Following the initial public offering, the full exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of the private placement warrants, a total of $345,000,000 was placed in the trust account. Transaction costs amounted to $19,455,706, consisting of $6,900,000 of underwriting fees, net of reimbursement, $12,075,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $480,706 of other offering costs.
On December 6, 2022, the representatives in the Initial Public Offering, agreed, on behalf of the underwriters, to a reduction of their deferred underwriting fee of $0.35 per Unit. Pursuant to an amendment to the underwriting agreement, the deferred underwriting fee from any remaining funds on deposit in the Trust Account and/or any other funds available in connection with the Business Combination, which will be payable at closing of the Business Combination is as follows: (i) $5,000,000 of the deferred underwriting fee (the “Minimum Deferred Underwriting Fee”) will be due and payable in cash to the underwriters, upon the closing of the Business Combination irrespective of the amount of Available Cash (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); (ii) if the Available Cash is equal to or greater than $30.0 million and up to $100.0 million, an additional amount equal to up to $4.0 million of the deferred underwriting fee will be due and payable in cash to the underwriters upon the closing of the Business Combination, which additional amount will be linearly determined in relation to the amount of the Available Cash and will be at least $0 and up to $4.0 million; and (iii) if the Available Cash is equal to or greater than $100.0 million and up to $345.0 million, an additional amount of up to $3,075,000 of the deferred underwriting fee will be due and payable in cash to the underwriters upon the closing of the Business Combination, which additional amount will be linearly determined in relation to the amount of the Available Cash and will be at least $0 and up to $3,075,000 (such additional amounts in clauses (ii) and (iii) being referred to herein as an “Incremental Deferred Underwriting Commission,” and together with the Minimum Deferred Underwriting Fee, the “Deferred Underwriting Fee”). As a result of the amendment, the reduction in deferred fees was split on a pro rata basis between additional paid-in capital and other income based upon the original amount of the deferred underwriting fee’s allocation to the liability-classified instruments in the Initial Public Offering. Therefore, the deferred underwriting fee was reduced by $6,365,867 during the three months ended December 31, 2022, of which $350,123 was shown in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, as the partial reversal of transaction costs incurred in connection with the Initial Public Offering and $6,015,744 was charged to additional paid-in capital in the statement of stockholders’ deficit. As a result of the reduction, the outstanding deferred underwriting fee payable was reduced to $5,709,133.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $307,017. Net loss of $3,208,890 was affected by the change in fair value of convertible promissory note – related party of $7,800, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $2,353,500, and interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $417,211. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $957,784 of cash from operating activities due primarily to an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $96,508. Net income of $9,383,232 was affected by the change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $9,398,310, change in fair value of convertible promissory note – related party of $132,122, interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $174,761 and an unrealized gain on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $65,646. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $291,099 of cash from operating activities due primarily to an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $40,050 as a result of a withdrawal of interest earned on the Trust Account to pay tax obligations.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, there were no cash transactions in investing activities.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $347,000 as a result of the drawdowns on the Sponsor Convertible Promissory note.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $300,000 as a result of the drawdowns on the Sponsor Convertible Promissory Note.
At March 31, 2023 we had cash held in the Trust Account of $42,940,237. Interest income on the balance in the Trust Account may be used by us to pay taxes. As of March 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $40,050 as a result of withdrawals of interest earned on the Trust Account to pay our tax obligations.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less deferred underwriting commissions, franchise taxes, and income taxes payable), to complete our business combination. 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.
At March 31, 2023, we had cash of $103,968 outside of the Trust Account, accounts payable and accrued expenses of $3,079,327, and income taxes payable of $442,279. We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account in addition to the remaining amount unborrowed on the related party convertible promissory note of $891,505 after total draws of $1,017,495, primarily to complete a business combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, the sponsor or an affiliate of the sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, lend us funds as may be required. If we complete a business combination, we would repay such lent amounts. In the event that a business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such lent amounts but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. On September 13, 2021, our sponsor agreed to lend us an aggregate of up to $1,000,000 pursuant to a convertible promissory note for working capital purposes (as amended, the “Sponsor Convertible Promissory Note”). On May 1, 2023, in the amended and restated convertible promissory note, effective March 1, 2023, the Sponsor agreed to increase the aggregate amount to be drawn on the Sponsor Convertible Promissory Note for working capital purposes to $2,000,000. At March 31, 2023, there was $1,107,495 of cumulative cash advanced under the Sponsor Convertible Promissory Note.
Going Concern
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $103,968 in its operating bank account, $42,940,237 in cash held in the Trust Account to be used for a Business Combination, or to repurchase or redeem its stock in connection therewith and a working capital deficit of $2,811,347, which excludes the permitted withdrawal should the Company elect to withdraw from the Trust Account for additional franchise taxes payable of $50,000 or income taxes payable of $442,279. As of March 31, 2023, $417,211 of the amount on deposit in the Trust Account represented interest income. Interest income earned on the Trust Account is available to pay the Company’s tax obligations. The Company has withdrawn from the Trust Account amounts totaling $1,017,482 and $40,050 as of December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, respectively, to pay the Company’s franchise and income tax obligations.
The Company may raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of its directors and officers. The Sponsor may but is not obligated to (except as described below), lend the Company funds, from time to time in whatever amounts it deems reasonable in its sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. On September 13, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to lend the Company an aggregate of up to $1,000,000 for working capital purposes pursuant to a convertible promissory note. On May 1, 2023, in the amended and restated convertible promissory note, effective March 1, 2023, the Sponsor agreed to increase the aggregate amount to be drawn on the convertible promissory note for working capital purposes to $2,000,000. The Company had drawn an aggregate of $1,107,495 under the convertible promissory note as of March 31, 2023, which includes drawdowns of $120,000 on September 13, 2021, $114,311 on October 5, 2021, $70,800 on October 26, 2021, $15,000 on November 29, 2021, $150,000 on January 31, 2022, $150,000 on March 31, 2022, $27,384 on November 9, 2022, $113,000 on December 27, 2022, $59,000 on January 17, 2023, and $288,000 on March 24, 2023. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain additional financing prior to completing the Business Combination, however. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete its Business Combination or because the Company becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of its public shares upon consummation of its Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, the Company would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of its Business Combination.
If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with ASC Subtopic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company has until June 22, 2023, or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors, to consummate a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by June 22, 2023, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Although the Company intends to consummate a Business Combination on or before June 22, 2023, it is uncertain that the Company will be able to consummate a Business Combination by June 22, 2023. This, as well as its liquidity condition, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after June 22, 2023.
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