Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This section of the Annual Report discusses activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. For discussion on activity for the period from December 28, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 and period-over-period analysis on results for the year ended December 31, 2021 to the period from December 28, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, refer to Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition to historical financial information, some of the information contained in the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. You should
58
Table of Contents
review the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on December 28, 2020 for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as a business combination. We completed our initial public offering on March 4, 2021, which is described below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
While we may pursue a business combination target in any industry, we currently intend to concentrate our efforts in identifying high-quality businesses with transformative technologies. Within this focus, we seek to pursue opportunities with market-leading companies, including from corporate spinouts, closely-held companies, and institutionally-backed businesses. We believe we will be able to provide significant value due to our ability to drive growth, global scaling and profitability in companies, along with our flexibility in understanding and addressing complex business situations and structures.
Since completing our initial public offering, we have reviewed, and continue to review, a number of opportunities to enter into a business combination with an operating business, but we are not able to determine at this time whether we will complete the Proposed Business Combination (as defined below) or another business combination with any of the target businesses that we have reviewed or with any other target business. We intend to effectuate a business combination using cash from the remaining proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below), our capital stock, debt, or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
Recent Developments
Extension
As previously disclosed, we reconvened our special meeting of stockholders on February 28, 2023, which was originally scheduled for February 9, 2023, adjourned until February 21, 2023 and further adjourned until February 28, 2023 (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, our stockholders approved a proposal to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the date by which we have to consummate a business combination from March 4, 2023 to September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (the “Extension”). Following the approval of the Extension, we waived our right under the amended and restated certificate of incorporation to withdraw up to $100,000 of interest from the trust account to pay dissolution expenses in the event of our liquidation.
In connection with the Special Meeting, stockholders holding 38,187,226 shares of Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account. As a result, approximately $387.6 million (approximately $10.15 per share of Class A common stock) was removed from the trust account to pay such holders and approximately $45.1 million remained in the trust account. Following the redemptions, the Company has 4,312,774 shares of Class A common stock outstanding.
In connection with the Special Meeting, the Company and the sponsor entered into extension support agreements with several unaffiliated third parties, pursuant to which each third party agreed to (i) notify the sponsor at least three business days prior to the Special Meeting regarding the number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock that such third party intended to redeem and the number of shares of Class A common stock that such third party intended to retain in connection with the Special Meeting and (ii) vote (and to cause its controlled affiliates to vote) all shares of Class A common stock beneficially owned them on the record date for the Special Meeting in favor of the Extension. In exchange, the sponsor agreed to transfer, immediately following consummation of a business combination, 20,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock to each third party for every 100,000 shares Class A common stock held by such third party immediately following the Special Meeting, up to a maximum of 100,000 shares of Class B common stock to each third party.
59
Table of Contents
Proposed Business Combination
As previously disclosed, we have entered into a letter of intent (the “Letter of Intent”) regarding a potential business combination (the “Proposed Business Combination”) with Envoy Medical Corporation (“Envoy”), a U.S.-based medical device company that has developed and is in early clinical testing of an implanted device that already received “Breakthrough Device Designation” from the Food and Drug Administration. We currently expect to execute the definitive documents in April 2023 and close late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2023. The Letter of Intent contains certain conditions to the closing of the Proposed Business Combination, including but not limited to the Company having more than $40.0 million in the trust account immediately prior to any redemptions at the closing of the Proposed Business Combination. There can be no assurance we will execute definitive agreements or close on the timeline currently expected or at all.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from inception through December 31, 2022 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, described below, and those in connection with our search for a business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held after our initial public offering. 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.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had a net income of $19,233,710, which consists of an increase in fair value of warrant liabilities of $19,997,306 and interest income earned on marketable securities held in the trust account of $6,125,038, and forgiveness of deferred offering costs of $150,262 and income tax expense of $1,501,714, offset by operating costs of $4,888,124 and a decrease in fair value of the FPAs of $649,058.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had a net loss of $251,633, which consists of operating costs of $5,204,970, further contributed by offering costs allocated to warrant liabilities of $782,812, offset by a change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $5,465,695, change in fair value of the FPAs of $232,789 and interest income earned on marketable securities held in the trust account of $37,665.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2022, we had $107,773 in our operating bank account and negative working capital of $7,089,334, which was composed primarily of accrued expenses in connection with searching for target businesses, performing business due diligence and negotiating business combination agreements, including in connection with the Proposed Business Combination.
Our liquidity needs up to the completion of our initial public offering on March 4, 2021 had been satisfied through a payment from our sponsor of $25,000 for 7,187,500 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of our Class B common stock and an aggregate of $212,487 in advances from a related party. These advances were repaid and are no longer available.
On March 4, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering of 42,000,000 units (the “Units”) and, on April 14, 2021, we issued an additional 500,000 Units in connection with the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating aggregate gross proceeds of $425,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of our IPO, we consummated the sale of 12,400,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) to our sponsor and, on April 14, 2021, simultaneously with the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, we issued an additional 100,000 Private Placement Warrants to our sponsor. The Private Placement Warrants were sold at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating aggregate gross proceeds of $12,500,000.
