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Aeries Technology, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

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 quarter 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 number: 001-40920

 

 

 

Aeries Technology, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Cayman Islands   98-1587626
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

60 Paya Lebar Road, #08-13

Paya Lebar Square

Singapore

 
409051
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(919) 228-6404

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp.

770 E Technology Way F13-16

Orem, UT 84997

(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share   AERT   The Nasdaq Stock Market
Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50   AERTW   The Nasdaq Stock Market

 

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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 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 14, 2023, there were 15,257,666 Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value and 1 Class V ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        Page
PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
     
Item 1.   Interim Financial Statements   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 Temporary Equity and Shareholders’ 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   22
         
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   27
         
Item 4.   Control and Procedures   27
         
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION    
     
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings   28
         
Item 1A.   Risk Factors   28
         
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   28
         
Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities   28
         
Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures   28
         
Item 5.   Other Information   28
         
Item 6.   Exhibits   29
         
SIGNATURES   30

 

i

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Interim Financial Statements

 

AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

           
   SEPTEMBER 30,   DECEMBER 31, 
   2023   2022 
   (Unaudited)     
ASSETS          
Cash  $8,412   $48,126 
Prepaid expenses   39,845    304,314 
Other current assets   837    8,334 
Total current assets   49,094    360,774 
Marketable securities held in Trust Account   49,992,699    234,716,046 
Total Assets  $50,041,793   $235,076,820 
           
LIABILITIES, ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION, AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $6,351,857   $676,652 
Promissory note - related party   557,810    200,000 
Accrued professional services fees   2,414,548    3,091,220 
Accrued expenses   62,267    42,267 
Total current liabilities   9,386,482    4,010,139 
Derivative warrant liabilities   1,001,640    614,040 
Deferred legal fees   -    343,437 
Total liabilities   10,388,122    4,967,616 
           
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)          
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value; 4,718,054 and 23,000,000 shares at $10.57 and $10.20 per share at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively   49,892,699    234,616,046 
           
Shareholders’ deficit          
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding   -    - 
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding (excluding 4,718,054 and 23,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)   -    - 
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding   575    575 
Additional paid-in capital   -    - 
Accumulated deficit   (10,239,603)   (4,507,417)
Total shareholders’ deficit   (10,239,028)   (4,506,842)
Total Liabilities, Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit  $50,041,793   $235,076,820 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

1

 

 

AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

                     
   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30, 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
General and administrative expenses  $1,597,474   $1,444,411   $5,344,586   $2,101,731 
Loss from operations   (1,597,474)   (1,444,411)   (5,344,586)   (2,101,731)
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities   (554,880)   (63,240)   (387,600)   10,404,000 
Gain on marketable securities, dividends and interest, held in Trust Account   630,499    957,118    4,711,256    1,121,345 
Gain on settlement of underwriting fees   -    202,458    -    202,458 
Net (loss) income  $(1,521,855)  $(348,075)  $(1,020,930)  $9,626,072 
                     
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, basic and diluted   4,718,054    23,000,000    11,615,638    23,000,000 
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption  $(0.15)  $(0.01)  $(0.06)  $0.33 
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares, basic and diluted   5,750,000    5,750,000    5,750,000    5,750,000 
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares  $(0.15)  $(0.01)  $(0.06)  $0.33 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

2

 

 

AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TEMPORARY EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

(Unaudited)

 

                                    
   Temporary Equity   Ordinary Shares   Additional       Total 
   Class A   Class B   Paid-In   Accumulated   Shareholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Deficit 
Balance as of January 1, 2023   23,000,000   $234,616,046    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(4,507,417)  $(4,506,842)
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   -    2,369,220    -    -    -    (2,369,220)   (2,369,220)
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (1,532,112)   (1,532,112)
Balance as of March 31, 2023   23,000,000   $236,985,266    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(8,408,749)  $(8,408,174)
Redemption of Class A ordinary shares   (18,281,946)   (189,434,603)   -    -    -    -    - 
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   -    1,711,537    -    -    -    (1,711,537)   (1,711,537)
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    2,033,037    2,033,037 
Balance as of June 30, 2023   4,718,054   $49,262,200    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(8,087,249)  $(8,086,674)
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   -    630,499    -    -    -    (630,499)   (630,499)
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (1,521,855)   (1,521,855)
Balance as of September 30, 2023   4,718,054   $49,892,699    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(10,239,603)  $(10,239,028)

 

And for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022

(Unaudited)

 

