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Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I - Quarter Report: 2023 September (Form 10-Q)

10-Q
Table of Contents
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM
10-Q
 
 
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
                
to
                
Commission File
No. 001-40906
 
 
ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP. I
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
 
86-1671207
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
60 Walnut Avenue, Suite 400
Clark, NJ 07066
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including zip code)
(732)
340-0700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading
Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and one Redeemable Warrant
 
AVHIU
 
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
 
AVHI
 
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Redeemable Warrants
 
AVHIW
 
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
   
Yes
  ☒    No  ☐ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation
S-T
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
   
Yes
  ☒    No  ☐ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated
filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule
12b-2
of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
       
Non-accelerated filer
     Smaller reporting company  
       
         Emerging growth company  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2
of the Exchange Act):
    
Yes
 
    No  ☐ 
As of
November 8,
2023, there were 3,138,321 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share issued and outstanding (“Common Stock”).
 
 
 


Table of Contents

ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP. I

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q TABLE OF

CONTENTS

 

         Page
PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.   Financial Statements (unaudited)    1
  Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2022    1
  Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022    2
  Unaudited Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022    3
  Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022    4
  Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements    5
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    23
Item 4.   Control and Procedures    23
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings    23
Item 1A.   Risk Factors    23
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    24
Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    24
Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures    24
Item 5.   Other Information    24
Item 6.   Exhibits    25
SIGNATURES    26


Table of Contents
P10Dhttp://www.achariventuresholdingscorp1.com/20230930#ChangeInFairValueOfWarrantshttp://www.achariventuresholdingscorp1.com/20230930#ChangeInFairValueOfWarrantshttp://www.achariventuresholdingscorp1.com/20230930#ChangeInFairValueOfWarrants
Item 1. Financial Statements
ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP I
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
 
     September 30,     December 31,  
     2023     2022  
     (Unaudited)    
 
 
ASSETS     
CURRENT ASSETS
    
Cash
   $ 18,810     $ 597,306  
Prepaid expenses
     9,385       180,197  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total current assets
     28,195       777,503  
Cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account
     6,860,609       44,688,320  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
   $ 6,888,804     $ 45,465,823  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
    
CURRENT LIABILITIES
    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   $ 2,499,079     $ 665,059  
Income taxes payable
     9,383       216,203  
Franchise tax payable
     30,000       291,137  
Excise tax liability
     382,015       —   
Note Payable-related party
     152,000       —   
Convertible Note Payable- related party
     215,000       —   
Common stock redemption payable
     —        34,198,758  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total current liabilities
     3,287,477       35,371,157  
Derivative warrant liabilities
     428,000       356,666  
Deferred underwriting fee payable
     3,500,000       3,500,000  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total liabilities
     7,215,477       39,227,823  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 6)
    
REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK
    
Common stock subject to possible redemption: 638,321 and 1,019,465 shares at redemption value of $10.75 and $10.29 per share at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
     6,860,609       10,489,562  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
    
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
     —        —   
Common stock; $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 2,500,000 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 638,321 and 1,019,465 shares subject to possible redemption)
     250       250  
Accumulated deficit
     (7,187,532     (4,251,812
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total stockholders’ deficit
     (7,187,282     (4,251,562
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
   $ 6,888,804     $  45,465,823  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
 
1

ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
     For the three months ended     For the nine months ended  
     September 30,     September 30,  
     2023     2022     2023     2022  
OPERATING EXPENSES
                                
General and administrative
   $ 581,054     $ 249,307     $ 2,257,753     $ 696,460  
Franchise tax
     50,000       50,000       150,000       150,000  
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total operating expenses
     631,054       299,307       2,407,753       846,460  
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
                                
Interest income on investments held in Trust Account
     94,677       193,267       338,798       340,873  
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities held in Trust Account
     —        272,353       —        272,353  
Change in fair value of warrants
     (142,667     642,000       (71,334     1,997,334  
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total other income
 (expense)
     (47,990     1,107,620       267,464       2,610,560  
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
     (679,044     808,313       (2,140,289     1,764,100  
Income tax (expense) benefit
     (9,383     (71,676     (39,646     (73,676
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
NET INCOME(LOSS)
   $  (688,427   $ 736,637     $ (2,179,935   $ 1,690,424  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding of common stock
     1,074,356       12,500,000       3,407,774       12,500,000  
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net income(loss) per share, common stock
   $ (0.64   $ 0.06     $ (0.64   $ 0.14  
    
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
 
2

ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)
 
     Common stock                      
     (excluding                      
     638,321 shares                      
     subject to possible      Additional            Total  
     redemption)     
paid-in
     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
     Shares      Amount      capital      deficit     deficit  
Balance, December 31, 2022
     2,500,000      $ 250      $ —       $ (4,251,812   $ (4,251,562
Remeasurement of redeemable shares to redemption value
           —         (266,790     (266,790
Excise duty in connection with redemption of redeemable shares
           —         (341,988     (341,988
Net Loss
           —         (946,841     (946,841
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
Balance, March 31, 2023
     2,500,000        250        —         (5,807,431     (5,807,181
Remeasurement of redeemable shares to redemption value
           —         (203,171     (203,171
Net loss
           —         (544,667     (544,667
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2023
     2,500,000        250        —         (6,555,269     (6,555,019
Remeasurement of redeemable shares to redemption value
           —         96,191       96,191  
Excise duty in connection with redemption of redeemable shares
           —         (40,027     (40,027
Net loss
           —         (688,427     (688,427
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2023
     2,500,000      $ 250      $ —       $ (7,187,532 )   $ (7,187,282
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
 