Following the initial public offering, the partial exercise of the over-allotment option and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, a total of $425,000,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the Units and Private Placement Warrants was deposited in a U.S.-based trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. Transaction costs of the initial public offering (including costs related to the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) amounted to $24,012,335, consisting of $8,500,000 of underwriting discounts and commissions, $14,875,000 of deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and $637,335 of other offering costs. In September 2022, we
60
Table of Contents
reversed $4,462,500 of deferred underwriting fees, as certain underwriters resigned from their role in any potential future business combination and thereby waived their entitlement to these fees. In February 2023, the remaining underwriter resigned from its role in the Proposed Business Combination and thereby waived its entitlement to $10,412,500 in deferred underwriting fees solely with respect to the Proposed Business Combination. In addition, as of March 24, 2023, $31,944 of cash was held outside the trust account and is available for working capital purposes.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account, which interest shall be net of taxes payable, to complete our business combination. We may make permitted withdrawals from the trust account to pay our taxes, including franchise taxes and income taxes. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
We intend to use funds held outside the trust account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure, negotiate and complete a business combination, and to pay taxes to the extent the interest earned on the trust account is not sufficient to pay our taxes.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our 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 to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants issued to our sponsor. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were amounts of $1,500,000 and $0 outstanding under such working capital loans, respectively.
On March 29, 2022, we issued an unsecured promissory note (as amended, the “2022 Promissory Note”) to the sponsor, pursuant to which the sponsor may provide up to $1,500,000 to us as a working capital loan (the “2022 Working Capital Loan”). The 2022 Working Capital Loan does not bear interest and was repayable in full upon on the earlier of (i) March 29, 2023 or (ii) the consummation of our initial business combination. On March 21, 2023, we and the sponsor amended the 2022 Promissory Note to extend the maturity date of the 2022 Working Capital Loan to the earlier of (i) December 31, 2023 or (ii) the consummation of our initial business combination. Upon the consummation of a business combination, the sponsor shall have the option, but not the obligation, to convert the principal balance of the 2022 Working Capital Loan, in whole or in part, into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The 2022 Working Capital Loan is subject to customary events of default, the occurrence of which automatically trigger the unpaid principal balance of the 2022 Working Capital Loan and all other sums payable with regard to the 2022 Working Capital Loan becoming immediately due and payable.
On March 21, 2023, we issued an additional unsecured promissory note (the “2023 Promissory Note”) to the sponsor, pursuant to which the sponsor may provide up to $1,190,000 to us as a working capital loan (the “2023 Working Capital Loan”). The 2023 Working Capital Loan does not bear interest and is repayable in full upon on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2023 or (ii) the consummation of our initial business combination. The 2023 Working Capital Loan is subject to customary events of default, the occurrence of which automatically trigger the unpaid principal balance of the 2023 Working Capital Loan and all other sums payable with regard to the 2023 Working Capital Loan becoming immediately due and payable.
We may need to obtain additional financing to complete our business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination, including pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements described below.
61
Table of Contents
Forward Purchase Agreements
On December 6, 2021, we entered into the Forward Purchase Agreements with the Forward Purchasers, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase the following:
The shares of our Class A common stock included in the Forward Purchase Securities would have the same terms as our publicly traded shares of Class A common stock. The warrants included in the Forward Purchase Securities would have the same terms as the Private Placement Warrants.
In addition, under the Forward Purchase Agreements, if we determine to raise capital by the private placement of equity securities in connection with the Business Combination Closing (the “New Equity Securities”), we shall first make an offer to the Forward Purchasers to purchase the securities then offered on the same terms as such New Equity Securities, in an aggregate amount of up to $120,000,000. Any commitment by any Forward Purchaser under any of the Forward Purchase Agreements to purchase New Equity Securities is subject to and conditioned upon the acceptance of our offer by such Forward Purchaser, following our notification to such Forward Purchaser of our intention to offer the New Equity Securities.
Pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements, the Forward Purchasers will be entitled to registration rights with respect to shares of our Class A common stock underlying the Convertible Notes, the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants included in the Forward Purchase Securities, and the New Equity Securities.
Each Forward Purchase Agreement contains representations and warranties by each party and conditions to closing, including the approval of the Forward Purchasers’ respective Investment Committees to consummate the purchase of the Convertible Notes and the Forward Purchase Securities, as applicable, in connection with a potential future business combination. Such Investment Committees are under no obligation to ultimately agree to purchase the securities issuable under the Forward Purchase Agreements. The terms of each Forward Purchase Agreement for the Convertible Notes and the terms of each Forward Purchase Agreement for the Forward Purchase Securities are substantively the same.
Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2022, we did not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a monthly fee of $40,521 for office space, administrative and support services, provided to the Company. We began incurring these fees on March 1, 2021 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and the Company’s liquidation.
The underwriters were entitled to a deferred discount of $0.35 per unit, or $14,875,000 in the aggregate. The deferred discount would become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that we complete a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. On September 30, 2022, $4,462,500 of the $14,875,000 deferred underwriter discount was forgiven. In February 2023, the remaining underwriter resigned from its role in the Proposed Business Combination and thereby waived its entitlement to $10,412,500 in deferred underwriting fees solely with respect to the Proposed Business Combination.
62
Table of Contents
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
i) Warrant Liabilities
We account for the warrants issued in connection with our Initial Public Offering in accordance with the guidance contained in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815 under which the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. Accordingly, we classify the warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjust the warrants to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our statements of operations. For periods subsequent to the detachment of the Public Warrants from the Units, the close price of the Public Warrant price was used as the fair value of the Public Warrants as of each relevant date.
ii) Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480. Class A common stock subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, Class A common stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our balance sheets. The Company has elected to recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying value of the security to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. This method would view the end of the reporting period as if it were also the redemption date for the security.
iii) Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
Net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common stock outstanding during the year. We apply the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. Accretion associated with the redeemable shares of Class A common stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
iv) Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity” (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. The ASU 2020-06 also removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity-linked contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, and it also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company’s management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards updates, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
63
Table of Contents
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.
