Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on November 17, 2020. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”).
Our Sponsor is Priveterra Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The registration statement for the Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 8, 2021. On February 11, 2021, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 27,600,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $276,000,000, and incurring offering costs of approximately $5,520,000, inclusive of approximately $9,660,000 in deferred underwriting commissions. On November 16, 2022, the Company and one of the underwriters executed a waiver letter confirming the underwriter’s waiver of its deferred fee under the terms of the underwriting agreement. As a result, the Company recognized income of $3,767,400 in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriter fee allocated to the underwriter in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the deferred underwriting fee payable is $5,892,600 and $9,660,000, respectively. On January 23, 2023, the Company and a second underwriter executed a waiver letter confirming the underwriter’s waiver of its deferred fee under the terms of the underwriting agreement which represents and additional $4,636,800 of the deferred fee as waived.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the Private Placement of 5,213,333 Private Placement Warrants, at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of approximately $7,820,000.
Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, $276,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement was placed in the Trust Account and was invested in permitted United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act that invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
Our management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination.
We will only have 30 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or August 11, 2023, (or such later date as may be approved by Priveterra stockholders in an amendment to the Current Charter) to complete our initial Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If we do not complete a Business Combination within this period of time, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares for a per share pro rata portion of the Trust Account, including interest and not previously released to us to fund our working capital requirements (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses) and (iii) as promptly as possible following such redemption, dissolve and liquidate the balance of our net assets to our remaining stockholders, as part of our plan of dissolution and liquidation. Our Sponsor and our executive officers and independent director nominees (the “initial stockholders”) entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to participate in any redemption with respect to their Founder Shares; however, if the initial stockholders or any of our officers, directors or affiliates acquire shares of common stock in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to a pro rata share of the Trust Account upon our redemption or liquidation in the event we do not complete a Business Combination within the required time period. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit in the Initial Public Offering.
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On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) by and among the Company, Priveterra Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and AEON Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AEON”). The Business Combination Agreement provides, among other things, that on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into AEON, with AEON surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Upon the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), the Company will change its name to “AEON Biopharma, Inc.” The date on which the Closing actually occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each option, whether vested or unvested, exercisable for AEON equity that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger shall be assumed by the Company and continue in full force and effect on the same terms and conditions as are currently applicable to such options, subject to adjustments to exercise price and number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon exercise.
Under the Business Combination Agreement, the Company will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of AEON (including equity interests issued upon conversion of the outstanding convertible notes of AEON) in exchange for shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), based on an implied AEON equity value of $165,000,000, to be paid to AEON stockholders at the effective time of the Merger, except that 809,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock otherwise issuable as merger consideration shall be held back to satisfy the exercise of certain of AEON’s convertible notes upon the maturity thereof.
The issuance of additional shares in connection with the Business Combination to the current owners of AEON or other investors:
● may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A Common Stock.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or the owners of AEON, it could result in:
● our inability to pay dividends on Priveterra Common Stock;
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As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, as of December 31, 2022, the balance of the Trust Account was approximately $279,384,429 (excluding $5,892,600 of deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account). Further, we expect to incur significant costs in the pursuit of the Business Combination. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete the Business Combination will be successful.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from November 12, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2022 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the initial public offering (defined below), and subsequent to the initial public offering, identifying a target company for a business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our business combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held in the trust account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in connection with identifying AEON as a target company for our initial business combination.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net income of $9,980,174, which is driven by an unrealized gain of $6,715,041 on our warrants, reduction of underwriting fees of $3,767,400, and $3,706,667 in interest income from investments held in our Trust Account. Partially offsetting our income is operating costs and of $3,325,605 and provision for income tax of $883,329.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had net income of $8,200,831, which is driven by an unrealized gain of $10,712,133 on our warrants and $79,687 in interest income from investments held in our Trust Account. Partially offsetting our income is $1,935,943 in formation and operating costs and warrant issue costs of $655,046.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2022, we had $67,909 in our operating bank account and working capital deficit of $2,874,594 (excluding taxes payable which is funded by earnings from the Trust Account).
Prior to the completion of the Initial Public Offering, our liquidity needs have been satisfied through a capital contribution from the Sponsor of $25,000 for the founder shares and loans under an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of $73,295. On February 15, 2021, we issued an unsecured convertible promissory note to our Sponsor, pursuant to which we may borrow up to $1,500,000 from our sponsor for ongoing expenses reasonably related to our business and the consummation of an initial business combination. All unpaid principal under the convertible note will be due and payable in full on the earlier of (i) August 11, 2023 and (ii) the effective date of our initial business combination. Our Sponsor will have the option, at any time on or prior to such maturity date, to convert any amounts outstanding under the convertible note into warrants to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a conversion price of $1.50 per warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to the same adjustments applicable to the private placement warrants sold concurrently with our initial public offering. In June 2021 we had $100,000 of Working Capital Loans outstanding which were converted into 66,667 Working Capital Warrants. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
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We have approximately $68,000 in cash and approximately $3,900,000 in current liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and have incurred and expects to incur additional significant costs in pursuit of financing and acquisition plans. Additionally, we have until August 11, 2023 to consummate a Business Combination. In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements– Going Concern,” we have determined that the liquidity condition and mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We intend to complete a Business Combination before the mandatory liquidation date. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should we be required to liquidate after August 11, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by Priveterra stockholders in an amendment to the Current Charter).
