued warrants to purchase 8,400,377 shares
of our Class A common stock as part of the units offered by the initial public offering prospectus and, simultaneously with the closing
of the initial public offering, we issued private placement units, which consist of (i) an aggregate of 1,002,030 private placement shares
and (ii) private placement warrants to purchase an aggregate of 250,507 shares of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to
adjustments as provided herein. The founder shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject
to adjustment as set forth herein. In addition, if our Sponsor or its affiliates, or any of our officers or directors, makes any working
capital loans, up to $1,200,000 of such loans may be converted into private placement-equivalent units at a price of $10.00 per unit at
the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the private placement units, including as to exercise price, exercisability
and exercise period of the underlying warrants. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock in connection with our redemption of
warrants.
To the extent we issue shares of Class A common
stock to effectuate an initial 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 business combination 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 initial business combination. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares
may make it more difficult to effectuate an initial 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 initial public offering except that, so long as they are held by our Sponsor or the underwriters
or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants (i) will not be redeemable by us (except in limited circumstances), (ii)
may not (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants), subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred,
assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, (iii) may be exercised by the
holders on a cashless basis, (iv) will be entitled to registration rights and (v) for so long as they are held by the underwriters, will
not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which the initial public offering prospectus
forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A).
Because each unit contains one-fourth of one
warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other special purpose acquisition companies.
Each unit contains one-fourth of one warrant.
Pursuant to the warrant agreement, no fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units, and only whole units will trade.
If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round
down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the warrant holder. 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-fourth of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole
warrant to purchase one share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this
unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if it included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
General Risk Factors
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.”
In connection with the Company’s assessment
of going concern considerations accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, we have
determined that if the Company is unable to complete a business combination by April 22, 2023, or the Extended Date, if applicable, then
the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution
raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere
in this Form 10-K do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.
Our warrants are accounted for as liabilities and the changes in
value of our warrants could have a material effect on our financial results.
Included on our balance sheet as of December 31,
2022 are derivative liabilities related to embedded features contained within our warrants. Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)
Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), provides for the remeasurement of the fair value of such derivatives at each
balance sheet date, with a resulting non-cash gain or loss related to the change in the fair value being recognized in earnings in the
statement of operations. As a result of the recurring fair value measurement, our consolidated financial statements and results of operations
may fluctuate quarterly, based on factors, which are outside of our control. Due to the recurring fair value measurement, we expect that
we will recognize non-cash gains or losses on our warrants each reporting period and that the amount of such gains or losses could be
material.
A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could
be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares or our liquidation.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed
into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a new 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain
repurchases of stock by “covered corporations” (which include publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations) beginning
in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not
its stockholders from which the stock is repurchased. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities are trading on Nasdaq,
we are a “covered corporation” for this purpose. The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of
the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, repurchasing corporations are
permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same
taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the Excise Tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”)
has authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, the Excise Tax.
On December 27, 2022, the Treasury published
Notice 2023-2, which provided clarification on some aspects of the application of the Excise Tax, including with respect to some
transactions in which special purpose acquisition companies (each a “SPAC”) typically engage. In the notice, the Treasury
appears to have intended to exempt from the excise tax any distributions, including those that occur in connection with redemptions, by
a corporation in the same year it completely liquidates, but the guidance is not clearly drafted and arguably could be interpreted to
have a narrower application. Consequently, a substantial risk remains that any redemptions would be subject to the Excise Tax, including
in circumstances where we either engage in a business combination in 2023 in which we do not issue shares sufficient to offset the earlier
redemptions or liquidate later in 2023.
Because the application of the Excise Tax is not
entirely clear, any redemption or other repurchase effected by us, in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise,
may be subject to the Excise Tax. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the Excise Tax on a redemption of our shares of Class A
common stock or other stock issued by us would depend on a number of factors, including (i) whether the redemption is treated as
a repurchase of stock for purposes of the Excise Tax, (ii) the fair market value of the redemption treated as a repurchase of stock
in connection with our initial business combination, an extension or otherwise (iii) the structure of the initial business combination,
(iv) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with the initial business combination
(or otherwise issued not in connection with the initial business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a redemption treated
as a repurchase of stock) and (v) the content of regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As
noted above, the Excise Tax would be payable by us, and not by the redeeming holder, and the mechanics of any required payment of the
Excise Tax have not yet been determined. The imposition of the Excise Tax could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete
an initial business combination or for effecting redemptions and may affect our ability to complete an initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company
for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may be forced to abandon our efforts to complete a business combination and instead be
required to liquidate the Company. To mitigate the risk of that result, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date
of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, we will instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing bank deposit
account.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed
rules (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”), relating, among other things, to circumstances in which SPACs such as us could potentially
be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such
companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided
that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria.