The financial statements listed in the Index to Financial Statements beginning on page F-1 are filed as part of this Annual Report and incorporated by reference herein.
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 and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as such term is defined in Rules 13a- 15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Due solely to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described below, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2022.
Notwithstanding the conclusion by our principal executive officer and principal financial officer that our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022 were not effective, and notwithstanding the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described below, management believes that the audited financial statements and related financial information included in this Annual Report fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates presented, and for the periods ended on such dates, in conformity with GAAP.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Specifically, the Company’s management has concluded that our control around the interpretation and accounting for extinguishment of a significant contingent obligation was not effectively designed or maintained. In light of this material weakness, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented.
Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
64
Table of Contents
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our 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 our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2022 because of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Specifically, the Company’s management has concluded that our control around the interpretation and accounting for extinguishment of a significant contingent obligation was not effectively designed or maintained. In light of this material weakness, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP.
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
Other than as discussed above, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2022 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.Other Information.
None.
Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
65
Table of Contents
PART III
Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Directors and Executive Officers
Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name Age Position
Diane L. Dewbrey 58 Independent Director
Priya Cherian Huskins 50 Independent Director
Susan J. Kantor 67 Independent Director
Dr. Whitney Haring-Smith has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors since December 2020 and as the Chairman of our Board since August 2022. He has served as a co-founding managing partner at Anzu Partners since March 2015, where he has led the IPO-crossover investment into Ai-Media, a global provider of technology-enabled live and recorded captioning, transcription and translation services and led the mezzanine financing for Pivotal Systems Corporation, a gas flow monitoring provider and control technology platform for the global semiconductor industry. Dr. Haring-Smith serves on the board of multiple private technology companies, including Adaptive Surface Technologies since August 2020, Voltaiq since July 2020, Sofregen Medical since August 2019 and Partium (fka Slyce Acquisition) since November 2016. He previously served on the board of MultiMechanics from January 2019 to November 2019, Axsun Technologies from November 2016 to January 2019 and Lightship Works from May 2015 to May 2020. In addition, he led the acquisition of Axsun Technologies, the Koninklijke Philips N.V. spin-off, returning approximately eight times investors’ invested capital, and MultiMechanics, which was acquired by Siemens in 2019. He was formerly a BCG consultant from January 2011 to March 2015 in San Francisco, Hong Kong, Nigeria and United Kingdom, where he led transformations for multi-billion-dollar business units of large publicly-traded companies. Dr. Haring-Smith received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Yale University in Political Science and his doctorate from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.
Daniel J. Hirsch has served as our Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors since October 2022. Mr. Hirsch has served as an Executive-in-Residence at Anzu Partners LLC since August 2022, and has served on the board of Nuburu, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN: BURU) since January 2023. He was a principal of Cascade Acquisition Holdings, LLC, the sponsor of a special purpose acquisition company, Cascade Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: CAS), formed in November 2020, and served as its chief operating officer and chief financial officer through May 2022. Mr. Hirsch served as a consultant to Trinity Real Estate Investments, LLC from January 2019 through November 2019 in connection with Trinity’s sponsorship of a special purpose acquisition company, Trinity Merger Corp, which completed its initial business combination in November 2019 with Broadmark Realty Capital (NYSE: BRMK) (“Broadmark”). From November 2019 through present, Mr. Hirsch has served on the board of Broadmark and is currently the chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee and the Finance Committee. In addition, Mr. Hirsch has served on the board of The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) since 2018 and is currently a member of the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. In addition, Mr. Hirsch served as a consultant to Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. (“Farallon”), an investment firm that manages capital on behalf of institutions and individuals, for which he has served as a board designee with respect to Farallon’s investment in Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA), from January 2017 to March 2020. During his tenure as a director at Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V., Mr. Hirsch served as the chair of the Compensation Committee, and a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Capital Allocation Committee. Previously, from November 2003 to December 2016, Mr. Hirsch held several senior positions at Farallon, including Managing Member of the Real Estate Group from 2009 to December 2016, Managing Director from 2007 to 2008 and Legal Counsel from 2003 to 2006. Prior to joining Farallon, Mr. Hirsch worked as an associate in the San Francisco office of the law firm Covington & Burling LLP, from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Hirsch graduated from Yale Law School with a J.D. and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought from Amherst College.
Diane L. Dewbrey has served as an independent director since October 2022. Since November 2018, Ms. Dewbrey has served as an independent director of MBIA Inc., a NYSE-listed holding company whose subsidiaries provide financial guarantee insurance and other specialized financial services. Ms. Dewbrey serves on MBIA’s Audit Committee, Compensation and Governance
66
Table of Contents
Committee, and Finance and Risk Committee. Since July 2022, Ms. Dewbrey has been a director of Chandler Asset Management (ESOP) and a member of its Compensation Committee. Additionally, Ms. Dewbrey served on Barrett Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBSI) from November 2019 to June 2022 and was Chair of the Nominating/Governance Committee, and from 2020 to 2021 she was a Board Advisor to Organic Valley Cooperative, largest organic dairy US cooperative, where she participated in all the director committees. For five years, until its merger with Consolidated Communications in 2014, Ms. Dewbrey served as an independent director and then chair (2013-14) of the board of Enventis, Inc. Prior to serving as a director at Enventis, she held various senior positions at Fifth Third Bancorp, where over an eighteen-year period she became Senior Vice President & Director of Central Operations and a member of the Executive Management Team. Then, she served as CEO of Foundation Bank from 2006 to 2015, and was Director of the Foundation Bancorp and Foundation Bank Board. Ms. Dewbrey is currently a director of the YMCA of The USA where she serves as Chair of the Investment Committee. Ms. Dewbrey earned her BS degree in Mathematics from Xavier University.
