Item 1. Business.
Overview
We are a blank check company
formed as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting our initial business combination.
Initial Public Offering
On February 22, 2021, we
consummated our initial public offering of 300,000,000 units. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock, and one-quarter
of one redeemable warrant of the Company, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common
stock for $11.50 per whole share. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $300,000,000.
Simultaneously with the closing
of the initial public offering, we completed the private sale of an aggregate of 800,000 units to our sponsor at a purchase price of
$10.00 per private placement unit, generating gross proceeds of $8,000,000.
A total of $300,000,000,
comprised of $294,000,000 of the proceeds from the initial public offering and $6,000,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the private
placement units was placed in the trust account maintained by Continental, acting as trustee.
It is the job of our sponsor
and management team to complete our initial business combination. Our management team is led by Lee Einbinder, our Chief Executive Officer,
and Howard Kurz, our President, who have over 30 years of experience in the financial services and financial technology (“FinTech”)
industries.
Charter Amendment
On February 20, 2023, at the Special Meeting, our stockholders approved
the Charter Amendment by which we extended our Combination Period from February 22, 2023 to August 22, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined
by the board), with stockholders holding 25,040,997 shares of our Class A common stock exercising their right to redeem such shares for
a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account. If our initial business combination is not consummated during this Combination Period
ending August 22, 2023, then our existence will terminate, and we will distribute all amounts in the trust account.
Common Stock Conversion
On January 30, 2023, we issued
an aggregate of 7,499,999 shares of Class A common stock to our sponsor upon the conversion of an equal number of shares of Class B common
stock. These conversion shares are subject to the same restrictions as applied to the Class B common stock before the conversion, including,
among other things, certain transfer restrictions, waiver of redemption rights and the obligation to vote in favor of an initial business
combination as described in the prospectus for our initial public offering. Following the conversion, our sponsor was the beneficial
owner of 8,299,999 shares of our Class A common stock and one share of our Class B common stock.
Business Strategy
We have primarily focused
our efforts in identifying businesses in the FinTech and financial services industries, with particular emphasis on businesses that offer
a differentiated technology platform and/or products for interfacing with the financial services sector, including digital assets, capital
markets trading and infrastructure, payments, traditional and alternative asset managers, wealth management, specialty finance companies,
insurance and real estate services. Over the past several years, there has been a rise in the level of sophistication and interconnectivity
between innovative technology and financial services providers, and we expect this trend to continue and accelerate. We believe that
there are many potential targets within the FinTech and financial services sectors that could become attractive public companies. These
potential targets exhibit a broad range of business models and financial characteristics that range from very high growth innovative
companies to more mature businesses with established franchises, recurring revenues and strong cash flows.
There has been significant
disruption and change in the delivery of financial services in recent years, and we seek companies that are involved with, among others:
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point
of sale payment platforms; |
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payments
processing for consumers and businesses; |
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digital
assets and blockchain technology; |
| ● | wealth
management and technology; |
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exchanges
and trading platforms; |
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big data moving to the cloud, application programming interface, data
security; |
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mortgage
technology and services; |
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insurance
technology and services; |
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regulatory
technology for financial services; and |
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real estate
and prop tech services. |
With the increased adoption
of technology solutions by both consumers and businesses, we believe that the sector is poised for continued growth in both overall market
size and penetration. Key industry characteristics include sustainable long-term organic growth, technology disruption, attractive
competitive dynamics, and further consolidation opportunities. Key business characteristics include competitive moats, technological
advantages, and a strong management team. Key financial metrics include double digit organic revenue growth, recurring revenues and strong
cash flow conversion with existing or line of sight to profitability.
We have not limited and do not intend to limit our search to one segment
of the FinTech and financial services ecosystem, but instead target a wide variety of companies that deliver a solution or product to
the financial services end-market. We believe that our extensive experience and demonstrated success in advising and investing in businesses
in this industry provides us with a unique set of capabilities that will be utilized in generating stockholder returns.
We seek to acquire established
businesses that we believe are fundamentally sound but potentially in need of financial, operational, strategic or managerial improvements
to maximize value. We also look at earlier stage companies that exhibit the potential to change the industries in which they participate
and which offer the potential of sustained high levels of revenue growth. Consistent with our industry focus, we target FinTech and financial
services businesses that have strong management teams, demonstrated organic growth, and differentiated products or services. Opportunities
range from high-growth, customer facing technologies in payments, lending and digital assets to more mature, high-margin, stable businesses
which may be engaged in lending, asset management, or providing critical processing and support to established financial services firms.