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of the consolidated balance sheets. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Going Concern
We have approximately $68,000 in cash and approximately $3,900,000 in current liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and have incurred and expects to incur additional significant costs in pursuit of financing and acquisition plans. Additionally, we have until August 11, 2023 to consummate a Business Combination. In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements– Going Concern,” we have determined that the liquidity condition and mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We intend to complete a Business Combination before the mandatory liquidation date. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should we be required to liquidate after August 11, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by Priveterra stockholders in an amendment to the Current Charter).
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
As of December 31, 2022, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation had a material impact on our business, revenues or operating results during the period presented.
JOBS Act
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, the consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the consolidated financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our Initial Public Offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
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Contractual Obligations
Administrative Services Agreement
Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, we agreed to pay the Sponsor up to $25,000 per month for administrative and other services, of which $10,000 per month will be paid to the Sponsor for office space and administrative services provided to members of the management team and up to $15,000 will be used to compensate the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary for a portion of their time spent on the Company’s affairs. Upon completion of the Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees.
Registration Rights
The initial stockholders and holders of the Private Placement Warrants will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement. The initial stockholders and holders of the Private Placement Warrants will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that register such securities for sale under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders will have “piggy-back” registration rights to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
We granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,600,000 additional Units to cover any over-allotments, at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The warrants that were issued in connection with the 3,600,000 over-allotment Units are identical to the public warrants and have no net cash settlement provisions.
We paid an underwriting discount of 2% of the per Unit offering price, or approximately $5,520,000 million in the aggregate at the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and agreed to pay an additional fee (the “Deferred Underwriting Fees”) of 3.5% of the gross offering proceeds, or approximately $9,660,000 in the aggregate upon the Company’s completion of an Initial Business Combination. The Deferred Underwriting Fees will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event the Company completes its initial Business Combination. On November 16, 2022, the Company and one of the underwriters executed a waiver letter confirming the underwriter’s waiver of its deferred fee under the terms of the underwriting agreement. As a result, the Company recognized income of $3,767,400 in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriter fee allocated to the underwriter in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the deferred underwriting fee payable is $5,892,600 and $9,660,000, respectively. On January 23, 2023, the Company and a second underwriter executed a waiver letter confirming the underwriter’s waiver of its deferred fee under the terms of the underwriting agreement which represents and additional $4,636,800 of the deferred fee as waived.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have not identified any critical accounting policies.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We evaluate our financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on the grant date and re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. Derivative assets and liabilities are classified in the balance sheets as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. We have determined the warrants are a derivative instrument.
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FASB ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt into its equity and debt components. We apply this guidance to allocate IPO proceeds from the Units between Class A Common Stock and warrants, using the residual method by allocating IPO proceeds first to fair value of the warrants and then the Class A Common Stock.
Investments Held in the Trust Account
Our portfolio of investments held in the Trust Account is comprised of U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities, or a combination thereof. The investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities is included in gain on marketable securities, dividends and interest held in Trust Account in the accompanying statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account were determined using available market information.
Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A Common Stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A Common Stock (including Class A Common Stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A Common Stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our Class A Common Stock features certain redemption rights that is considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemption is presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ (deficit) equity section of the balance sheets.
Net Income Per Share
We have two classes of common shares, which are referred to as Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of stock. Private and public warrants to purchase 14,480,000 Class A Common Stock at $11.50 per share were issued on February 8, 2021. No warrants were exercised during the period ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. The calculation of diluted income per common share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the (i) IPO, (ii) exercise of over-allotment, and (iii) Private Placement since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As a result, diluted net income per common share is the same as basic net income per common share for the periods. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A Common Stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. ASU 2016-13 also requires additional disclosures regarding significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio. The Company expects to adopt the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2023. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Besides the above, the Company’s management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
This information appears following Item 15 of this Report and is included herein by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective. Accordingly, management believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our consolidated financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2022. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The firm of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, or Withum, acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following is a summary of fees paid to Withum for services rendered.
Audit Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm were approximately $78,988 and $116,415, respectively, for the services Withum performed in connection with our Initial Public Offering and the audit of our December 31, 2022 and 2021 consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Tax Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm were approximately $9,152 and $8,320, respectively, for the services Withum performed in connection with our tax filings.
All Other Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no fees billed for products and services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm other than those set forth above did not render any services to us other than those set forth above.
Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed in connection with the effectiveness of our registration statement for our initial public offering. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit).