Priya Cherian Huskins has served as an independent director since March 2021. Ms. Huskins is an executive advisor for public companies and fast-growing private companies on risk mitigation. She is currently a partner and senior vice president at Woodruff Sawyer, where she has been focused on Director & Officer (D&O) insurance since 2003. In addition to serving on the board of Woodruff Sawyer, Ms. Huskins also serves on the board of Realty Income Corporation, an S&P 500 public company, where she serves on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and is the Chair of the Compensation Committee, and on the board of the Long Term Stock Exchange, where she serves on the Audit Committee. She also serves on the board of NMI Holdings, Inc. and is an advisory board member of the Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance. She is a former senior associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR), a prominent law firm, where she advised companies on M&A and corporate law transactions. Ms. Huskins received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and her juris doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School.
Susan J. Kantor has served as an independent director since March 2021. Ms. Kantor has experience leading international finance, tax, treasury, risk, compliance and technology enablement for global services organizations. She was a National Advisory Partner for PwC from 2011 to 2016, a CFO & Treasurer for PRTM from 1997 to 2011, and a former CFO at Monitor Group from 1995 to 1997. During her time at PRTM, she completed several successful M&A transactions in the U.S. and abroad, including the sale of PRTM to PwC. Ms. Kantor previously served as an executive with Parexel, a clinical research organization, and the Boston Consulting Group. Ms. Kantor is currently on the board of Teknor Apex, a billion dollar privately-held material science company, the board of Guest Services, a hospitality company, and the boards of two non-profit organizations, the International Council on Clean Transportation and Family & Community Resources. Ms. Kantor previously served as a board director for Lionbridge Technologies from 2016 to 2017 when it was a publicly held company. She received her bachelor’s degree from Grove City College in Accounting and Business Administration and her CPA in MA.
Number, Terms of Office and Appointment of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors consists of five members. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our founder shares will have the right to appoint all of our directors and remove members of the board of directors for any reason, and holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the appointment of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to the appointment of directors may only be amended by a majority of at least 90% of our shares of common stock attending and voting in a stockholder meeting. Each of our directors will hold office for a two-year term. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the stockholders, any vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board of directors or by a majority of the holders of our shares of common stock (or, prior to our initial business combination, holders of our founder shares).
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation as it deems appropriate. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers may consist of a Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee; a compensation committee; and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Subject to phase-in rules, 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, and the rules of Nasdaq require that the
67
Table of Contents
compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee operates under a charter that has been approved by our board of directors and has the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee is available on our website.
Audit Committee
The members of our audit committee are Diane L. Dewbrey, Priya Cherian Huskins and Susan J. Kantor. Susan J. Kantor serves as chairperson of the audit committee.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Susan J. Kantor qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:
68
Table of Contents
Compensation Committee
The members of our compensation committee are Diane L. Dewbrey, Priya Cherian Huskins and Susan J. Kantor. Diane L. Dewbrey serves as chairperson of the compensation committee.
We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:
● reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advise of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Diane L. Dewbrey, Priya Cherian Huskins and Susan J. Kantor. Priya Cherian Huskins serves as chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee.
We have adopted a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:
69
Table of Contents
The charter also provides that the nominating and corporate governance committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of, and terminate, any search firm to be used to identify director candidates, and will be directly responsible for approving the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.
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, the 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. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics (our “Code of Ethics”) applicable to our directors, officers and employees. You can review this document by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or any waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Conflicts of Interest
Our management team is responsible for the management of our affairs. As described above and below, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities, including Anzu Partners, pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care, which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge, skill and experience which that director has.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the stockholders; provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or alternatively by stockholder approval at stockholder meetings.
All of our officers and certain of our directors have fiduciary and contractual duties to Anzu Partners and to certain companies in which it has invested or to certain other entities. While the risk is partially mitigated as a result of Anzu Partners’ venture funds seeking targets of different enterprise sizes than us, if these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. None of the members of our management team who are also employed by our sponsor or its affiliates have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law. Our sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly in the event there is overlap among investment mandates. However, we do not currently expect that any such other blank check company would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our management team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law and any other applicable fiduciary duties.
70
Table of Contents
Our directors and officers presently have, and any of them in the future may have, additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law. 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 it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. Our directors and officers are also not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors — Certain of our directors and officers are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.”
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially adversely affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our founders’ and management’s performance as indicative of our future performance. See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors — Past performance by our management team and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the company.”
Potential investors should also be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
71
Table of Contents
The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our directors and officers have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our directors and officers currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
72
Table of Contents
Individual Entity Entity’s Business Affiliation
Adaptive Surface Technologies Industrial technology Board Member
Voltaiq Software solutions Board Member
Sofregen Medical Biomaterials Board Chair
Xendee Software solutions Board Member
Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance Academia Advisory Member
NMI Holdings, Inc. Insurance Board Member
Susan J. Kantor Teknor Apex Company Specialty chemicals Board Member
Guest Services, Inc. Hospitality Board Member, Audit Committee Chair
Daniel J. Hirsch Anzu Partners Investment Firm Consultant
Nuburu, Inc. Industrial technology Board Member
Chandler Assets Management Asset Management Board Member
73
Table of Contents
Accordingly, if any of the above directors or officers become aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for any of the above entities 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, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law. 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 it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. We do not believe, however, that any of the foregoing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations will materially adversely affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors or officers. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with such a company, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another valuation or appraisal firm that regularly renders fairness opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
In addition, our sponsor or any of its affiliates may make additional investments in the company in connection with the initial business combination, although our sponsor and its affiliates have no obligation or current intention to do so. If our sponsor or any of its affiliates elects to make additional investments, such proposed investments could influence our sponsor’s motivation to complete an initial business combination.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders, directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote any founder shares (and their permitted transferees will agree) and public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the DGCL.