    
Common stock
(excluding
                     
     10,000,000 shares                      
     subject to possible      Additional            Total  
     redemption)     
paid-in
     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
     Shares      Amount      capital      Deficit     deficit  
Balance, December 31, 2021
     2,500,000      $ 250      $ —       $ (4,876,287   $ (4,876,037
Net income
           —         555,517       555,517  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, March 31, 2022
     2,500,000        250        —         (4,320,770     (4,320,520
Net income
           —         398,270       398,270  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2022
     2,500,000     
250        —       $ (3,922,500   $ (3,922,250
Net income
              736,637       736,637  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2022
     2,500,000      $ 250      $ —       $ (3,185,863   $ (3,185,613
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
 
3
ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
 
     For the nine     For the nine  
     months ended     months ended  
     September 30,     September 30,  
     2023     2022  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                
Net (loss) income
   $ (2,179,935   $ 1,690,424  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:
                
Interest and dividend income on investments held in Trust Account
     (338,798     (613,226
Change in fair value of warrants
     71,334       (1,997,334
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                
Prepaid expenses and other assets
     170,812       155,937  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
     1,834,020       216,291  
Income taxes payabl
e

 
 
(206,820
)
 
 
 
73,676
 
Franchise tax payable
     (261,137     32,117  
Due to affiliate
     —        (5,000
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
Net cash flows used in operating activities
     (910,524     (447,115
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                
Cash deposited in Trust Account
     (401,588        
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account for Common Stock redemptions
     38,201,481       107,883  
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account for taxes
     366,616       —   
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
Net cash flows provided by investing activities
     38,166,509       107,883  
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                
Redemption of Common stock
     (38,201,481     —   
Convertible Note payable
     215,000       —   
Notes payable – related party
     152,000       —   
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
N
et cash flows used in financing activities
     (37,834,481     —   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET CHANGE IN CASH
     (578,496     (339,232
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
     597,306       771,386  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH, END OF PERIOD
   $ 18,810     $ 432,154  
    
 
 
   
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:
                
Remeasurement of redeemable shares to redemption value
   $ 373,770     $ —   
Excise tax liability
   $ 382,015     $ —   
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
 
4

ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP. I NOTES TO
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Note 1 - Description of Organization and Business Operations
Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on January 25, 2021. The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”).
The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through September 30, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation, its initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), and, subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on October 14, 2021. On October 19, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 10,000,000 units (“Units”), each of which consisted of one warrant and one share of Common Stock (the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000, which is discussed in Note 3. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 7,133,333 warrants (“Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $0.75 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, Achari Sponsor Holdings I LLC (the “Sponsor”), for gross proceeds of $5,350,000, which is described in Note 4.
Offering costs for the Initial Public Offering amounted to $6,101,730, consisting of $2,000,000 of underwriting fees, $3,500,000 of deferred underwriting fees payable (which are held in the Trust Account (as defined below)) and $601,730 of other costs. As described in Note 6, the $3,500,000 of deferred underwriting fee payable is contingent upon the consummation of a Business Combination, as further described in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the Initial Public Offering.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, $101,500,000 ($10.15 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule
2a-7
of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. There is no assurance the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
The Company will provide the holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “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 the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.15 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest then in the Trust Account, net of taxes payable). There will be no redemption rights with respect to the Company’s warrants.
All of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a stockholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below). In accordance with ASC
480-10-S99,
redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require Common Stock subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Given that the Public Shares were issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., public warrants), the initial carrying value of Common Stock classified as temporary equity was the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with Accounting
 
5

Standards Codification (“ASC”)
470-20.
The Common Stock is subject to ASC
480-10-S99.
If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company elected to recognize the changes immediately. While redemptions cannot cause the Company’s net tangible assets to fall below $5,000,001, the Public Shares are redeemable and are classified as such on the balance sheet until such date that a redemption event takes place.
Redemptions of the Company’s Public Shares may be subject to the satisfaction of conditions, including minimum cash conditions, pursuant to an agreement relating to the Company’s Business Combination. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the Business Combination, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination, or such other vote as required by law or stock exchange rule. If a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Common Stock sold in the Initial Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Company’s Sponsor, officers and directors (the “Initial Stockholders”) agreed not to propose an amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Common Stock in conjunction with any such amendment.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by January 19, 2024 (assuming each of the Monthly Extension Options (as defined below) are exercised, the “Combination Period”), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay the Company’s franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Initial Stockholders agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period in connection with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. However, if the Initial Stockholders decide to acquire Public Shares in addition to their Founder Shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters agreed to waive their rights to its deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including the Trust Account assets) will be only $10.15 per shares held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor 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. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements waiving any
right
, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
 