   Temporary Equity   Ordinary Shares   Additional       Total 
   Class A   Class B   Paid-In   Accumulated   Shareholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Deficit 
Balance as of January 1, 2022   23,000,000   $232,300,000    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(19,798,626)  $(19,798,051)
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    3,799,755    3,799,755 
Balance as of March 31, 2022   23,000,000   $232,300,000    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(15,998,871)  $(15,998,296)
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   -    85,071    -    -    -    (85,071)   (85,071)
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    6,174,392    6,174,392 
Balance as of June 30, 2022   23,000,000   $232,385,071    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(9,909,550)  $(9,908,975)
Gain on settlement of underwriting fees   -    -    -    -    -    7,847,542    7,847,542 
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   -    957,118    -    -    -    (957,118)   (957,118)
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (348,075)   (348,075)
Balance as of September 30, 2022   23,000,000   $233,342,189    5,750,000   $575   $-   $(3,367,201)  $(3,366,626)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

3

 

 

AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

             
    For The
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2023
    For The
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2022
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities          
Net (loss) income  $(1,020,930)  $9,626,072 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:          
Gain on marketable securities (net), dividends and interest, held in Trust Account   (4,711,256)   (1,121,345)
Formation and operating expenses funded by note payable through Sponsor   87,810    (6,499)
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities   387,600    (10,404,000)
Formation and operating expenses paid in exchange for Founder Shares   -    (202,458)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Prepaid and other assets   271,966    286,722 
Accounts payable   5,675,205    28,540 
Accrued expenses   (656,672)   1,383,234 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   33,723    (409,734)
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities          
Redemption of Class A ordinary shares   189,434,603    - 
Net cash provided by investing activities   189,434,603    - 
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities          
Redemption of Class A ordinary shares   (189,434,603)   - 
Proceeds from note payable and advances from related party   270,000    - 
Deferred legal fees paid   (343,437)   - 
Net cash used in financing activities   (189,508,040)   - 
           
Net decrease in cash   (39,714)   (409,734)
Cash - beginning of period   48,126    503,204 
Cash - end of period  $8,412   $93,470 
           
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:          
Remeasurement of Class A shares to redemption value  $4,711,256   $1,042,189 
Deferred underwriting fees payable  $-   $(7,847,542)
Offering costs and formation costs paid through promissory note - related party  $-   $201,962 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

4

 

 

AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 - Description of Organization, Business Operations, Liquidity, and Going Concern

 

Organization and General

 

Aeries Technology, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Cayman Islands on March 5, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company is an emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.

 

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not yet commenced operations. All activities for the period from March 5, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2023, relate to the Company’s formation, initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and search of a target for Initial Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its Initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

 

On October 22, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 units (the “Units”). The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $200,000,000, which is described in Note 3.

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company completed the private sale of 8,000,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant (the “Private Placement”), to Worldwide Webb Acquisition Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds to the Company of $8,000,000, which is described in Note 4.

 

Subsequently, on November 11, 2021, the underwriter exercised the over-allotment option in full, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional 3,000,000 units (the “Over-Allotment Units”) occurred on November 15, 2021. In connection with the over-allotment exercise, the Company issued 3,000,000 Over-Allotment Units, representing 3,000,000 Ordinary Shares and 1,500,000 public warrants at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $30,000,000.

 

Substantially concurrently with the closing of the sale of the Over-Allotment Units, the Company completed the private sale of 900,000 Private Placement Warrants (“Additional Private Placement Warrants”) to the Sponsor at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $900,000.

 

Transaction costs amounted to $21,834,402, including $8,050,000 in deferred underwriting fees, $4,600,000 in upfront underwriting fees, and $9,184,402 in other offering costs related to the Initial Public Offering. Approximately $8,306,250 of these expenses are non-cash offering costs associated with the Class B shares purchased by the anchor investors.

 

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on October 22, 2021 and underwriters’ exercise of Over-Allotment option on November 15, 2021, an amount of $232,300,000 ($10.10 per Unit) of the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering, including $8,050,000 of the underwriters’ deferred discount was placed in a U.S.-based trust account (the “Trust Account”) at Bank of America, N.A. maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds in the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes and expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the trust account will not be released until the earliest of (i) the consummation of the Initial Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account proceeds as described below. The remaining proceeds outside the Trust Account may be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses.