We have entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will obtain 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.
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 directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
74
Table of Contents
Item 11.Executive Compensation.
None of our directors or officers have received any cash compensation from us for services rendered to us. Until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $40,520.83 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Our sponsor, directors and officers, 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 reviews on a quarterly basis all payments that are made by us to our sponsor, directors, officers or our or any of their respective affiliates. In February 2021, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of Teresa A. Harris, Priya Cherian Huskins and Susan J. Kantor, our independent directors at the time. In October 2022, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of Daniel J. Hirsch and Diane L. Dewbrey, in connection with their appointment as directors.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other compensation from the combined company. All compensation will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, 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 officers after the completion of our initial business combination will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors.
We are not party to any agreements with our directors and officers that provide for benefits upon termination of employment. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business, and we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination should be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination.
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 shares of common stock as of April 3, 2023, based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock, by:
● each of our directors and officers; and
● all of our directors and officers 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 shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect the beneficial ownership of warrants included in the Units offered in the initial public offering or the private placement warrants as the warrants are not exercisable within 60 days hereof.
75
Table of Contents
The ownership percentage column below is based on 4,312,774 shares of Class A common stock and 10,625,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding as of April 3, 2023. All of the Class B common stock are convertible into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, as described herein. The following table does not reflect the beneficial ownership of warrants included in the Units offered in the initial public offering or the private placement warrants as the warrants are not exercisable within 60 days hereof.
Class B Common Stock Class A Common Stock
Number of Number of Approximate
Shares Approximate Shares Approximate Percentage of
Beneficially Percentage Beneficially Percentage of Voting
Name of Beneficial Owners (1) Owned(2) of Class Owned Class Control
Dr. Whitney Haring-Smith — — — — —
Daniel J. Hirsch 25,000 * — — *
Diane L. Dewbrey 25,000 * — — *
Priya Cherian Huskins 25,000 * — — *
Susan J. Kantor 25,000 * — — *
All officers and directors as a group 100,000 * — — *
* Less than one percent.
Our initial stockholders beneficially owned 71.1% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock following the Extension Redemptions and will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination as a result of holding all of the founder shares. Holders of our public shares will not have the right to appoint any directors to our board of directors prior to our initial business combination. In addition, because of their 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.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have (and their permitted transferees, as applicable, will agree) agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor and our directors and officers are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Founder Shares
On December 30, 2020, our sponsor purchased 7,187,500 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. On February 19, 2021, we effected a stock dividend of 2,875,000 shares of Class B common stock to our sponsor, resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 10,062,500 founder shares. In February 2021, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of Teresa A. Harris, Priya Cherian Huskins and Susan J. Kantor, our independent directors. On March 1, 2021, we effected a stock dividend of 2,012,500 shares of Class B common stock to our sponsor, resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 12,075,000 founder shares. On April 14, 2021, our sponsor forfeited 1,450,000 founder shares
76
Table of Contents
following the expiration of the unexercised portion of underwriters’ over-allotment option. On October 4, 2022, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of Daniel J. Hirsch and Diane L. Dewbrey in connection with their appointment as directors.
Private Placement Warrants
Simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering, we completed the private sale of an aggregate of 12,400,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor and, on April 14, 2021, simultaneously with the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, we issued an additional 100,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor. The private placement warrants were sold at a price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, generating aggregate gross proceeds of $12,500,000. The private placement warrants are identical to the public warrants, except that the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants will not be transferable, assignable, or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the private placement warrants are exercisable on a cashless basis and are non-redeemable, except as described above, so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the private placement warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the public warrants.
Business Combination Opportunities
If any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our directors and officers currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
Administrative Services Agreement
We have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement with an affiliate of our sponsor, pursuant to which we will pay a total of $40,520.83 per month for office space, administrative and support services to such affiliate. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes until September 30, 2023, an affiliate of our sponsor will be paid a total of approximately $1.3 million ($40,520.83 per month) for office space, administrative and support services and will be entitled to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses.
Diligence Services
We have agreed to pay or reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for certain fees and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as performing due diligence on suitable business combination opportunities. As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there was $958,429 and $334,731, respectively, accrued for such fees and expenses. We paid an affiliate of the sponsor $0 and $417,185 for such fees and expenses during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We incurred $623,698 and $751,916 of such fees and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Related Party Notes
On December 30, 2020, we issued an unsecured promissory note to the sponsor, pursuant to which we could borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The note was non-interest bearing and was payable on the earlier of (i) March 31, 2022 or (ii) the completion of our initial public offering. This loan was repaid upon completion of our initial public offering out of the offering proceeds that were not held in the trust account. The facility is no longer available.
77
Table of Contents
In addition, on March 29, 2022, we issued an unsecured promissory note to the sponsor, pursuant to which the sponsor may provide up to $1,500,000 to us as a working capital loan, of which $1,500,000 was outstanding as of the date of this Annual Report. On March 21, 2023, we issued an additional unsecured promissory note to the sponsor, pursuant to which the sponsor may provide up to $1,190,000 to us as a working capital loan, of which $734,300 was outstanding as of the date of this Annual Report. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our 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 to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
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 tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post- combination business to determine executive officer and director compensation.