6

On December 22, 2022, the Company reconvened a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders (the “Special Meeting”), which had initially been adjourned on December 19, 2022. At the reconvened Special Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved (i) an amendment (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”) to the Company’s then-existing amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which amended an option included in the Company’s then-existing amended certificate of incorporation, and which had provided the Company the ability to extend the deadline by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination by up to three months, or from January 19, 2023 to April 19, 2023, to instead provide for an extension to consummate a Business Combination by up to six months, or from January 19, 2023 to July 19, 2023 (the “Original Amended Extended Date”) and (ii) an amendment (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”) to the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement to provide that the Company may extend the time period to complete a Business Combination up to and until the Original Amended Extended Date on a monthly basis, by, at the Company’s option, depositing into the Company’s Trust Account the lesser of (x) $100,000 and (y) $0.05 for each share of the Company’s Common Stock which remains outstanding as of the date of such monthly deposit (the “Original Monthly Extension Option”). The Original Monthly Extension Option was exercisable by the Company in six single-month increments. As of June 15, 2023, the Company had exercised each of the six Original Monthly Extension Options available to it.
On July 12, 2023, the Company’s shareholders approved at a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders (the “July Special Meeting”) (i) an amendment to the Company’s then-existing amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which amended an option included in the Company’s then-existing amended and restated certificate of incorporation that provided the Company the ability to extend the deadline by which the Company must consummate a business combination by up to six months, or from January 19, 2023 to July 19, 2023, to instead provide for an extension to consummate a business combination by up to an additional six months, or from July 19, 2023 to January 19, 2024 (the “Amended Extended Date”), and (ii) an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Investment Management Trust Agreement to provide that the Company may extend the time period to complete a business combination up to and until the Amended Extended Date on a monthly basis, at the Company’s option, by depositing into the Company’s Trust Account the lesser of (x) $100,000 and (y) $0.05 for each share of the Company’s Common Stock which remains outstanding as of the date of such monthly deposit (the “Monthly Extension Option”). The Monthly Extension Option is exercisable by the Company in six single-month increments.
On July 17, 2023, our Sponsor transferred 927,600 shares of Common Stock to certain members of the Sponsor. As a result of such transfer, as of July 17, 2023, 1,572,400 shares of Common Stock were held directly by the Sponsor and 927,600 shares of Common Stock were held directly by members of the Sponsor.
On October 16, 2023, the Company notified the trustee of the Company’s Trust Account that it was exercising a Monthly Extension Option, extending the time available to the Company to consummate a Business Combination, from October 19, 2023 to November 19, 2023 (the “Fourth Extension”), pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation” or the “Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). The Fourth Extension is the fourth of up to
six (6) one-month Extensions
permitted under the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Trust Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Trust Agreement, on October 19, 2023, with respect to the exercise of the Fourth Extension, the Company deposited $31,916 into the Company’s Trust Account in connection with the exercise of the Fourth Extension. Such deposit with respect to the Fourth Extension was made using funds held outside of the Company’s Trust Account and available to the Company to fund working capital requirements. As of October 20, 2023 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, inclusive of the deposit of $31,916 into the Trust Account in connection with the exercise of the Fourth Extension as described above), the Trust Account held approximately $6,892,525.
Risks and Uncertainties
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 are not determinable as of the date of these financial statements and 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. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.
 
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Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination.
The IRS issued Notice
2023-3
(Initial Guidance Regarding the Application of the Excise Tax on Repurchases of Corporate Stock). The notice defines stock redemptions per Internal Revenue Code section 317(b) and also defines transactions considered to be economically similar to a repurchase including certain acquisitive reorganizations,
split-offs
and certain overlap complete liquidations. Further, the notice defines transaction that are not economically similar transactions including complete liquidations and certain divisive transactions Liquidity and Capital Resources.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash of $18,810 in its operating bank account and cash and marketable securities of $6,860,609 held in the Trust Account to be used for a Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem its Common Stock in connection therewith. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, $338,798 of the amount on deposit in the Trust Account represented interest income from investments, which is available to pay the Company’s tax obligations.
The Company originally had until January 19, 2023 to consummate its Business Combination, with an option to extend such deadline to April 19, 2023 by depositing certain funds into the Trust Account. On December 22, 2022, in a Special Meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the Company adopted the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Investment Management Trust Agreement to provide for the Original Monthly Extension Options, which provide the deadline to consummate a Business Combination will be extended until, as further described in Note 1 of the financial statements, July 19, 2023 (which is 21 months from the October 19, 2021 closing of our Initial Public Offering). On July 12, 2023, in a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the Company adopted the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Second Amended and Investment Management Trust Agreement to provide for the Monthly Extension Options, which provide the deadline to consummate a Business Combination will be extended until, as further described in Note 10 of the financial statements, January 19, 2024 (which is 27 months from the October 19, 2021 closing of our Initial Public Offering). Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company is and will continue to use the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination. The Company may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its Sponsor, shareholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing.
Management has determined that the mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution described above, should the Company be unable to complete a Business Combination, raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
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. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. 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.
Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form
10-K
and Article 8 of Regulation
S-X
of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on April 24, 2023. The interim results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the period ending December 31, 2023 or for any future periods.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an emerging growth company as defined in Section 102(b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), which 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 an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to
non-emerging
growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. 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.
 