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Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements:
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficit F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3) Exhibits
We hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors and Executive Officers
Our officers and directors are as follows:
Name Age Position
Robert Palmisano 78 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Vikram Malik 60 President and Director
Lance A. Berry 50 Director
James A. Lightman 65 Director
Julie B. Andrews 51 Director
Robert Palmisano, 78, has been our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since December 2020. Mr. Palmisano has over 40 years of experience in various sectors within the healthcare industry and has been in leadership roles at several prominent global medical technology companies. Mr. Palmisano’s first role as President and Chief Executive Officer in the medical technology sector began in 1997, at Summit Technology Inc. (“Summit Technology”), a manufacturer of ophthalmic laser systems, which he held until 2000 when the company was acquired by Alcon Laboratories Inc. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Palmisano served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MacroChem Corporation, a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes topical pharmaceutical products. In 2003, Mr. Palmisano became the President and Chief Executive Officer of IntraLase Corp. (“IntraLase”), an ophthalmic laser technology company with a post-money valuation of $74 million at the time. Mr. Palmisano guided IntraLase through its initial public offering in 2004, with a post-money valuation of approximately $340 million, until its 2007 acquisition by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (“Advanced Medical Optics”) in a transaction valued at approximately $800 million in equity value. Following the sale of IntraLase, Mr. Palmisano became Chief Executive Officer of ev3 Inc. (“ev3”) in 2008, a global endovascular device company, which had a market capitalization of approximately $790 million, and held the role until 2010 when the company was acquired by Covidien plc (“Covidien”) in a transaction valued at approximately $2.6 billion in equity value. Following the sale of ev3, Mr. Palmisano became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wright Medical Group N.V. (“Wright Medical”) in 2011, which had a market capitalization of approximately $850 million, and held the role until 2020 when the company was acquired by Stryker Corporation (“Stryker”) (NYSE:SYK) in a transaction valued at $4.7 billion in equity value. Mr. Palmisano previously served on the board of directors of Avedro, Inc., ev3 Inc., Osteotech, Inc., (NYSE: MDT) Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., Entellus Medical, Inc. and Bausch & Lomb. We believe Mr. Palmisano is qualified to serve on the Board due to his executive experience with several prominent global medical technology companies.
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Vikram Malik, 60, has been our President and a Director since December 2020. Mr. Malik has 34 years of experience in investment banking, private growth equity investments, business strategy and business development as well as corporate governance through several board positions. Mr. Malik began his investment banking career in 1987 at Swiss Bank Corporation in cross border mergers and acquisitions. After 26 years on Wall Street at various firms such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Dresdner Bank, Credit Suisse First Boston, Banc of America Securities and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, advising on M&A, equity and debt capital raising, leveraged buyouts and private placements, he retired from investment banking as Vice Chairman Investment Banking of Deutsche Bank Securities in 2013. During a very successful career on Wall Street, Mr. Malik led over $100 billion of M&A, equity and debt transactions, including some ground breaking deals such as the creation of the world’s largest dialysis products and services company, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (“Fresenius”) (NYSE: FMS), in a complex, $4.2 billion, cross border, Leveraged Reverse Morris Trust transaction in 1996, which was awarded M&A Deal of The Year accolades by The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Malik’s experience also includes the $4 billion acquisition of Renal Care Group, Inc. by Fresenius in 2005, the $4.5 billion acquisition of ophthalmology leader Bausch & Lomb by Warburg Pincus LLC in 2007, and the $2 billion acquisition of a vascular access products company, Arrow International, Inc., by Teleflex Incorporated in 2007, which began its transformation from an industrial conglomerate into a medical products company, today known as Teleflex Medical. Additionally, Mr. Malik participated in the $4.3 billion spin-off of medical products conglomerate CareFusion Corp. (“CareFusion”) from Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH), in 2009. Mr. Malik also played lead roles in the IPOs and listings of many healthcare companies such as Fresenius, AMN Healthcare Services Inc. (NYSE:AMN), Cross Country Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRN), IntraLase, Symmetry Medical Inc., NuVasive, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVA), CareFusion, and Evolus, Inc. (“Evolus”) (Nasdaq: EOLS). We believe Mr. Malik is qualified to serve on the Board due to his financial experience in the healthcare industry.
Oleg Grodnensky, 45, has been our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer since December 2020 and Secretary of the Board since May 2021. Mr. Grodnensky has over 24 years of experience working in finance, general advisory, business development and operations within the life sciences industry, and brings extensive financial and operational expertise to our company. Mr. Grodnensky began his career on Wall Street in 1998 focusing on leading M&A transactions, restructurings, and equity and debt capital raising in life science sectors. Mr. Grodnensky and Mr. Malik have worked together at Banc of America Securities. Following more than ten years in healthcare investment banking and over 30 advisory roles totaling $17 billion in value, Mr. Grodnensky founded HV Capital, where he provided operational turnaround, strategic business development and buy-side advisory services to global healthcare and private equity firms, and acted as a principal investor in growth and venture opportunities. In September 2020, Mr. Grodnensky founded Priveterra Capital to focus on strategic opportunity investments across life sciences and financial technology sectors. Mr. Grodnensky received his BS in Economics and Mathematics from Duke University in 1998.