We believe that the wide networks of our management team will deliver
access to a broad spectrum of opportunities across the FinTech and financial services landscape. In addition to any potential business
candidates we may identify on our own, other target business candidates have been brought and we anticipate they will continue to be brought
to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity and venture capital funds,
and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
Acquisition Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following
general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We have used and will continue
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 meets some but not all of these criteria and guidelines. We expect that no individual criterion will entirely
determine a decision to pursue a particular opportunity. We seek to acquire companies that we believe:
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are fundamentally
sound companies that can enhance stockholder value through a combination with us, and offer an attractive risk-adjusted return
for our stockholders; |
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have strong,
experienced management teams, or provide a platform to assemble an effective management team with a track record of driving growth
and profitability; |
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are at
an inflection point, such as requiring additional management expertise, are able to innovate through new operational techniques,
or where we believe we can drive improved financial performance; |
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can benefit
from the application and exploitation of financial services technologies; |
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have a
history of, or potential for, strong, stable free cash flow generation, with predictable and recurring revenue streams; |
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can grow
both organically and where we believe our ability to source proprietary opportunities and execute transactions will help the business
grow through additional acquisitions; |
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have a
leading or niche market position and demonstrate advantages when compared to their competitors, which may help to create barriers
to entry against new competitors; |
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can benefit
from being a publicly traded company, with access to broader capital markets, to achieve the company’s growth strategy; and |
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exhibit
unrecognized value or other characteristics that we believe can be enhanced based on our analysis and due diligence review. |
These criteria are not intended
to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant,
on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the
event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that meets some but not all the above criteria
and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business meets some but not all of the above criteria in our stockholder communications
related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in the Registration Statement, would be in the form of proxy solicitation
materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.
We may need to obtain additional
financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public
shares upon completion of our initial business combination. We intend to acquire a company with an enterprise value significantly above
the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units. Depending on the size of the transaction
or the number of public shares we become obligated to redeem, we may potentially utilize several additional financing sources, including
but not limited to the issuance of additional securities to the sellers of a target business, debt issued by banks or other lenders or
the owners of the target, a private placement to raise additional funds, or a combination of the foregoing. 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. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient to meet our obligations or
our working capital needs, we may need to obtain additional financing.
Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq rules 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, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking
firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions 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. Additionally, 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 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 Nasdaq’s 80% fair market value test. If the initial business combination involves more than
one target business, the 80% fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the transactions and we will treat
the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval,
as applicable.
Our Business Combination Process
In evaluating prospective
business combinations, we conduct a thorough due diligence review process that encompasses, among other things, a review of historical
and projected financial and operating data, meetings with management and their advisors (if applicable), in-depth assessment of
the management talent, on-site inspection of facilities and assets (if possible), discussion with customers and suppliers, assessment
of the organization readiness for public company status, legal reviews and other reviews as we deem appropriate. We also utilize the
expertise of our management team in analyzing companies and evaluating operating projections, financial projections and determining the
appropriate return expectations given the risk profile of the target business.
We are not prohibited from
pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek
to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee
of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly
renders valuation opinions that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Each of our officers and directors presently has fiduciary or contractual
obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity.
Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that 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. We believe, however, that the fiduciary duties
or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete our 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.
Members of our management
team may become officers or directors of other special purpose acquisition companies before we have entered into a definitive agreement
regarding our initial business combination.
In addition, members of our management team are not obligated to devote
any specific number of hours to our matters but they devote as much of their time as they, in the exercise of their respective business
judgement, deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time that any member
of our management team devotes in any time period varies based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business
combination and the current stage of the business combination process. We do not have an employment agreement with any member of our management
team.
We believe our management
team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with a substantial number of potential
business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a broad network of
contacts and corporate relationships in the FinTech and financial services industries. This network has grown through the activities
of our management team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, our management team’s relationships with sellers, financing
sources and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying economic and financial
market conditions.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our status as
a public company makes us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As a public company, we offer a target business
an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination with us. Following an initial
business combination, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management
incentives that are better aligned with stockholders’ interests than it would as a private company. A target business can further
benefit by augmenting its profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. In a business combination
transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of stock in the target business for our
shares of Class A common stock (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of our shares of Class A common stock
and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers.