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This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that 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 U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. 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 due to one or more future confirming events. Actual results could differ 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 did not have any cash equivalents as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Investments Held in the Trust Account
At September 30, 2023, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held in a mutual fund that invests in U.S. Treasury securities. The Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of investments held in the Trust Account are included in income on investments held in the Trust Account in the accompanying unaudited condensed statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Income Taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and year ended December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company’s deferred tax asset had a full valuation allowance recorded against it.
The Company’s effective tax rate expense (benefit)
 
was
(1.38
)% and
(1.85
)% for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2023
. The tax rate differs from the statutory rate of
21
% for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2023
due to change in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets and change in fair value of warrant liability.
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Common Stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”). Shares of Common Stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are 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 the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times Common Stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s Common Stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 638,321 and 1,019,465 shares of Common Stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheet.
 
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The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable Common Stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable Common Stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Common Stock subject to possible redemption reflected in the balance sheet is reconciled in the following table:
 
Gross proceeds
   $ 100,000,000  
Less:
        
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants
     (11,900,000
Common Stock issuance costs
     (5,322,219
Plus: Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value
     18,722,219  
    
 
 
 
Common Stock subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2021
   $ 101,500,000  
Less:
        
Redemption of Common Stock
     (57,810,572
Common Stock redemption payable
     (34,198,758
Plus: Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value
     998,892  
    
 
 
 
Common Stock subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2022
   $ 10,489,562  
Redemption of Common Stock
     (4,002,723
Plus: Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value
     373,770  
    
 
 
 
Common Stock subject to possible redemption as of September 30, 2023
   $ 6,860,609  
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per Common Stock
The Company has one class of shares. Public Warrants (as defined below) (see Note 7) and Private Placement Warrants (see Note 4) to purchase 12,850,000 shares of Common Stock at $11.50 per share were issued on October 19, 2021. At September 30, 2023, no Public Warrants or Private Placement Warrants have been exercised. The 12,850,000 potential shares of Common Stock for outstanding Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants to purchase the Common Stock were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the periods ended September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, because they are contingently exercisable and the contingencies have not yet been met. As a result, diluted net income (loss) per share of Common Stock is the same as basic net income per shares of Common Stock for the periods. The table below presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for each class of stock.
 
     For the three months ended
September 30
 
     2023      2022  
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:    Common Stock  
Numerator:
                 
Allocation of net income (loss), including remeasurement of temporary equity
   $ (688,427    $ 736,637  
Denominator:
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding
     1,074,356        12,500,000  
Basic and dilution net income (loss) per share
   $ (0.64    $ 0.06  
 
     For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2023      2022  
     Common Stock  
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
                 
Numerator:
                 
Allocation of net income (loss), including remeasurement of temporary equity
   $ (2,179,935    $ 1,690,424  
Denominator:
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding
     3,407,774        12,500,000  
Basic and dilution net income (loss) per share
   $ (0.64    $ 0.14  
Accounting for Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the instruments’ specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the instruments are free-standing financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the instruments meet all
 
 
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of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the instruments are indexed to the Company’s own common shares and whether the instrument holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, was conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent period end date while the instruments are outstanding. Management has concluded that the Public Warrants qualify for equity accounting treatment and the Private Placement Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement qualify for liability accounting treatment.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has reviewed other recent accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the Company or no material effect is expected on the financial statement as a result of future adoption.
Note 3 - Initial Public Offering
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 10,000,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Public Share, and one redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase three quarters of one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 7).
Note 4 - Private Placement Warrants
On October 19, 2021, simultaneously with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the issuance and sale of 7,133,333 Private Placements Warrants in a private placement transaction at a price of $0.75 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $5,350,000. Each whole Private Placement Warrant will be exercisable to purchase three quarters of one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants will be added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law), and the Private Placement Warrants and all underlying securities will be worthless.
Note 5 - Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
In February 2021, our Sponsor paid an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.009 per share, in consideration of 2,156,250 shares of Common Stock to cover certain expenses of the Company (the “Founder Shares”). In June 2021, we effected a
1.3333-for-1.0
stock split of our Common Stock, resulting in our Sponsor owning an aggregate of 2,875,000 Founder Shares. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 375,000 shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor would collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (assuming the Sponsor did not purchase any Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering). The over-allotment was not exercised and such shares were forfeited.
The Sponsor agreed that it will not transfer, assign or sell any Founder Shares until (1) with respect to 50% of the shares, the earlier of six months after the date of the consummation of our Business Combination and the date on which the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any
30-trading
day period commencing after our Business Combination and (2) with respect to the remaining 50% of the shares, six months after the date of the consummation of our Business Combination, or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to our Business Combination, the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property.
Related Party Loans
On January 25, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor (the “Unsecured Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company borrowed up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Unsecured Promissory Note was
non-interest
bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2021 or (ii) the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The Unsecured Promissory Note was repaid as of March 31, 2022.
On July 18, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into a non-interest bearing loan agreement whereby the Company issued a promissory note (the “Note”) to the Sponsor pursuant to which the Company may borrow up
to $1,500,000 in
cash from time to time to fund working capital requirements, including with respect to the funding of Monthly Extension Options. The
current principal amount
of the Note is payable on the earlier of (a) the consummation of
a
Business Combination and (b) the date of the liquidation of the Company. If a Business Combination is not consummated, this Note will be repaid solely to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of the Trust Account and all other amounts will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the amount outstanding under the Note
was $152,000 and $0
respectively, as reflected on the Company’s balance sheet included herein under the caption ‘Note Payable-related party’.
 