Lance A. Berry, 50, has served on the Board since the Initial Public Offering. Mr. Berry has over fifteen years’ experience in senior leadership roles for Wright Medical Group N.V. (Nasdaq: WMGI), a $1 billion global healthcare growth company. From January, 2019 to November, 2020, Mr. Berry was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, overseeing all aspects of corporate strategy, finance, tax, accounting, supply chain, manufacturing, digital strategy and execution, business development, information technology and investor relations on a global basis at Wright Medical Group. Working with Mr. Palmisano at Wright Medical, Mr. Berry oversaw many successful mergers and acquisitions, which included a variety of financing transactions. Notable transactions include the approximately $5.4 billion sale of Wright Medical to Stryker Corp. (NYSE: SYK) in 2019, Wright Medical’s $3.4 billion in equity value acquisition of Tornier N.V. in 2014, and the approximately $300 million carve out and sale of Wright Medical’s hip and knee business to Microport in 2014. Mr. Berry has also served on the board of directors of Vapotherm Inc. (NYSE: VAPO) since January 2020 and of Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. Prior to assuming his role as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Mr. Berry was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wright Medical from 2009 to January 2019 and Corporate Controller from 2002 to 2009. Mr. Berry and Mr. Palmisano have worked with one another for nine years. Mr. Berry also worked with Mr. Malik during his time as CFO of Wright Medical. We believe Mr. Berry is qualified to serve on the Board due to his M&A experience in the healthcare industry.
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James A. Lightman, 65, has served on the Board since the Initial Public Offering. Mr. Lightman has over two decades of corporate legal experience and brings a diverse skill set in managing complex legal and business matters for public and private healthcare and medical device companies. He has held chief legal officer positions with leading healthcare technology companies including Eyeonics, Inc., IntraLase Corp., Summit Autonomous Inc., Amicore, Inc. and Wright Medical Group, N.V. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Lightman served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Bausch & Lomb, where he most recently held the position of Vice President, Global Sales Operations until 2011. In 2011, Mr. Lightman joined Wright Medical Group, Inc. as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, a position he held until November, 2020, when Wright was acquired by Stryker Corp. In December, 2020, Mr. Lightman was appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Vapotherm, Inc., the position he currently holds. Mr. Lightman holds a juris doctor degree cum laude from the Boston University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from the Boston University School of Management. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar. Over the last twenty two years, Mr. Lightman and Mr. Palmisano have worked together in multiple healthcare technology companies. Mr. Lightman, while acting as General Counsel at IntraLase and Wright, worked with Mr. Malik as well. We believe Mr. Lightman is qualified to serve on the Board due to his corporate legal experience in public and private healthcare technology companies.
‘Julie B. Andrews, 51, has served on the Board since the Initial Public Offering. Ms. Andrews has over 15 years’ experience in senior finance leadership roles with leading medical technology companies and brings a broad skill set in executing strategic initiatives and leading global finance organizations. Ms. Andrews is the Chief Financial Officer for Smart Wires Technology LTD. (Nasdaq 1st North: GOGRID-SDB.ST, a clean technology company focused on digitalizing and modernizing the electrical grid. From August, 2019 to November, 2020, Ms. Andrews held the position of Senior Vice President, Global Finance with Wright Medical Group N.V. (Nasdaq: WMGI) with responsibility for the finance, accounting, tax and treasury functions. During her time at Wright Medical, Ms. Andrews played key leadership roles in several successful mergers and acquisitions. These included leading the divestiture and carve-out of the approximately $300 million sale of the hip and knee business to Microport, providing leadership oversight for Wright Medical’s $3.3 billion in equity value acquisition of Tornier, N.V., and leading the diligence and integration planning of the sale of Wright Medical to Stryker Corp. Ms. Andrews was Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer from October 2015 to August 2019. Prior to joining Wright Medical, Ms. Andrews spent fourteen years at Medtronic, Inc., a global medical device company. During her tenure with Medtronic, Ms. Andrews held numerous key financial positions including Vice President, Finance (Business Unit CFO) for the $3.5 billion Spine and Biologics business. Ms. Andrews began her career working with Thomas & Betts Corporation in Memphis, Tennessee and Thomas Havey, LLP in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Andrews also serves on the board of directors of RxSight (NASDAQ: RXST) and as the chairperson of the audit committee since August 2021, and as the Chief Financial Officer of Smart Wires Technology Ltd. since September 2021. Ms. Andrews received a BS in Accounting from Indiana University NW in 1993. Ms. Andrews and Mr. Palmisano have worked with one another for eight years. We believe that Ms. Andrews is qualified to serve on the Board due to her financial experience in the healthcare industry.