Although there are various
costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more expeditious and
cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial public offering process
takes a significantly longer period of time than the typical business combination transaction process, and there are significant expenses
in the initial public offering process, including underwriting discounts and commissions, marketing and road show efforts that may not
be present to the same extent in connection with an initial business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed
initial business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering
is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay
or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Following an initial business combination, we believe
the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with
stockholders’ interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public company can offer further
benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While we believe that our
structure and our management team’s backgrounds make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view
our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history and our ability to seek stockholder approval of any proposed
initial business combination, negatively.
We are an “emerging
growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to
take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging
growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting
firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive
compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory
vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find
our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities
may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107
of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided
in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging
growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the
last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, or February 22,
2026, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be
a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million
as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt
securities during the prior three-year period.
Additionally, we are a “smaller
reporting company” as defined in Rule 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 exceeds
$250 million as of the end of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during
such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior
June 30th.
Only holders of our founder
shares have the right to vote on the election of directors. As a result, Nasdaq considers us to be a “controlled company”
within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq corporate governance standards, a company of which more than
50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company”
and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. We currently do not intend to utilize these exemptions.
Financial Position
With funds available for an initial business combination in the amount
of $50,340,835.36 as of February 28, 2023, assuming no further redemptions, after payment of $10,500,000 of deferred underwriting fees
and before fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination, we offer a target business a variety of options such as
creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening
its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash,
debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will
allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps
to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations
until we consummate our initial business combination. We will effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds
of our initial public offering and the private placement, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business
combination (pursuant to backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of our initial public offering or otherwise),
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.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of
debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business
combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. In addition, we may target businesses
larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units and may
as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with
applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business
combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our proxy materials
or tender offer documents disclosing the initial business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required
by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, or through
loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any
third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Sources of Target Businesses
Target business candidates may be brought to our attention from various
unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers and investment professionals. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by
such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us by calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses
in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read our prospectus in connection
with our initial public offering or this Report and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well
as our sponsor and their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their
business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions.
In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to
us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors and our sponsor and their affiliates. We may engage the services
of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting
fee, advisory fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We
will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not
otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines
is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of finder’s fees is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any
such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account. We may pay our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors,
or any entity with which they are affiliated, a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation in connection with identifying,
investigating and completing our initial business combination, which may be paid from the proceeds held in the trust account upon consummation
of an initial business combination. We pay our sponsor up to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative
support. We reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial
business combination.
Some of our officers and
directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-transaction company following our initial business combination.
The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an initial business
combination candidate.
We are not prohibited from
pursuing an initial business combination with an initial business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or
directors or making the initial 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 an initial business combination target that is affiliated
with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment
banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such an initial business combination is fair
to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Potential target companies with whom we may engage in discussions after
the closing of the offering may have had prior discussions with other blank check companies, bankers in the industry and/or other professional
advisors including blank check companies with which our executive officers or board of directors were affiliated. We may pursue transactions
with such potential targets (i) if such other blank check companies are no longer pursuing transactions with such potential targets,
(ii) if we become aware that such potential targets are interested in a potential initial business combination with us and (iii) if
we believe such transactions would be attractive to our stockholders. We have not contacted any of the prospective target businesses that
FinServ I considered and rejected while it was a blank check company searching for target businesses with which to consummate an initial
business combination. However, we may contact such targets if we become aware that such targets are interested in a potential initial
business combination with us and such transaction would be attractive to our stockholders.
If any of our officers or
directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which
he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination
opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have
certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring
of our Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq rules 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. The fair market value of our initial
business combination will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial
community, such as discounted cash flow valuation, a valuation based on trading multiples of comparable public businesses or a valuation
based on the financial metrics of M&A transactions of comparable businesses. If our board of directors is not able to independently
determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking
firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions 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. We do not intend to purchase
multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to this requirement, our management
will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will
not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only
complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or
otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under
the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses,
the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be taken into
account for purposes of Nasdaq’s 80% fair market value test.
To the extent we effect our
initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth
we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks
inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective business target, we conduct a thorough
due diligence review, which encompasses, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, in-depth assessment
of the management talent, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, assessment of the organization
readiness for public company status, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
The time required to select
and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process,
are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of
a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses
and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period
of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance
of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or
several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in
a single line of business. In addition, we are focusing our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. By completing
our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject
us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the
particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and |
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cause
us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services. |
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s
Management Team
Although we closely scrutinize
the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that
business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may
not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our
management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of
the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business
combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination.
Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations
of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that
any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether
any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following an initial business
combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure
you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge
or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve
Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions
without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required
by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented
in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval
is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
Type
of Transaction |
|
Whether
Stockholder
Approval is
Required |
Purchase
of assets |
|
No |
Purchase
of stock of target not involving a merger with the company |
|
No |
Merger
of target into a subsidiary of the company |
|
No |
Merger
of the company with a target |
|
Yes |
Under Nasdaq’s listing
rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
|
● |
we issue
shares of Class A common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of our Class A common
stock then outstanding; |
|
● |
any of
our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively
have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present
or potential issuance of common stock could result in an increase in outstanding common shares or voting power of 5% or more; or |
|
● |
the issuance
or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control. |
Permitted Purchases of our Securities
If we seek stockholder approval
of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to
the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants
in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination.
There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers 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 not make 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. 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. 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 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 warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial
business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may
not otherwise have been possible. 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.
Our sponsor, officers, directors
and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates
may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests
submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent
that our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential
selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against
our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business
combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation
M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our sponsor,
officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only
be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for
manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements
that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their
affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the
Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such
purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders
upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public
stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our
initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account
as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in
the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject
to the limitations described herein. As of December 31, 2022, the amount in the trust account was approximately $10.12 per public share.
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. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant
to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and private placement shares and any public
shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, the Company has agreed that,
to mitigate the current uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, funds held in the trust account,
including any interest thereon, will not be used to pay for any excise tax liabilities with respect to any future redemptions prior to
or in connection with the extension of the Combination Period from February 22, 2023 to August 22, 2023, an initial business combination
or liquidation of the Company.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
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 either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination
or (ii) 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 the law or
stock exchange listing requirement. 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 require stockholder approval. If we structure
an initial business combination with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as
to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed initial business combination. We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder
vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements
or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities
on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If stockholder approval of
the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or
other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
|
● |
conduct
the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the
solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and |
|
● |
file proxy
materials with the SEC. |
In the event that we seek
stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our
public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business
combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted 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 toward this quorum and pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have
agreed to vote their founder shares and private placement shares and any public shares purchased 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. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ conversion shares, founder
shares and private placement shares, we would not need any of the 4,959,003 public shares sold in our initial public offering and currently
outstanding to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial
business combination approved, unless otherwise required under applicable law. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less
than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to
approve our initial business combination. 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.
If a stockholder vote is
not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation:
|
● |
conduct
the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers,
and |
|
● |
file tender
offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial
and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of
the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies. |
Upon the public announcement
of our initial business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to
purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to
comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions
pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a)
under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender
offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of
public shares which are not purchased by our sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement that we will only redeem our public
shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation
of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the
SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement
relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw
the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation provides that we will only redeem our public shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible
assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment
of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater
net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example,
the proposed initial business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash
to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy
other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed initial business combination. 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, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted
for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion
of our Initial Business Combination if we Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial
business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public
stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as
a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with
respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering (the “Excess Shares”). Such restriction
shall 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. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in our
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.
Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection
with Redemption Rights
We may require our public
stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,”
to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial
business combination, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the DWAC System, at the holder’s option.
The proxy materials that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate
whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have up to
two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights.
Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated
with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System.
The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost
on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption
rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of
when such delivery must be effectuated.
The foregoing is different
from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations,
many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and
a holder could simply vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was
seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the initial business combination was approved, the company would contact such
stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an
“option window” after the completion of the initial business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of
the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the
open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which
stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past
the completion of the initial business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical
or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the initial
business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem such
shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date of the stockholder meeting. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share
delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not
to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).
It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed
promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination
is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be
entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates
delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed initial
business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until
August 22, 2023, the end of the Combination Period.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation
if no Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation provided that we would have only until February 22, 2023, or 24 months from the closing of our initial public
offering, to complete our initial business combination. At the Special Meeting held on February 20, 2023, our stockholders approved the
Charter Amendment, by which the Combination Period was extended from February 22, 2023 to August 22, 2023, or such earlier date as is
determined by our board of directors. We filed the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February
21, 2023.