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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, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company may repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. On January 18, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into a loan agreement whereby the Company issued a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) to the Sponsor pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $1,500,000 in cash from time to time to fund working capital requirements, including with respect to the funding of Monthly Extension Options, and which may be treated, at the Sponsor’s election, as a Working Capital Loan. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $0.75 per warrant. The option (“Working Capital Loan Option”) to convert the working capital loans into warrants qualifies as an embedded derivative under ASC 815 and is required to be recognized at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in Company’s statements of operations each reporting period until the loan is repaid or converted. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the fair value of the Working Capital Loan Option was $0 and the Working Capital Loan is held at cost of $215,000 and $0 respectively
, as reflected on the Company’s balance sheet included herein under the caption ‘Convertible Note Payable- related party’.
 
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Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with the Company’s Initial Public Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, except short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The registration rights agreement does not contain liquidated damages or other cash settlement provisions resulting from delays in registering the Company’s securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a
45-day
option from the date of the closing of the Company’s Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The option was not exercised during such
45-day
period and expired.
The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $2,000,000 in the aggregate at the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, the underwriters are entitled to a deferred underwriting commissions of $0.35 per Unit, or $3,500,000 from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely if the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Excise tax payable:
The
Company held a Special Meeting of shareholders on December 22, 2022, at which holders of 8,980,535 shares of Common Stock of the Company exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at an approximate redemption price of $10.24 per share, resulting in an aggregate payment due to such redeeming holders of approximately $92,009,330
 (the “December 2022 Redemptions”).
On December 22, 2022,
the Company
 
issued a withdrawal instruction to the trustee of our Trust Account to redeem such aggregate amount in full in connection with the payment to such redeeming holders. However,
the Company was
informed by the trustee of our Trust Account that as of December 31, 2022, only $57,810,572 had been withdrawn in connection with such payments, and that the balance of $34,198,758 had been withdrawn and paid to the balance of the redeeming shareholders in January 2023.
Additionally, at the Special Meeting of shareholders held on July 12, 2023, the Company has been advised that holders of 381,144 shares of Common Stock of the Company exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at an approximate price of $10.50 per share, for an aggregate payment of approximately $4,002,722. The Company has recorded excise tax liability of $40,027 in connection with
such
redemption. As a result, and in connection with a potential excise tax on share repurchases imposed by the IR Act, we have recorded a liability entitled “Common stock redemption payable” on our condensed balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 (and a zero balance for such liability as of September 30, 2023 as a result of the completion of the redemption repayments in January 2023), and a current liability entitled “Excise tax liability accrued for common stock with redemptions” of $382,015 (including $341,988 pertaining to December 2022
Redemptions
) on our condensed statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The referenced current liability does not impact the condensed statements of operations during the referenced period and is offset against additional
paid-in
capital or accumulated deficit if additional
paid-in
capital is not available. Additionally, this excise tax liability may be offset by future share issuances within the same fiscal year as the liability was recorded, which will be evaluated and adjusted in the period in which the issuances, if any, occur. Should the Company liquidate prior to December 31, 2023, the excise tax liability will also not be due. As the Company has previously disclosed, the Company will not use funds in trust in connection with the payment of any excise tax liabilities imposed by the IR Act.
Note 7 - Stockholders’ Deficit
Common Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 2,500,000 (excluding 638,321 and 1,019,465 shares of Common Stock subject to possible redemption) shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.
Preferred Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Public Warrants - Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (b) one year from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue shares upon exercise of a warrant unless shares issuable upon such warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of a Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of a Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.
 
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Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Public Warrants:
 
   
in whole and not in part;
 
   
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
 
   
at any time after the warrants become exercisable;
 
   
upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
 
   
if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Public Shares equals or exceeds $16.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a
30-trading
day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise its redemption right if the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described below, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuance of Common Stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 10,000,000 of Public Warrants outstanding.
Note 8 - Warrant Liabilities
Private Placement Warrants - The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants are not transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants are exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and be
non-redeemable
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 the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of Common Stock at a price below their respective exercise prices. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
In addition, if the Company issues additional shares of Common Stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of a Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.50 per share of Common Stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors, and in the case of any such issuance to the Initial Stockholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by them prior to such issuance), (x) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of a Business Combination on the date of the consummation of a Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (y) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s Common Stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.50 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of (i) the Market Value or (ii) the price at which the Company issues the additional shares of Common Stock or equity-linked securities.
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 7,133,333 of Private Placement Warrants outstanding.
 
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Note 9 - Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in a mutual fund invested in U.S. Treasury Securities. All of the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities.
The following table presents information about the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.
 
September 30, 2023    Level      Quoted
Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Marketable Securities
     1      $ 6,860,609        —         —   
Warrant Liability-Private Placement Warrants
     3        —         —       $ 428,000  
 
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December 31, 2022    Level      Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Marketable Securities
     1      $ 44,688,320        —         —   
Warrant Liability-Private Placement Warrants
     3        —         —       $ 356,666  
The Company utilizes a Monte Carlo simulation model to value the warrants at each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized in the statement of operations. The estimated fair value of the warrant liability is determined using Level 3 inputs. Inherent in a Monte Carlo pricing model are assumptions related to expected share-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company estimates the volatility of its Common Stock based on industry historical volatility that matches the expected remaining life of the warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury
zero-coupon
yield curve on the grant date for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the warrants. The expected life of the warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates to remain at zero.
The following table provides quantitative information regarding Level 3 fair value measurements at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
 