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and any warrants that may be issued on conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to shares of our Class A common stock). The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration 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 and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Related Party Transaction Policy
Our board of directors has adopted a written related person transaction approval policy (“the Related Party Transaction Policies and Procedures” or the “policy”) to further the goal of ensuring that any related person transaction is properly reviewed, approved by the audit committee, and fully disclosed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq. The policy applies to transactions or arrangements between us and any related person, including directors, director nominees, executive officers, greater than 5% stockholders and the immediate family members of each of these groups (the “Related Persons”). They do not, however, apply with respect to general conflicts between the interests of us and our employees, officers and directors, including issues relating to engaging in a competing business and receiving certain benefits from us, such as loans or guarantees of obligations, which are reported and handled in accordance with our Code of Ethics and other procedures and guidelines implemented by us from time to time.
Under the policy, the Related Person is responsible for identifying and reporting to the audit committee any proposed related person transaction. In the event the Chief Executive Officer determines that it is impractical or undesirable to wait until an audit committee meeting can be convened in order to review a transaction with Related Person, the Chairperson of the audit committee may act as an authorized subcommittee on behalf of the audit committee to review the such transaction, so long as the Chairperson is a disinterested member with respect to such transaction. After considering all the facts and circumstances available to the audit committee, the audit committee will approve, ratify or reject the transaction, in its discretion. All approved transactions with Related Persons will be disclosed to the full board of directors.
78
Table of Contents
Director Independence
The rules of Nasdaq 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 that, 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). We have three “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our board of directors has determined that each of Diane L. Dewbrey, Priya Cherian Huskins and Susan J. Kantor is an independent director under applicable SEC and Nasdaq listing standards.
Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The following table presents fees paid or to be paid to WithumSmith+Brown, PC, or Withum, for services rendered by Withum for the audit of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and fees billed for other services rendered for those periods:
For the Year ended
Audit-Related Fees (2) $ — $ —
All Other Fees (4) $ — $ —
The Audit Committee considered whether providing the non-audit services shown in this table was compatible with maintaining Withum’s independence and concluded that it was.
Policy on Board Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of the Independent Auditors
The audit committee is responsible for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the work of the independent auditors. In recognition of this responsibility, the audit committee shall review and, in its sole discretion, pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors as provided under the audit committee charter.
79
Table of Contents
PART IV
Item 15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)(1) Financial Statements
The financial statements listed in the Index to Financial Statements beginning on page F-1 are filed as part of this Annual Report.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules have been omitted because they are not required or because the required information is given in the Financial Statements or Notes listed in the Index to Financial Statements beginning on page F-1.
(b) Exhibits
The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index below are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report.
Exhibit Index
ExhibitNumber Description of Exhibit
80
Table of Contents
ExhibitNumber Description of Exhibit
10.13* Amendment No. 1 to Promissory Note, dated March 21, 2023.
24.1* Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages herein).
101.INS* XBRL Instance Document
101.CAL* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.SCH* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.DEF* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
* Filed herewith
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
81
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ANZU SPECIAL ACQUISITION CORP I
By: /s/ Dr. Whitney Haring-Smith
Dr. Whitney Haring-Smith
Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Whitney Haring-Smith and Daniel J. Hirsch and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
Dr. Whitney Haring-Smith Director (principal executive officer)
Daniel J. Hirsch financial and accounting officer)
/s/ Diane L. Dewbrey Director April 3, 2023
Diane L. Dewbrey
/s/ Priya Cherian Huskins Director April 3, 2023
Priya Cherian Huskins
/s/ Susan J. Kantor Director April 3, 2023
Susan J. Kantor
82
Table of Contents
ANZU SPECIAL ACQUISITION CORP I
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Notes to Financial Statements F-8
F-1
Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I (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 then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated 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 then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Emphasis of Matter – Restatement of Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company previously accounted for its deferred underwriting fee waiver as a forgiveness of debt and recorded a gain on its statements of operations. Management has since re-evaluated its accounting treatment for the forgiveness and has determined that the forgiveness should have been treated as a credit to stockholders’ deficit. Accordingly, the 2022 unaudited interim financial statements have been restated within Note 2 to correct the accounting and related disclosure for the forgiveness of the deferred underwriting fee.
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 September 30, 2023, 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 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.
F-2
Table of Contents
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 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 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 2021.
New York, New York
April 3, 2023
PCAOB Number 100
F-3
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Balance Sheets
ASSETS:
Current assets:
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT:
Current liabilities:
Working Capital Loans (as stated in Note 5) 1,500,000 —
Income taxes payable 686,530 —
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ deficit:
Additional paid-in capital — —
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-4
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Statements of Operations
For Year Ended For Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
Operating expenses:
Other income (expense):
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account 6,125,038 37,665
Deferred offering cost forgiveness 150,262 —
Offering costs allocated to warrant liabilities — (782,812)
Change in fair value of Forward Purchase Agreements (649,058) 232,789
Income tax expense (1,501,714) —
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-5
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
For the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Additional
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital Deficit Deficit
Additional
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity (Deficit)
Forfeiture of Founder Shares — — (1,450,000) (145) 145 — —
Net loss — — — — — (251,633) (251,633)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-6
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Statements of Cash Flows
Year Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
Cash flow from operating activities:
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities (19,997,306) (5,465,695)
Change in fair value of Forward Purchase Agreements 649,058 (232,789)
Offering costs allocated to warrant liabilities — 782,812
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account (6,125,038) (37,665)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Income taxes payable 686,530 —
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of Units, gross — 425,000,000
Proceeds from sale of Private Placement Warrants — 12,500,000
Payment of offering costs — (9,134,334)
Proceeds from note payable - related party 1,500,000 —
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
Deferred underwriting commissions $ — $ 14,875,000
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable $ — $ (94,992)
Initial classification of Forward Purchase Agreements $ — $ (770,000)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-7
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Note 1 - Organization and Business Operations
Organization and General
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on December 28, 2020 for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”).