Director Independence
Nasdaq rules require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our initial public offering. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person who, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). Our board of directors has determined that Julie Andrews, James Lightman and Lance Berry are “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of Nasdaq require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
We have established an audit committee of the board of directors. The members of our audit committee are Ms. Andrews and Messrs. Lightman and Berry. Ms. Andrews chairs the audit committee. All members of our audit committee are independent of and unaffiliated with our sponsor and our underwriters.
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Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Ms. Andrews qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
We adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
● monitoring the independence of the registered public accounting firm;
● appointing or replacing the registered public accounting firm;
Compensation Committee
We established a compensation committee of the board of directors. Messrs. Berry and Lightman serve as members of our compensation committee. Mr. Berry chairs the compensation committee.
We adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
● reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than those payments and reimbursements described under the heading “Item 11. Executive Compensation” below, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of an initial business combination (including our proposed initial business combination with AEON). Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or Nasdaq rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the Nasdaq rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by our board of directors. Our board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. The directors who will participate in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees are Ms. Andrews and Messrs. Lightman and Berry. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, our board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These reporting persons are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of such forms, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2021 there were no delinquent filers.
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Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees (“Code of Ethics”). A copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Conflicts of Interest
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
● the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
● the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
Certain of our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
Individual Entity Entity’s Business Affiliation
Vikram Malik Evolus, Inc. Medical aesthetics Chairman
Strathspey Crown (resigned 2022) Growth equity Manager
AEON BioPharma, Inc. Biopharmaceuticals Director
AccessElite Corporate wellness Director
Alphaeon Credit, Inc. Patient financing Chairman
Lance A. Berry Vapotherm Inc. Medical devices Director
Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. Medical devices Director
Smart Wires Technology Ltd. Power technologies Chief Financial Officer
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
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We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors (although AEON is not affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or scientific advisor). In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm, that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context. Furthermore, other than those payments and reimbursements described under the heading “Item 11. Executive Compensation” below, in no event will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, be paid by the company any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is, including the proposed initial business combination with AEON, which is described elsewhere in this Report).
We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote their founder shares, and they and the other members of our management team have agreed to vote any founder shares they hold and any shares purchased during or after our initial public offering in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors are indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors are not personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
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We entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors. Except with respect to any public shares they may acquire in our initial public offering or thereafter (in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination), our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and not to seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever, including with respect to such indemnification.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Item 11.Executive Compensation
Commencing on February 11, 2021, the date that our securities were first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay up to $25,000 per month for administrative and other services, of which $10,000 per month will be paid to our sponsor for office space and administrative services provided to members of our management team and up to $15,000 will be used to compensate our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary for a portion of their time spent on our affairs. In addition, subject to approval by our audit committee, we may pay members of our board of directors for advisory or consulting services that may be provided to us in connection with our initial business combination and our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such payments, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with our activities on our behalf in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination. Other than these payments and reimbursements, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by the company to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to completion of our initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
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We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this Annual Report, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our Class A Common Stock included in the units offered by this Annual Report, and assuming no purchase of units in our initial public offering, by:
● each of our executive officers, directors and director nominees; and
● all our executive officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all of our common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this Annual Report. On December 17, 2020, our sponsor subscribed for an aggregate 5,750,000 founder shares for a total subscription price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Such shares are fully paid, and the cash amount of the subscription price therefor was received on December 17, 2020. On February 8, 2021, as part of an upsizing of the IPO, we effected a stock split in which each issued share of Class B Common Stock that was outstanding was converted into one and two tenths shares of Class B Common Stock, resulting in an aggregate of 6,900,000 founder shares issued and outstanding. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by the sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the total size of our initial public offering of 27,600,000 units, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after our initial public offering.
Number of Approximate Percentage of Outstanding
Shares Beneficially Common Stock
Lance A. Berry — — —
James A. Lightman — — —
Julie B. Andrews — — —
* Less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following is 300 SE 2nd Street, Suite 600, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301.
(2) Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as Class B Common Stock. Such shares will automatically convert into Class A Common Stock concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.”
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(3) Our sponsor, Priveterra Sponsor, LLC, is the record holder of the shares reported herein. Each of Messrs. Palmisano, Grodnensky and Malik has voting and investment discretion with respect to the common stock held of record by Priveterra Sponsor, LLC. Each of our officers and directors other than Messrs. Palmisano, Grodnensky and Malik disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares held by our sponsor.
Our initial stockholders beneficially own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock. Because of this ownership block, our initial stockholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all other matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions including our initial business combination.
Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,213,333 private placement warrants, at a price of $1.50 per warrant, or $7,820,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at $11.50 per share. A portion of the purchase price of the private placement warrants was added to the proceeds from our initial public offering to be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination by August 11, 2023, the private placement warrants will expire worthless. The private placement warrants are subject to the transfer restrictions described below. The private placement warrants will not be redeemable by us so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. The initial purchasers, or their permitted transferees, have the option to exercise the private placement warrants on a cashless basis. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in our initial public offering. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in our initial public offering.
Priveterra Sponsor, LLC, our sponsor, and our executive officers are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants
The founder shares, private placement warrants and any shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the agreements entered into by our initial stockholders and management team. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (i) in the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier if, subsequent to our initial business combination, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination and (B) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property and (ii) in the case of the private placement warrants and the respective shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination except in each case (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of our officers or directors, any affiliate of our sponsor or to any member of the sponsor or any of their affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or warrants were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or our Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our Sponsor, (g) in the event of our liquidation prior to our consummation of our initial business combination; or (h) in the event that, subsequent to our consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement.
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Registration Rights
The holders of the (i) founder shares, which were issued in a private placement prior to the closing of our initial public offering, (ii) private placement warrants, which were issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering and the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such private placement warrants and (iii) private placement warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans will have registration rights to require us to register a sale of any of our securities held by them prior to the consummation of our initial business combination pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of our initial public offering. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement and assuming the $1.5 million of working capital loans are converted into private placement warrants, we will be obligated to register up to 13,113,333 shares of Class A Common Stock and 6,213,333 warrants. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock includes (i) 6,900,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the founder shares, (ii) 5,213,333 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the private placement warrants and (iii) 1,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the private placement warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans. The number of warrants includes 5,213,333 private placement warrants and 1,000,000 private placement warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Equity Compensation Plans
As of December 31, 2021, we had no compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities were authorized for issuance.
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
On December 17, 2020 our sponsor subscribed for an aggregate 5,750,000 founder shares for a total subscription price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Such shares are fully paid, and the cash amount of the subscription price therefor was received on December 17, 2020. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of our initial public offering would be a maximum of 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after our initial public offering. On February 8, 2021, as part of an upsizing of the IPO, we effected a stock split in which each issued share of Class B Common Stock that was outstanding was converted into one and two tenths shares of Class B Common Stock, resulting in an aggregate of 6,900,000 founder shares issued and outstanding, equal to 20% of our issued and outstanding common stock.
Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,213,333 private placement warrants, at a price of $1.50 per warrant, or $7,820,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at $11.50 per share. The private placement warrants (including the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
We currently utilize office space at 300 SE 2nd Street, Suite 600, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 from our sponsor. We pay up to $25,000 per month for administrative and other services, of which $10,000 per month is paid to our sponsor for office space and administrative services provided to members of our management team and up to $15,000 is used to compensate our Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary for a portion of their time spent on our affairs. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Subject to approval by our audit committee, we may pay members of our board of directors for advisory or consulting services that may be provided to us in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Other than the foregoing, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by the company to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates.
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In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required on a non-interest basis. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants of the post business combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants. In June 2021, the company had $100,000 of Working Capital Loans outstanding which were converted into 66,667 Working Capital Warrants. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
We have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares and private placement warrants, which is described under the heading “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters—Registration Rights.”
Policy for Approval of Related Party Transactions
The audit committee of our board of directors has adopted a policy setting forth the policies and procedures for its review and approval or ratification of “related party transactions.” A “related party transaction” is any consummated or proposed transaction or series of transactions: (i) in which the company was or is to be a participant; (ii) the amount of which exceeds (or is reasonably expected to exceed) the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of the company’s total assets at year end for the prior two completed fiscal years in the aggregate over the duration of the transaction (without regard to profit or loss); and (iii) in which a “related party” had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. “Related parties” under this policy will include: (i) our directors, nominees for director or executive officers; (ii) any record or beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities; (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing if the foregoing person is a natural person; and (iv) any other person who maybe a “related person” pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to the policy, the audit committee will consider (i) the relevant facts and circumstances of each related party transaction, including if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s-length dealings with an unrelated third party, (ii) the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction, (iii) whether the transaction contravenes our code of ethics or other policies, (iv) whether the audit committee believes the relationship underlying the transaction to be in the best interests of the company and its stockholders and (v) the effect that the transaction may have on a director’s status as an independent member of the board and on his or her eligibility to serve on the board’s committees. Management will present to the audit committee each proposed related party transaction, including all relevant facts and circumstances relating thereto. Under the policy, we may consummate related party transactions only if our audit committee approves or ratifies the transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy. The policy will not permit any director or executive officer to participate in the discussion of, or decision concerning, a related person transaction in which he or she is the related party.
Director Independence
Nasdaq rules require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our initial public offering. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person who, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). Our board of directors has determined that Julie Andrews, James Lightman and Lance Berry are “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Item 14.Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The firm of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, or Withum, acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following is a summary of fees paid to Withum for services rendered.