 

5

 

 

The Company’s memorandum and articles of association, as amended, provides that, other than the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any, none of the funds held in the Trust Account will be released until the earlier of: (i) the completion of the Initial Business Combination; (ii) the redemption of any Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, included in the Units (the “Public Shares”) being sold in the Initial Public Offering that have been properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of its obligation to redeem 100% of such Public Shares if it does not complete the Initial Business Combination within 30 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering; and (iii) the redemption of 100% of the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being sold in the Initial Public Offering if the Company is unable to complete an Initial Business Combination by April 22, 2024 (subject to the requirements of law). The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the Company’s public shareholders.

 

On March 11, 2023, the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), with WWAC Amalgamation Sub Pte. Ltd., a Singapore private company limited by shares and a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, with company registration number 202300520W (“Amalgamation Sub”), and Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd., a Singapore private company limited by shares, with company registration number 200602001D (“AARK”, together with the Company and Amalgamation Sub, collectively, the “Parties” and individually a “Party”). Aeries Technology Group Business Accelerators Private Limited, an Indian private company limited by shares (“Aeries”), is a subsidiary of AARK. AARK is wholly owned by Mr. Venu Raman Kumar (the “Sole Shareholder”). The Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were approved by the boards of directors of each of the Company, Amalgamation Sub and AARK, and by the sole shareholders of each of Amalgamation Sub and AARK. Please refer to the Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on March 20, 2023.

 

On April 14, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) and approved two proposals to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Articles”). This approval extended the liquidation date of the Company to October 22, 2023. In connection with the vote to approve these proposals, holders of 18,281,946 Class A ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.36 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of $189,434,603, leaving $48,887,722 in the Company’s trust account and 4,718,054 Class A ordinary shares remain outstanding.

 

On October 16, 2023, the Company held another extraordinary general meeting of where the shareholders approved a proposal to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and Articles to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “business combination”), (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares sold in the IPO, from 24 months from the closing of the IPO to 25 months from the closing of the IPO or such earlier date as is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to be in the best interests of the Company and to allow the Company, without another shareholder vote, by resolution of the Board, to elect to further extend the Extended Date in one-month increments up to five additional times (with each such extension being upon five days’ advance notice in writing), for a total of up to 30 months from the closing of the IPO, unless the closing of a business combination shall have occurred prior thereto. By this approval, the Company has until April 22, 2024 to consummate a business combination without approval of the Company’s shareholders. In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, holders of 938,987 Class A ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.66 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $10.0 million. As a result, approximately $40.3 million will remain in the Company’s trust account and 3,779,067 Class A ordinary shares remain outstanding as of the approval date.

 

On June 1, 2023, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with a certain investor (the “PIPE Investor”), pursuant to which, among other things, the PIPE Investor has agreed to subscribe for and purchase from the Company. The Company has agreed to issue and sell to the PIPE Investor, an aggregate of 1,033,058 newly issued Class A ordinary shares for an aggregate purchase price of $5,000,000, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the “PIPE Financing”). The Subscription Agreement contains customary conditions to closing, including the consummation of the Business

 

Combination substantially concurrently with the consummation of the PIPE Financing. As of September 30, 2023 no shares related to the PIPE Financing Agreement were issued or outstanding. Please refer to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 1, 2023 for additional information regarding the Subscription Agreement with the PIPE Investor.

 

6

 

 

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, although substantially all of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering are intended to be generally applied toward consummating an Initial Business Combination. The Initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have 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 Initial Business Combination. Furthermore, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect an Initial Business Combination.

 

The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for an Initial Business Combination, will either (i) seek shareholder approval of the Initial Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose in connection with which shareholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the Initial Business Combination, for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including interest but less taxes payable, or (ii) provide shareholders with the opportunity to sell their Public Shares to the Company by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount in cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including interest but less taxes payable. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of the Initial Business Combination or will allow shareholders to sell their Public Shares in a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require the Company to seek shareholder approval, unless a vote is required by law or under NASDAQ rules. If the Company seeks shareholder approval, it will complete its Initial Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the Initial Business Combination. However, in no event will the Company redeem its Public Shares in an amount that would cause its ordinary shares to no longer qualify for exemption from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) “penny stock” rules. In such case, the Company would not proceed with the redemption of its Public Shares and the related Initial Business Combination, and instead may search for an alternate Initial Business Combination.

 

If the Company holds a shareholder vote or there is a tender offer for shares in connection with an Initial Business Combination, a public shareholder will have the right to redeem its shares for an amount in cash equal to its pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including interest but less taxes payable. As a result, such Class A ordinary shares were recorded at redemption amount and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”

 

Pursuant to the Company’s memorandum and articles of association if the Company is unable to complete the Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, 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 and not previously released to pay the Company’s franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholder’s rights as shareholders (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 shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. The Sponsor and the Company’s independent director nominees will not be entitled to rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares (as defined below) held by them if the Company fails to complete the Initial Business Combination within 18 months of the closing of the Initial Public Offering. However, if the Sponsor or any of the Company’s directors, officers or affiliates acquires Class A ordinary shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete the Initial Business Combination within the prescribed time period.