While the Company may pursue a Business Combination target in any industry, the Company currently intends to concentrate its efforts in identifying high-quality businesses with transformative technologies. Since completing the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO” or the “Initial Public Offering”), the Company has reviewed, and continues to review, a number of opportunities to enter into a Business Combination with an operating business, but the Company is not able to determine at this time whether it will complete a Business Combination with any of the target businesses that the Company has reviewed or with any other target business. The Company intends to effectuate a Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below), the Company’s capital stock, debt, or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through December 31, 2022 relates to the Company’s formation and the IPO described below, and, subsequent to the IPO, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. The Company does not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held in the Trust Account (as defined below).
The Company’s sponsor is Anzu SPAC GP I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”).
Financing
On March 4, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 42,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units, the “public shares”) and, on April 14, 2021, the Company issued an additional 500,000 Units in connection with the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and one-third of one warrant (the “Public Warrants”) of the Company, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one whole share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to certain adjustments. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $425,000,000 (see Note 4 and Note 8).
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company completed the private sale (the “Private Placement”) of 12,400,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) to the Sponsor and, on April 14, 2021, simultaneously with the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, the Company issued an additional 100,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor. The Private Placement Warrants were sold at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating aggregate gross proceeds of $12,500,000.
Transaction costs of the IPO prior to the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option amounted to $23,731,835, consisting of $8,400,000 of underwriting commissions, $14,700,000 of deferred underwriters’ commissions and $631,835 of other offering costs. Offering costs associated with the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option on April 14, 2021 amounted to $280,500, consisting of $100,000 of underwriting commissions, $175,000 of deferred underwriters’ commissions and $5,500 of other offering costs.
Trust Account
Following the closing of the IPO on March 4, 2021, $420,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a U.S.-based trust account (the “Trust Account”). Following the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option on April 14, 2021, an additional $5,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from
F-8
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
the net proceeds of the sale of the additional Units and Private Placement Warrants was placed in the Trust Account. The funds in the Trust Account are invested in a money market fund investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company will not be permitted to withdraw any of the principal or interest held in the Trust Account except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any. The funds held in the Trust Account will not otherwise be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (1) the Company’s completion of a Business Combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the public shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity; and (3) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company has not completed a Business Combination by September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors, subject to applicable law. Based on current interest rates, the Company expects that interest earned on the Trust Account will be sufficient to pay taxes.
Business Combination
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds from the IPO, although substantially all of the net proceeds from the IPO are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a Business Combination with (or acquisition of) a Target Business. As used herein, “Target Business” means one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of a definitive agreement in connection with a Business Combination. Furthermore, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a 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 a Business Combination, either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve such Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The public stockholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount held in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of a Business Combination, including 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 per-share amount to be distributed to the public stockholders who redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 7). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants. As a result, shares of common stock were recorded at their redemption amount and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the IPO, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”).
The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares in a tender offer will be made by the Company, in its sole discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require the Company to seek stockholder approval unless a vote is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements. If the Company seeks stockholder approval, it will complete its Business Combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of a Business Combination. However, in no event will the Company redeem its public shares in an amount that would cause its net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of a Business Combination. In such case, the Company would not proceed with the redemption of its public shares of common stock and the related Business Combination, and instead may search for an alternate Business Combination.
The Company has until September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors (or such longer period as provided in an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation approved by the Company’s stockholders (an “Extension Period”)) to complete its initial Business Combination. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination by September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors, or during any Extension Period, it shall (i) cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest
F-9
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and its 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. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if it fails to complete its initial Business Combination by September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors, or during any Extension Period. The initial stockholders (the Sponsor and the three directors that hold Founder Shares (as defined in Note 6) have entered into a letter agreement with the Company, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination by September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors, or during any Extension Period. However, if the initial stockholders acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such public shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the allotted time frame.
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 $10.00 per public share initially held in the Trust Account.
The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to have all third parties, including, but not limited to, all vendors, service providers (other than its independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which the Company does business execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claims of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Further, the impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy is not determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The specific impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is also not determinable as of the date of these financial statements.
On March 10, 2023 Silicon Valley Bank became insolvent. State regulators closed the bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) was appointed as its receiver. The Company held deposits with this bank. As a result of the actions by the FDIC, the Company’s insured and uninsured deposits have been restored.
Going Concern
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had $107,773 and $149,845 in its operating bank accounts, respectively, and working capital deficits of $(7,089,334) and $(1,815,006), respectively.
F-10
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Prior to the completion of the Initial Business Combination, the Company’s liquidity needs had been satisfied through a contribution of $25,000 from Sponsor to cover for certain formation and offering costs in exchange for the issuance of the Founder Shares, the loan of up to $300,000 from the Sponsor pursuant to the Note (see Note 6), and the proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company Working Capital Loans (see Note 6). As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were amounts of $1,500,000 and $0 outstanding under the Working Capital Loans, respectively.