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Audit Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm were approximately $78,988 and $116,415, respectively, for the services Withum performed in connection with our Initial Public Offering and the audit of our December 31, 2022 and 2021 financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Tax Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm were approximately $9,152 and $8,320, respectively, for the services Withum performed in connection with our tax filings.
All Other Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the period from November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, there were no fees billed for products and services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm other than those set forth above.
Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed upon the consummation of our Initial Public Offering. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit).
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PART IV
Item 15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:
(1) Financial Statements:
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statement of Operations F-4
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit F-5
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7 to F-23
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3) Exhibits:
We hereby file as part of this Annual Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
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Exhibit No. Description
*3.1 Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
*3.2 Bylaws of the Company.
***10.1(a) Form of Letter Agreement
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
* Previously filed as an exhibit to our Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2022.
** Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference.
*** Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 16.Form 10-K Summary
Not applicable.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 21, 2023.
PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP
By: /s/ Robert J. Palmisano
Name: /s/ Robert J. Palmisano
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons in the capacity and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Robert J. Palmisano Chief Executive Officer and Chairman February 21, 2023
Robert J. Palmisano (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Vikram Malik President and Director February 21, 2023
Vikram Malik
/s/ Oleg Grodnensky Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial February 21, 2023
Oleg Grodnensky Officer and Secretary
/s/ Lance A. Berry Director February 21, 2023
Lance A. Berry
/s/ James A. Lightman Director February 21, 2023
James A. Lightman
/s/ Julie B. Andrews Director February 21, 2023
Julie B. Andrews
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7 to F-23
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Priveterra Acquisition Corp.
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Priveterra Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, if the Company is unable to raise additional funds to alleviate liquidity needs and complete a business combination by August 11, 2023 (originally February 11, 2023; see Note 10) then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
New York, New York
February 21, 2023
PCAOB ID Number 100
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
Assets
Current assets
Prepaid assets – non-current — 34,619
Current liabilities:
Promissory Note – Related Party 150,000 —
Deferred tax liability 588,899 —
Income tax payable 294,430 —
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Deficit:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the For the
Year ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
Other income
Gain on forgiveness of deferred underwriting fee payable 3,767,400 —
Offering costs allocated to warrant liabilities — (655,046)
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account 3,706,667 79,687
Provision for income taxes (883,329) —
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class B common stock $ 0.29 $ 0.26
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021
Class A Class B Additional Total
Common Stock Common Stock Paid-in Accumulated Stockholders’
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital deficit Equity (Deficit)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Year Ended December 31,
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Gain on forgiveness of deferred underwriting fee payable (3,767,400)
Offering costs allocated to warrant liabilities — 655,046
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Deferred tax liability 588,899 —
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Principal invested into Trust account — (276,000,000)
Withdraw from Trust Account 401,925 —
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriter fee — 270,480,000
Offering costs — (369,212)
Proceeds from issuance of Private Placement Warrants — 7,820,000
Proceeds from working capital loans — 100,000
Repayment of promissory note — (73,780)
Cash - Beginning of Year 497,412 —
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-cash Financing Activities:
Deferred underwriters’ discount payable $ — $ 9,660,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATION
Organization and General
Priveterra Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on November 17, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”).
On January 5, 2023, in connection with the Business Combination Proposal, a purposed shareholder of the Company filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, against the Company and its board of directors, alleging that the registration statement on Form S-4 filed on December 27, 2022 with the SEC omitted material information related to the Business Combination. Since the filing of the complaint, several purported shareholders of the Company have also sent demand letters to the Company’s counsel, similarly alleging that the registration statement filed by the Company on December 27, 2022 with the SEC omitted material information related to the Business Combination and demanding that the Company, its board of directors and/or AEON make supplemental corrective disclosures addressing the alleged deficiencies.
On November 15, 2022, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Priveterra Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Priveterra Acquisition Corp. The transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are intended to serve as the Company’s initial Business Combination. See Note 6 for further information.
The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from November 17, 2020, the Company’s inception, through December 31, 2022, relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“IPO”), described below, and identifying a target company for a business combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the IPO and unrealized gains and losses on the change in fair value of it warrants. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s sponsor is Priveterra Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”).
The Company received notice from Guggenheim Securities, LLC, on November 16, 2022 and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC on January 26, 2023, two of the underwriters in the initial public offering, resigning as financial advisors, terminating their financial advisor engagement and waiving any entitlement to any portion of the deferred underwriting commissions payable in connection with the Company’s Initial Public Offering, for a total of $8,694,000 of the deferred fee as waived.
Financing
The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective on February 8, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). On February 11, 2021, the Company consummated an IPO of 27,600,000 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Units”), which includes the full exercise by the underwriters of the over-allotment option to purchase an additional 3,600,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $276,000,000, which is discussed in Note 3.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 5,213,333 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”), at a price of $1.50 per warrant, which is discussed in Note 4. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, generating gross proceeds of $7,820,000.