 

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company after an Initial Business Combination, the Company’s shareholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of shares, if any, having preference over the ordinary shares. The Company’s shareholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the ordinary shares, except that the Company will provide its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, upon the completion of the Initial Business Combination, subject to the limitations described herein.

 

7

 

 

Liquidity and Going Concern Considerations

 

On a routine basis, the Company assesses going concern considerations in accordance with FASB ASC 205-40 “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern”. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had a cash balance of $8,412 and a working capital deficit of $9,337,388, and the Company has access to working capital loans from the Sponsor, which is described in Note 4, to fund working capital needs or finance transaction costs. Further, the Company’s liquidity needs are satisfied through using proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement Warrants (as described in Notes 3 and 4) that is not held in Trust Account to pay for existing accounts payable, identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Initial Business Combination.

 

If the Company’s estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence, and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to an Initial Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete an Initial Business Combination or because it becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of its public shares upon completion of an Initial Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Initial Business Combination. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after April 22, 2024. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

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.

 

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. 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 inhibit the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination.

 

8

 

 

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the balances and results for the periods presented. 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 year ending December 31, 2023 or for any future interim periods.

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 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 shareholder 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 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 election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $8,412 and $48,126 in cash and no cash equivalents, outside of the funds held in the Trust Account, as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

 

10

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company accounts for the Warrants, Forward Purchase Agreement (as defined below), and Working Capital Loan conversion option (collectively, the “Instruments”) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 under which the Instruments do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. The conversion feature within the Working Capital Loan gives the Sponsor an option to convert the loan to warrants of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares. This bifurcated feature is assessed at the end of each reporting period to conclude whether additional liability should be recorded. The Instruments are subjected to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s statement of operations. See Note 5 and 7 for further discussion of the pertinent terms of the Warrants and Forward Purchase Agreement and Note 8 for further discussion of the methodology used to determine the value of the Warrants, Forward Purchase Agreement, and Working Capital Loan conversion option.

 

Marketable Securities Held in Trust Account

 

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account of $49,992,699 and $234,716,046, respectively, were invested in money market funds.

 

Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

 

All of the Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the Units in the IPO contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In accordance with SEC and its staff’s guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of the Company require ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Therefore, all Class A ordinary shares have been classified outside of permanent equity.

 

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable ordinary shares are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit. The ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected on the condensed balance sheets as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is reconciled in the following table:

 

     
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption at December 31, 2021  $232,300,000 
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   2,316,046 
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption at December 31, 2022  $234,616,046 
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value   4,711,256 
Redemption of Class A ordinary shares   (189,434,603)
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption at September 30, 2023 (unaudited)  $49,892,699 

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution which, at times may exceed the Federal depository insurance coverage of $250,000. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

 

11

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Except for the Warrant, Forward Purchase Agreement, and Working Capital Loan Liabilities as described above, the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the condensed balance sheets.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:

 

Level 1- Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not being applied. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

 

Level 2- Valuations based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices for the assets of liabilities, or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market through correlation or other means.

 

Level 3- Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the condensed balance sheets as current or noncurrent based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

 

Offering Costs

 

Offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting and other costs incurred through the condensed balance sheet date that are directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering, the offering costs were allocated using the relative fair values of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares and its Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants. The costs allocated to warrants were recognized in other expenses and those related to the Company’s Class A ordinary shares were charged against the carrying value of Class A ordinary shares. The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1.

 

12

 

 

Net Loss Per Share of Ordinary Shares

 

Net loss per share of ordinary shares is computed by dividing Net loss by the weighted average number of shares issued and outstanding during the period. The Company has not considered the effect of their Forward Purchase Agreement, warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering, private placement to purchase Class A ordinary shares, and Working Capital Loan warrants in the calculation of diluted loss per share, since the instruments are not dilutive.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the inclusion of dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company is contingent on a future event. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares 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 periods presented.

 

The Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”). Earnings is shared pro rata between the two classes of shares as long as an Initial Business Combination is the most likely outcome. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares is excluded from income (loss) per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.