 
  
September 30,
2023
 
 
December 31,
2022
 
Stock Price
   $ 10.73     $ 10.22  
Exercise Price
   $ 11.50     $ 11.50  
Term (years)
     1.32       2.91  
Volatility
     1.2     0.20
Risk Free Rate
     5.32     4.24
Dividend Yield
     0.00     0.00
The following table presents the changes in the fair value of Level 3 warrant liabilities:
 
     Private
Placement
Warrants
 
Fair value as of December 31, 2022
   $ 356,666  
Change in fair value
     71,334  
    
 
 
 
Fair value as of March 31, 2023
     428,000  
    
 
 
 
Change in fair value
     (142,667
    
 
 
 
Fair value as of June 30, 2023
   $ 285,533  
    
 
 
 
Change in fair value
     142,667  
    
 
 
 
Fair value as of September 30, 2023
   $ 428,000  
Note 10 - Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there have been no events that have occurred that would require adjustments to the disclosures of the financial statements.
 
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On October 16, 2023, the Company notified the trustee of the Company’s Trust Account that it was exercising a Monthly Extension Option, extending the time available to the Company to consummate a Business Combination, from October 19, 2023 to November 19, 2023, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Company’s Trust Agreement. The Fourth Extension is the fourth of up to six (6) one-month Extensions permitted under the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Trust Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Trust Agreement, on October 19, 2023, with respect to the exercise of the Fourth Extension, the Company deposited $31,916 into the Company’s Trust Account in connection with the exercise of the Fourth Extension. Such deposit with respect to the Fourth Extension was made using funds held outside of the Company’s Trust Account and available to the Company to fund working capital requirements. As of October 20, 2023 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, inclusive of the deposit of $31,916 into the Trust Account in connection with the exercise of the Fourth Extension as described above), the Trust Account held approximately $6,892,525.
 
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

References in this report (this “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Achari Sponsor Holdings I LLC. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward- looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or

revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview

Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I was incorporated in Delaware on January 25, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business transaction with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (a “Business Combination”).

We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.

Results of Operations

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any operating revenues to date. Our only activities from inception through September 30, 2023 were organizational activities and those necessary to prepare and complete the Initial Public Offering, described below, and since the Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering placed in the Trust Account. We have incurred, and expect that we will continue to incur, increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in connection with searching for, and completing, a Business Combination.

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $688,427, which primarily consists of operating expenses of $581,054, accrual of Delaware franchise taxes of $50,000, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $142,667, income tax expense of $9,383 and offset by interest and dividend income of $94,677. Operating expenses includes legal and professional charges of $433,716 mainly pertaining to De-spac related activity.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $2,179,935, which primarily consists of operating expenses of $2,257,753, accrual of Delaware franchise taxes of $150,000, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $71,334, income tax expense of $39,646 and offset by interest and dividend income of $338,798. Operating expenses includes legal and professional charges of $1,836,206 mainly pertaining to De-spac related activity.

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net income of $736,637, which primarily consists of change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $642,000, dividend income of $193,267, unrealized gain on marketable securities of $272,353 offset by operating expenses of $249,307, accrual of Delaware franchise taxes of $50,000, and income tax expense of $71,676.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net income of $1,690,424, which primarily consists of change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $1,997,334, interest and dividend income of $340,873, unrealized gain on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $272,353 offset by operating expenses of $696,460, accrual of Delaware franchise taxes of $150,000 and income tax expense of $73,676.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on October 14, 2021. On October 19, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 10,000,000 units (“Units”), each of which consisted of one warrant and one share of Common Stock (the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000 (as discussed in Note 3).

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 7,133,333 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $0.75 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Sponsor, for gross proceeds of $5,350,000 which is described in Note 4.

Offering costs for the Initial Public Offering amounted to $6,101,730, consisting of $2,000,000 of underwriting fees, $3,500,000 of deferred underwriting fees payable (which are held in the Trust Account) and $601,730 of other costs. As described in Note 1, the $3,500,000 of deferred underwriting fee payable is contingent upon the consummation of a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, $101,500,000 ($10.15 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a Trust Account.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there was $910,524 of cash used in operating activities, $38,166,509 cash provided by investing activities and $37,834,481 cash used in financing activities.

At September 30, 2023, we had cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $6,860,609. 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 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 September 30, 2023, we had cash of $18,810 outside of the Trust Account. We intend to use the 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, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.

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, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If our Sponsor makes any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $0.75 per warrant at the option of the Sponsor. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.

On July 18, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into a non-interest bearing loan agreement whereby the Company issued a promissory note (the “Note”) to the Sponsor pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $1,500,000 in cash from time to time to fund working capital requirements, including with respect to the funding of Monthly Extension Options. The current principal amount of the Note is payable on the earlier of (a) the consummation of a Business Combination and (b) the date of the liquidation of the Company. If a Business Combination is not consummated, this Note will be repaid solely to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of the Trust Account and all other amounts will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the amount outstanding under the Note was $152,000 and $0 respectively, as reflected on the Company’s balance sheet included herein under the caption ‘Note Payable-related party’.