Transaction costs of the IPO amounted to $15,630,212 consisting of $5,520,000 of underwriting fees, $9,660,000 of deferred underwriting fees, and $450,212 of other offering costs. Of the transaction costs, $655,046 is included in offering costs on the statements of operations and $14,975,165 is included in equity.
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Trust Account
Following the closing of the IPO on February 11, 2021, $276,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net offering proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee and will be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay its franchise and income tax obligations, if any, the proceeds from the Company’s IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (i) the completion of initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company does not complete an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law, or (iii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend its amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if the Company has not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the Company’s public stockholders.
In connection with the vote at the special meeting of stockholders held on February 10, 2023 (the “Special Meeting”) the holders of 25,597,728 shares of Class A common stock properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.11 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $258,793,030.08, resulting in 2,002,272 shares of Class A common stock after redemptions. The trust account balance after the redemption payments are made will be $20,259,152.12.
Initial Business Combination
The Company will provide its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the 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 the Company will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The stockholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (initially approximately $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations).
The shares of common stock subject to redemption are recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the IPO, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.
The Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their founder shares if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period.
On December 12, 2022, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) by and among the Company, Priveterra Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and AEON Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AEON”). The Business Combination Agreement provides, among other things, that on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into AEON, with AEON surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Upon the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), the Company will change its name to “AEON Biopharma, Inc.” The date on which the Closing actually occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Liquidation
The Company will have 24 months from the closing of the IPO to complete the initial Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). However, if the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 the Company to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Company’s Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has 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 $10.10 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 the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Company’s IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). However, the Company has not asked its Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether its Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that the Company’s Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, the Company cannot assure that its Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
The Company’s liquidity needs up to February 11, 2021, the date of the IPO, had been satisfied through a capital contribution from the Sponsor of $25,000 (see Note 5) for the founder shares and the loans under an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of $73,295 (see Note 5). In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company Working Capital Loans (see Note 5).
The Company’s IPO was on February 11, 2021. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $67,909 in its operating bank account, and working capital deficit of $2,874,594 (excluding taxes payable which is funded by earnings from the Trust Account) and has incurred and expects to incur additional significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans.
Additionally, the Company has until August 11, 2023 (originally February 11, 2023; see Note 10) to consummate a Business Combination. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements– Going Concern,” Management has determined that the liquidity condition and mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company intends to complete a Business Combination before the mandatory liquidation date. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary where the Company has the ability to exercise control.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s consolidated financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had approximately $68,000 and $497,000 in cash and did not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
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PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Investments Held in Trust Account
The Company’s portfolio of investments held in the Trust Account is comprised of U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities, or a combination thereof. The Company classifies its U.S. Treasury and equivalent securities as held-to-maturity in accordance with ASC Topic 320 “Investments - Debt and Equity Securities.” Held-to-maturity securities are those securities which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. Held-to-maturity treasury securities are recorded at amortized cost on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts.
Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A - “Expenses of Offering”. Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Public Offering. Offering costs are charged to temporary equity or the consolidated statement of operations based on the relative value of the Public Warrants to the proceeds received from the Units sold upon the completion of the IPO. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2022, offering costs totaling $15,630,212 (consisting of $5,520,000 of underwriting discount, $9,660,000 of deferred underwriting discount, and $450,212 of other offering costs) were recognized with $655,046 which was allocated to the Public Warrants and Private Warrants, included in the consolidated statement of operations and $14,975,166 included in temporary equity.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Coverage limit of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A common stock (including Class A common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that is considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, Class A common stock subject to possible redemption is presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the common stock subject to possible redemption reflected on the consolidated balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
Less:
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants (11,408,000)
Class A common stock issuance costs (14,975,165)
Plus:
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value 26,383,165
Plus:
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value 2,487,272
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Table of Contents
PRIVETERRA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
See Note 10 for the current amount held in the Trust Account and the ordinary shares currently subject to redemption following the Company’s February 10, 2023 special meeting of shareholders to extend the Business Combination deadline date from February 11, 2023 to August 11, 2023.
Net Income Per Common Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. The Company has two classes of common shares, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of stock. Private and public warrants to purchase 14,480,000 Class A common stock at $11.50 per share were issued on February 8, 2021. No warrants were exercised during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. The calculation of diluted net income per common share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the (i) IPO, (ii) exercise of over-allotment, and (iii) Private Placement since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not have any dilutive securities or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted net income per common share is the same as basic net income per common share for the periods. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A common stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Below is a reconciliation of the net income per share of common stock:
For the Year Ended For the Year Ended
Class A Class B Class A Class B
Basic and diluted net income per common share
Numerator:
Denominator
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the consolidated balance sheets, primarily due to its short-term nature, other than the derivative warrant liability.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on the grant date and re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of operations. Derivative assets and liabilities are classified in the consolidated balance sheets as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The Company has determined the warrants are a derivative instrument.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers consist of:
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