 

A reconciliation of net (loss) income per share is below:

 

                    
  For The
Three Months Ended
September 30,
2023
   For The
Three Months Ended
September 30,
2022
   For The
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2023
   For The
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022
 
Redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares                    
Numerator: Net (loss) income allocable to Redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares                    
Net (loss) income allocable to Redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares  $(685,915)  $(278,460)  $(682,886)  $7,700,858 
Denominator: Weighted Average Share Outstanding, Redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares                    
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Redeemable Class A   4,718,054    23,000,000    11,615,638    23,000,000 
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption  $(0.15)  $(0.01)  $(0.06)  $0.33 
                     
Non-Redeemable Class B Ordinary Shares                    
Numerator: Net (loss) income allocable to non-redeemable Class B Ordinary Shares                    
Net (loss) income allocable to non-redeemable Class B Ordinary Shares  $(835,940)  $(69,615)  $(338,044)  $1,925,214 
Denominator: Weighted Average Non-Redeemable Class B Ordinary Shares   5,750,000    5,750,000    5,750,000    5,750,000 
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, Class B non-redeemable ordinary shares  $(0.15)  $(0.01)  $(0.06)  $0.33 

 

13

 

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Deferred tax assets were deemed immaterial as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

FASB 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 as of September 30, 2023 and 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. There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the Government of the Cayman Islands. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s financial statement.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The Company’s management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statement.

 

Note 3 - Initial Public Offering

 

Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering and the exercise of underwriters’ Over-Allotment option, the Company sold 23,000,000 Units at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary shares and one-half of one Public Warrant. Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. On April 14, 2023, in Connection with the Meeting discussed in Note 1, holders of 18,281,946 Class A ordinary shares were redeemed, leaving 4,718,054 Class A ordinary shares remain outstanding.

 

Anchor Investors purchased an aggregate of $198.6 million of units in this offering at the offering price, and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to offer to each Anchor Investor up to such number of units and no more than 9.9% of the units in this offering per Anchor Investor. Approximately 99.3% of the units sold in this offering were purchased by the Anchor Investors.

 

Note 4 - Related Party Transactions

 

Founder Shares

 

In March 2021, our sponsor subscribed for an aggregate of 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 (“founder shares”). On September 17, 2021, our sponsor effected a surrender of 2,875,000 Class B ordinary shares to the company for no consideration, resulting in a decrease in the number of Class B ordinary shares outstanding from 8,625,000 to 5,750,000, such that the total number of founder shares would represent 20% of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding upon completion of this offering (of which 750,000 Class B ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture if the underwriters do not exercise their overallotment option). Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our sponsor, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. The per share purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of founder shares issued.

 

Ten Anchor Investors entered into Investment Agreements (the “Investment Agreements”) with the Sponsor and the Company pursuant to which they purchased 1,250,000 Founder shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, from the Sponsor for $0.005 per share. The Company considers the excess fair value of the Founder Shares issued to the anchor investors above the purchase price as offering costs and reduced the gross proceeds by this amount. The Company has valued the excess fair value over consideration of the founder shares sold to the anchor investors at $8,306,250. The excess of the fair value over consideration of the Founder Shares was determined to be an offering cost in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A and was charged against the carrying value of Class A ordinary shares upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.

 

14

 

 

Administrative Services Agreement

 

The Company entered into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which the Company will pay an affiliate of our Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month, until the earlier of the completion of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation of the trust assets, for office space, utilities, administrative and support services, up to a maximum of $160,000. The $160,000 maximum threshold was met as of February 2023, so the Company will cease paying these monthly fees in the following months. For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company expensed $0 and $30,000, respectively, in monthly administrative support services, and Company expensed $20,000 and $90,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

Promissory Note-Related Party

 

On March 5, 2021, the Sponsor issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the “Original Note”), pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Original Note was a non-interest bearing and was payable on the earlier of (i) March 15, 2022 or (ii) the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering. The Sponsor cancelled the Original Note on October 25, 2021, and issued an amended Promissory Note to the Company (the “Amended Note”). The outstanding balance of the Original Note at the time of cancellation was $180,361, which was transferred over to the Amended Note at the time of issuance. The Amended Note is a non-interest bearing note that allows the company to borrow up to an aggregate of $1,500,000.

 

The Amended Note includes a provision that allows the Sponsor to convert up to $1,500,000 of any unpaid principal on the note into warrants of the post-business combination entity at the price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability, and exercise period. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has borrowed $557,810 and $200,000 under the promissory amended note, respectively, and will become payable on the earlier of (i) April 22, 2024 or (ii) the consummation of the Initial Business Combination.