If we are unable to complete
our initial business combination during the Combination Period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding
up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price,
payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the
trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided
by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve
and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims
of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect
to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination during the Combination Period.
Our sponsor, officers and
directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions
from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and private placement shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial
business combination during the Combination Period. However, if our sponsor, officers or directors acquire public shares in or after
our initial public offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares
if we fail to complete our initial business combination during the Combination Period.
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 allow redemption in connection with our
initial business combination or certain amendments to our charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete
our initial business combination during the Combination Period or (ii) with respect to any other provision 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released
to us to pay our taxes divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, we will only redeem our public shares so long
as (after such redemption) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our
initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s
“penny stock” rules). If this optional redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of public shares
such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement (described above), we would not proceed with the amendment or the related
redemption of our public shares at such time.
If we do not consummate our
initial business combination during the Combination Period, we expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan
of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $610,672 of proceeds
held outside the trust account as of December 31, 2022, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose.
We will depend on sufficient
interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. However, if those funds are not
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest
accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000
of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of our initial public
offering and the sale of the private placement units, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into
account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution
would be approximately $10.12, as of December 31, 2022. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors
which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption
amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.12. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution
must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are
sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders.
While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’
claims.
Although we seek to have
all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us
waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders,
there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from
bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other
similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect
to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving
such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and
will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s
engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third
party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed
by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management
is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. Withum, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the
underwriters of our initial public offering, will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust
account.
In addition, there is no
guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations,
contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. 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 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 our 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.
None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and
prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds
in the trust account are reduced below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust
account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the
amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations
or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take
legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors
would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent
directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so 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. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor
would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the
per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.00 per public share.
We have sought and will continue
to seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring
to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements
with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not
be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act. As of December 31, 2022, we have access to up to approximately $610,672 from the proceeds of our
initial public offering with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation,
currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that
the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims
made by creditors. As of December 31, 2022, the amount held outside of the trust account was $610,672.
Under the DGCL, stockholders
may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution.
The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event
we do not complete our initial business combination during the Combination Period, may be considered a liquidating distribution under
Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it
makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims
can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional
150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect
to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed
to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata
portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete
our initial business combination during the Combination Period, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such
redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due
to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims
of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating
distribution. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination during the Combination Period, we will: (i) cease all
operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter,
redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account
including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000
of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish
public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject
to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining
stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our
obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our
intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the end of the Combination Period and, therefore, we do
not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions
received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b)
of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and
pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank
check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to
acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.
As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers,
prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest
or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against
us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote.
Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below
(i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation
of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes
and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party,
our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy 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, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.12 per share to our public
stockholders. Additionally, if 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. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may
have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the
trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public stockholders will
be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business
combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend any provisions
of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption
in connection with our initial business combination or certain amendments to our charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public
shares if we do not complete our initial business combination during the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision
relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of all of our
public shares if we are unable to complete our business combination during the Combination Period, subject to applicable law. In no other
circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder
approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with the initial business combination
alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such
stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our
initial business combination, we have encountered and may continue to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business
objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses
seeking strategic 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 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 three officers. These individuals are not obligated
to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they devote as much of their time as they deem necessary, in the exercise of
their respective business judgement, to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they
devote in any time period varies 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. We do not have an employment agreement with any member of our management team.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
Our units, Class A common
stock, and warrants are registered under the Exchange Act, and as a result, we have reporting obligations, including the requirement
that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual
reports, including this Report, contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide stockholders
with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials
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, U.S. 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 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 U.S. GAAP or that the potential target business will be able to
prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be
met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates,
we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We are required to evaluate
our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in
the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company,
will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target 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 have filed a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12
of the Exchange Act. As a result, we are subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current
intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation
of our initial business combination.
We are an “emerging
growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to
take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “
emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements
of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports
and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and
stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive
as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an
“emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the
Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay
the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have taken advantage
of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging
growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of
our initial public offering, or February 22, 2026, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion,
or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our shares of Class A 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. References herein to
“emerging growth company” will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller
reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain
reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain
a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds
$250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million
during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by nonaffiliates exceeds $700 million as of the
end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.