The Company may need to raise additional funds through loans from its Sponsor and/or third parties in order to meet the expenditures required for operating its business. If the Company’s estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating the initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the initial business combination. The Sponsor is not under any obligation to advance funds to, or to invest in, the Company. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of its business plan, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. If a Business Combination is not consummated by September 30, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors, or during any Extension Period, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Mandatory liquidation and liquidity condition raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through one year from the date of these financial statements if a Business Combination is not consummated. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Our management plans to complete a Business Combination prior to the mandatory liquidation date and expects to receive financing to meet its obligations through the time of liquidation; however no financing is currently committed. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.
Note 2 - Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements
The Company had recognized a liability upon closing of its initial public offering in March 2021 for a portion of the underwriters’ commissions which was contingently payable upon closing of a future business combination, with the offsetting entry resulting in an initial discount to the securities sold in the initial public offering. One of the underwriters waived all claims to this deferred commission in September 2022. The Company recognized the waiver as an extinguishment, with a resulting non-operating gain recognized in its statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. Upon subsequent review and analysis, management concluded that the Company should have recognized the extinguishment of the contingent liability as a credit to stockholders’ deficit.
Therefore, the Company’s management and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) concluded that the Company’s previously issued unaudited condensed financial statements as of September 30, 2022 should no longer be relied upon and that it is appropriate to restate. As such, the Company will restate its financial statements filed November 14, 2022 (the “Original Filing”) in this Form 10-K.
Impact of the Restatement
The impact of the restatement on the statements of operations, statements of changes in stockholders’ deficit and statements of cash flows for the affected period is presented below. The restatement had no impact on net cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities.
F-11
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Statement of Operations
As Previously
Three months ended September 30, 2022 Reported filed Adjustment Restated
Basic net income per common stock, Class B $ 0.11 $ (0.08) $ 0.03
Diluted net income per common stock, Class B $ 0.11 $ (0.08) $ 0.03
As Previously
Nine months ended September 30, 2022 Reported filed Adjustment Restated
Basic net income per common stock, Class B $ 0.40 $ (0.08) $ 0.32
Diluted net income per common stock, Class B $ 0.40 $ (0.08) $ 0.32
Changes in stockholders' deficit
As Previously
Three months ended September 30, 2022 Reported filed Adjustment Restated
Cash Flow Statement for the nine months ended September 30, 2022
As Previously
Reported filed Adjustment Restated
Supplemental Disclosure of noncash activities
Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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 auditor 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.
F-12
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
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 financial statements with another public company which is either not an emerging growth company or 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 financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgement. 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 financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
One of the more significant accounting estimates included in these financial statements is the determination of the fair value of the warrant liabilities. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and 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 no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Investments Held in Trust Account
The Company’s portfolio of investments 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 and generally have a readily determinable fair value, or a combination thereof. When the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are comprised of U.S. government securities, the investments are classified as trading securities and are recognized at fair value. When the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are comprised of money market funds, the investments are recognized at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities are included in interest earned on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.
Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company has significant cash balances at financial institutions which throughout the year regularly exceed the federally insured limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
F-13
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
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 ASC 480. Class A common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as liability instruments and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A common stock (including Class A common stock that features 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 features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at December 31, 2022 and 2021, 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 balance sheets.
The Company has elected to recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying value of the security to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. This method would view the end of the reporting period as if it were also the redemption date for the security. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount. The change in the carrying value of redeemable shares of Class A common stock resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.
Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering
The Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 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 IPO and were charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the IPO. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2022, offering costs in the aggregate of $24,012,335 (consisting of $8,500,000 of underwriting commissions, $14,875,000 of deferred underwriters’ commission and $637,335 other offering costs) had been incurred. Offering costs associated with the closing of the underwriters’ over-allotment option on April 14, 2021, amounted to $280,500 consisting mainly of $100,000 of underwriting commissions, $175,000 of deferred underwriters’ commissions and $5,500 of other offering costs.
The Company allocates the offering costs between its common stock and Public Warrants using relative fair value method, with the offering costs allocated to the Public Warrants expensed immediately. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2022, offering costs in the aggregate of $782,812 have been charged to the Company’s statement of operations (consisting of $762,300 of underwriting discounts and $20,512 of other offering costs). Offering costs associated with the Class A common stock have been charged to stockholders’ deficit. As of December 31, 2022, deferred offering costs of $94,992 have been incurred.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature except for the derivative warrant liabilities and forward purchase agreement asset (see Note 10).
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 include:
F-14
Table of Contents
Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I
Notes to Financial Statements
DECEMBER 31, 2022
In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s public warrant liability is based on quoted prices in active markets as of the measurement date and is classified as Level 1.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. 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”. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative 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.
The Company accounts for its warrants issued in connection with its IPO as derivative warrant liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40. Accordingly, the Company recognizes the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s statements of operations. The fair value of warrants issued by the Company in connection with the IPO and Private Placement has been estimated using binomial lattice model at the date of issuance. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s public warrants were measured based on quoted prices in active markets, and the private placement warrants are categorized as a Level 2 following the public price.
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. The Company applied this guidance to allocate IPO proceeds from the Units between common stock and warrants, using the residual method by allocating IPO proceeds first to fair value of the warrants and then common stock.
The Company accounts for its forward purchase agreements (collectively, the “Forward Purchase Agreements” or “FPAs”) issued as derivative FPA assets in accordance with ASC 815-40. Accordingly, the Company recognizes the FPA instruments as assets at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The assets are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s statements of operations. The fair value of the FPAs has been estimated using observable inputs at the date of issuance. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s FPAs are categorized as a Level 3.
Net Income (Loss) per Common Share