To comply with the duration limitation of the
proposed safe harbor, a SPAC would have a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply
with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered
into an agreement with a target company for a business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of the registration
statement for its initial public offering. The company would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later
than 24 months after the effective date of the registration statement for its initial public offering.
There is currently uncertainty concerning the
applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like ours, that does not complete its initial business combination
within the proposed time frame set forth in the proposed safe harbor rule. As indicated above, we completed our initial public offering
in March 2021 and have operated as a blank check company searching for a target business with which to consummate a business combination
since such time (or approximately 23 months after the effective date of our initial public offering, as of the date of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K). As a result, it is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment
company if the SPAC Rule Proposals are adopted as proposed. If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment
Company Act, we might be forced to abandon our efforts to complete a business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Company.
If we are required to liquidate the Company, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating
business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our shares and warrants or rights following such a transaction, and our
warrants or rights would expire worthless.
The funds in the trust account have, since our initial public offering,
been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing
solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act
which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. To mitigate the risk of us being deemed to have been operating
as an unregistered investment company under the Investment Company Act, we will, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective
date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, or March 17, 2023, instruct Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the trust account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market
funds held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing bank deposit account (i.e.,
in one or more bank accounts) until the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or our liquidation. Interest on bank deposit
accounts is variable and such accounts currently yield interest of approximately 3.0% per annum.
In addition, even prior to the 24-month anniversary
of the effective date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, we may be deemed to be an investment company.
The longer that the funds in the trust account are held in short-term U.S. government securities or in money market funds invested
exclusively in such securities, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered
investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the
securities held in the trust account at any time, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, and instead hold all funds in the trust account
in an interest-bearing bank deposit account.
We are a blank check 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 blank check company with no operating
results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through the initial public offering. Because we lack an operating
history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination
with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning an
initial business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business
combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by our management team and
their affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses
associated with, our management team or businesses associated with them, including Forum I and Forum II, is presented for informational
purposes only. Past performance of our management team is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate
for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely
on the historical record of the performance of our management team or businesses associated with them, including Forum I and Forum II,
as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could
result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We will 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 ability
to consummate an initial business combination.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller
reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements
available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and
may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company”
within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting
requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being
required to comply with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure
obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding
a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company
for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our 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 have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when
a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company,
can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our
financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has
opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards
used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting
company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure
obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting
company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds
$250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during
such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end
of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison
of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
and Delaware law may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
requires, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, that (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought
on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee to us or
our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision
of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors,
officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware,
except any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject
to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of
Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than
the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under
the Securities Act, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent
jurisdiction. If an action is brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service
of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the
application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable,
and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although
our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or
liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Section 27 of the Exchange
Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the
rules and regulations thereunder. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application
of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors
and officers.
We have agreed to use commercially reasonable
efforts to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which the initial public offering prospectus forms a part
or a new registration statement with the SEC and to have declared effective a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares
of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, but 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 agreed that, as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use commercially reasonable efforts
to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which the initial public offering prospectus forms a part or a new
registration statement with the SEC, and within 60 business days following our initial business combination to have declared effective,
a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and to 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, complete or correct or the SEC issues a stop order.
If the shares of Class A common stock issuable
upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, under the terms of the warrant agreement, holders of warrants
who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and, instead, will be required to do so on a cashless basis
in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. If holders exercise their warrants on a cashless basis,
the number of shares of Class A common stock that you will receive upon such cashless exercise will be based on a formula subject to a
maximum amount of 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment).
In no event will warrants be exercisable for cash
or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the 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 or qualification is available.
Notwithstanding the above, if our shares of Class
A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they do not satisfy
the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, not permit holders
of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants to do so for cash and, instead, require them to do so on a cashless basis in accordance
with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act; in the event we so elect, we will not be required to maintain in effect a registration statement
or register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws, and in the event we do not so elect,
we will use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities
laws to the extent an exemption is not available. Exercising the warrants on a cashless basis could have the effect of reducing the potential
“upside” of the holder’s investment in our company because the warrant holder will hold a smaller number of shares of
Class A common stock upon a cashless exercise of the warrants they hold than they would have upon a cash exercise.
In no event will we be required to net cash settle
any warrant, or issue securities (other than upon a cashless exercise as described above) or other compensation in exchange for the warrants
in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state
securities laws. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration
or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire
worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price
solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. There may be a circumstance where an exemption from registration
exists for holders of our private placement warrants to exercise their warrants while a corresponding exemption does not exist for holders
of the public warrants included as part of units sold in the initial public offering. In such an instance, our initial stockholders and
their permitted transferees (which may include our directors and executive officers) would be able to exercise their warrants and sell
the shares of Class A common stock underlying their warrants while holders of our public warrants would not be able to exercise their
warrants and sell the underlying shares of common stock. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption
right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock for sale under all applicable state securities
laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise their warrants.