On January 18, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into a loan agreement whereby the Company issued a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) to the Sponsor pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $1,500,000 in cash from time to time to fund working capital requirements, including with respect to the funding of Monthly Extension Options, and which may be treated, at the Sponsor’s election, as a Working Capital Loan. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $0.75 per warrant. The option (“Working Capital Loan Option”) to convert the Working Capital Loans into warrants qualifies as an embedded derivative under ASC 815 and is required to be recognized at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in Company’s statements of operations each reporting period until the loan is repaid or converted. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the fair value of the Working Capital Loan Option was $0 and the Working Capital Loan is held at cost of $215,000 and $0 respectively, as reflected on the Company’s balance sheet included herein under the caption ‘Convertible Note Payable-related party’.

On December 22, 2022, at a Special Meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the Company’s shareholders approved (i) the Charter Amendment Proposal, an amendment to the Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which amended an existing option included in the Company’s second amended certificate of incorporation, and which had provided the Company the ability to extend the deadline by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination by up to three months, or from January 19, 2023 to April 19, 2023, to instead provide for an extension to consummate a Business Combination by up to six months, or from January 19, 2023 to July 19, 2023 and (ii) the Trust Amendment Proposal, an amendment to the Company’s Investment

 

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Management Trust Agreement to provide that the Company may extend the time period to complete a Business Combination up to and until July 19, 2023, on a monthly basis, by, at the Company’s option, depositing into the Company’s Trust Account the lesser of (x) $100,000 and (y) $0.05 for each share of the Company’s Common Stock which remains outstanding as of the date of such monthly deposit. The Monthly Extension Option is exercisable by the Company in six single-month increments.

On July 12, 2023, at a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the Company’s shareholders approved (i) an amendment to the Company’s fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which amended an option included in the Company’s then-existing amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and which provided the Company the ability to extend the deadline by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination by up to six months, or from January 19, 2023 to July 19, 2023, to instead provide for an extension to consummate a Business Combination by up to an additional six months, or from July 19, 2023 to January 19, 2024, and (ii) an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Investment Management Trust Agreement to provide that the Company may extend the time period to complete a Business Combination up to and until January 19, 2024 on a monthly basis, at the Company’s option, by depositing into the Company’s Trust Account the lesser of (x) $100,000 and (y) $0.05 for each share of the Company’s Common Stock which remains outstanding as of the date of such monthly deposit. The Monthly Extension Option is exercisable by the Company in six single-month increments.

On July 17, 2023, our Sponsor transferred 927,600 shares of Common Stock to certain members of the Sponsor. As a result of such transfer, as of July 17, 2023, 1,572,400 shares of Common Stock were held directly by the Sponsor and 927,600 shares of Common Stock were held directly by members of the Sponsor.

On October 16, 2023, the Company notified the trustee of the Company’s Trust Account that it was exercising a Monthly Extension Option, extending the time available to the Company to consummate a Business Combination, from October 19, 2023 to November 19, 2023 (the “Fourth Extension”), pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation” or the “Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). The Fourth Extension is the fourth of up to six (6) one-month Extensions permitted under the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Trust Agreement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Trust Agreement, on October 19, 2023, with respect to the exercise of the Fourth Extension, the Company deposited $31,916 into the Company’s Trust Account in connection with the exercise of the Fourth Extension. Such deposit with respect to the Fourth Extension was made using funds held outside of the Company’s Trust Account and available to the Company to fund working capital requirements. As of October 20, 2023 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, inclusive of the deposit of $31,916 into the Trust Account in connection with the exercise of the Fourth Extension as described above), the Trust Account held approximately $6,892,525.

 

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Nasdaq Continued Listing Requirements

We have received several letters from Nasdaq regarding our compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements. Please see the risk factor entitled “Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2023 for further information.

On February 24, 2023, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C) as a result of the Company’s failure to maintain a minimum market value of publicly held shares of $15,000,000 over the previous 30 consecutive trading days. On August 7, 2023, the Company received a written notification from Nasdaq indicating that the Company had regained compliance under Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C), and accordingly, that such matter was now closed.

On April 24, 2023, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) as a result of the Company’s delay in filing its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. On April 25, 2023, the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 with the SEC and received a written notification from Nasdaq indicating that the Company had regained compliance under Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), and accordingly, that such matter was now closed.

On May 23, 2023, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) as a result of the Company’s delay in filing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. On May 26, 2023, the Company filed its Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 with the SEC and, on June 1, 2023, received a written notification from Nasdaq indicating that the Company had regained compliance under Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), and accordingly, that such matter was now closed.

On June 22, 2023, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(B) as a result of the Company’s failure to maintain 1,100,000 publicly held shares. On July 21, 2023, the Company filed a Form 8-K with the SEC disclosing, among other things, certain details regarding beneficial ownership and outstanding common stock. On August 7, 2023, the Company received a written notification from Nasdaq indicating that the Company had regained compliance under Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(B), and accordingly, that such matter was now closed.

On October 3, 2023, the Company had not regained compliance with the Market Value of Listed Securities (“MVLS”) requirement because the Company’s MVLS was below the $50,000,000 minimum MVLS requirement for the proceeding 30 consecutive trading days for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market and under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) (the “MLVS Rule”) and received a delist determination. On October 9, 2023, the Company received an additional letter from the Staff stating that on September 3, 2023, the Company reported less than the 400 total shareholders required under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(2), and this matter served as an additional basis for delisting the Securities.

The Company has requested a hearing, which is scheduled for December 7, 2023, to present to their plan of compliance. The hearing request will stay the suspension of trading of the Company’s Securities, and the Company’s Securities will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Global Market until the hearing process concludes and the Nasdaq hearings panel (the “Panel”) issues a written decision at some point after the hearing. There can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company’s request for an extension to demonstrate compliance with all applicable listing standards.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2023. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.

 

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Contractual obligations

We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities. The underwriters of our Initial Public Offering are entitled to deferred underwriting commissions of $3,500,000 in the aggregate pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement entered into in connection with our Initial Public Offering. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates applicable to other companies.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Critical accounting estimates are estimates where (a) the nature of the estimate is material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change and (b) the impact of the estimate on financial condition or operating performance is material. The Company believes these to be estimates used as inputs in the valuation of the derivative warrant liability. These estimates are the probability of a successful Business Combination by January 19, 2024, and the implied volatility of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants.

Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

We account for our Common Stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” 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, Common Stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of our balance sheets. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable Common Stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable Common Stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.

Net income (loss) per Common Stock

Net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period. At September 30, 2023, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and/or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of Common Stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.

Accounting for Warrants

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the instruments’ specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the instruments are free-standing financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of

 

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a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the instruments meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the instruments are indexed to the Company’s own common shares and whether the instrument holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, was conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent period end date while the instruments are outstanding. Management has concluded that the Public Warrants qualify for equity accounting treatment and the Private Placement Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement qualify for liability accounting treatment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has reviewed other recent accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the Company or no material effect is expected on the financial statement as a result of future adoption.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

As a smaller reporting company we are not required to make disclosures under this Item.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023. Based upon that evaluation, our officers concluded that, as of September 30, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting related to accounting and valuation for complex financial instruments.

To address these material weaknesses, management has devoted, and plans to continue to devote, significant effort and resources to the remediation and improvement of its internal control over financial reporting and to provide processes and controls over the internal communications within the company, financial advisors and independent registered public accounting firm. While we have processes to identify and appropriately apply applicable accounting requirements, we plan to enhance these processes to better evaluate our research and understanding of the nuances of the complex accounting standards that apply to our financial statements. We plan to include providing enhanced access to accounting literature, research materials and documents and increased communication among our personnel and third-party professionals with whom we consult regarding complex accounting applications. The elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time, and we can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. Other than this issue, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level and, accordingly, provided reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II-OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this Quarterly Report are any of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2023 and our other filings with the SEC. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently

 

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known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 or our other filings with the SEC.

The excise tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) may decrease the value of our securities, hinder our ability to consummate a Business Combination, and decrease the amount of funds available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of a liquidation or in connection with redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022.

On August 16, 2022, the IR Act was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.

Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any private investment in public equity (PIPE) or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination.

The Company held a Special Meeting of shareholders on December 22, 2022, at which holders of 8,980,535 shares of Common Stock of the Company exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at an approximate redemption price of $10.24 per share, resulting in an aggregate payment due to such redeeming holders of approximately $92,009,330 (the “December 2022 Redemptions”). On December 22, 2022, the Company issued a withdrawal instruction to the trustee of our Trust Account to redeem such aggregate amount in full in connection with the payment to such redeeming holders. However, the Company was informed by the trustee of our Trust Account that as of December 31, 2022, only $57,810,572 had been withdrawn in connection with such payments, and that the balance of $34,198,758 had been withdrawn and paid to the balance of the redeeming shareholders in January 2023.

Additionally, at the Special Meeting of shareholders held on July 12, 2023, holders of 381,144 shares of Common Stock of the Company exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at an approximate price of $10.50 per share, for an aggregate payment of approximately $4,002,722. The Company has recorded excise tax liability of $40,027 in connection with such redemption. As a result, and in connection with a potential excise tax on share repurchases imposed by the IR Act, we have recorded a liability entitled “Common stock redemption payable” on our condensed balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 (and a zero balance for such liability as of September 30, 2023 as a result of the completion of the redemption repayments in January 2023), and a current liability entitled “Excise tax liability accrued for common stock with redemptions” of $382,015 (including $341,988 pertaining to December 2022 Redemptions) on our condensed statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The referenced current liability does not impact the condensed statements of operations during the referenced period and is offset against additional paid-in capital or accumulated deficit if additional paid-in capital is not available. Additionally, this excise tax liability may be offset by future share issuances within the same fiscal year as the liability was recorded, which will be evaluated and adjusted in the period in which the issuances, if any, occur. Should the Company liquidate prior to December 31, 2023, the excise tax liability will also not be due. As the Company has previously disclosed, the Company will not use funds in trust in connection with the payment of any excise tax liabilities imposed by the IR Act.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

All recent unregistered sales of securities have been previously reported.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, none of our directors or officers adopted, modified or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as such terms are defined under Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

No.    Description of Exhibit
3.1    Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2023).
10.1    Second Amended and Restated Investment Management Trust Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2023).
31.1    Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*    Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*    Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS    Inline XBRL Instance Document-the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

*

These certifications are furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

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SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

      ACHARI VENTURES HOLDINGS CORP. I
Date: November 8, 2023       By:  

/s/ Vikas Desai

      Name:   Vikas Desai
      Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Director
        (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: November 8, 2023       By:  

/s/ Mitchell Hara

      Name:   Mitchell Hara
      Title:   Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)