 

In addition to the promissory note, the Sponsor has agreed to pay for expenses on the Company’s behalf that are payable on demand. The Company owed $222,716 and $202,716 to the Sponsor in expenses unrelated to the Promissory Note as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $172,116 was allocated to Accounts Payable. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $50,600 and $30,600 was allocated to accrued expenses, respectively.

 

Private Placement Warrants

 

The Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,000,000 Private Placement Warrants, at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, or $8,000,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO. An additional 900,000 Private Placement Warrants were purchased upon the Underwriter’s exercise of over-allotment option in full. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one share of Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants and the sale of forward purchase units to the Sponsor were added to the proceeds from the IPO to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. The Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable. The purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Warrants (except to permitted transferees) until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination.

 

Related Party Loans

 

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 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. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. 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. To date, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.

 

15

 

 

Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

Registration Rights

 

The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, if any (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering. These holders will be entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. However, the registration rights agreement will provide that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

 

Administrative Support Agreement

 

Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on the NASDAQ, the Company agreed to pay the Sponsor or an affiliate thereof in an amount equal to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to the Company, up to a maximum of $160,000. The Company recorded an aggregate of $0 and $20,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, in general and administrative expenses in connection with the related agreement in the accompanying statement of operations. The Company ceased paying these monthly fees in February 2023, as the $160,000 threshold was met in this month.

 

The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any shareholder or warrant holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision but requires the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, the Company may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder of public warrants if holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although the Company’s ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or shares, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

The Company paid an underwriting discount of 2.0% of the per Unit offering price to the Underwriter at the closing of the Initial Public Offering, with an additional fee of 3.5% of the gross offering proceeds payable only upon the Company’s completion of its Initial Business Combination (the “Deferred Discount”). The Deferred Discount of $8,050,000 would become payable to the Underwriter from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event the Company completes its Initial Business Combination unless the Underwriter waives their right to the underwriting fees.

 

The Company granted the Underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriter exercised their over-allotment option in full on November 11, 2021, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional 3,000,000 units (the “Over-Allotment Units”) occurred on November 15, 2021. In connection with the over-allotment exercise, the Company issued 3,000,000 Over-Allotment Units, representing 3,000,000 Ordinary Shares and 1,500,000 public warrants at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $30,000,000.

 

Effective as of September 30, 2022, the underwriters from the Initial Public Offering resigned and withdrew from their role in the Business Combination and thereby waived their entitlement to the deferred underwriting fees of $8,050,000, which the Company has recorded as a gain on settlement of underwriter fees on the statements of shareholders’ deficit for the year ended December 31, 2022 for $7,847,542, which represents the original amount recorded to accumulated deficit, and the remaining balance of $202,548 representing the amount recorded to the statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. Based on this arrangement, the Company is no longer obligated to pay the underwriter if the Company merges with a Target in the future.

 

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Note 6 - Warrant Liabilities

 

The Company accounted for the 20,400,000 warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering (the 11,500,000 Public Warrants and the 8,900,000 Private Placement Warrants) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40. Such guidance provides that because the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, each warrant much be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classifies each warrant as a liability at its fair value. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such re-measurement, the warrant liability will be adjusted to fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in the Company’s condensed statement of operations.

 

Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole Warrants are exercisable. The Warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of the Initial Business Combination or 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering and will expire five years after the completion of the Initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. No fractional Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Warrants will trade.

 

The exercise price of each Warrant is $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. In addition, if we issue additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the Initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), the exercise price of the Warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the Newly Issued Price.

 

The Warrants will become exercisable on the later of:

 

30 days after the completion of the Initial Business Combination or,

 

12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering;

 

provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement).

 

The Company is not registering Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants at this time. However, the Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) business days, after the closing of the Initial Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. Notwithstanding the above, if the Company’s Class A ordinary shares is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Warrants who exercise their Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but the Company will be required to use its best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

The Warrants will expire five years after the completion of the Initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any Warrant, the Warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the Trust Account.

 

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Once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Warrants for cash (except as described herein with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

 

In whole and not in part;

 

At a price of $0.01 per Warrant;

 

Upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, referred to as the 30-day redemption period; and

 

if, and only if, the last sale price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, dividends, reorganization, recapitalizations, and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

The Company will not redeem the Warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the Warrants become redeemable by the Company, it may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

 

Except as described below, none of the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company so long as they are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their permitted transferees.

 

Once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Warrants (except as described below with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

 

in whole and not in part;

 

at a price of $0.10 per Warrant, provided that holders will be able to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of Class A ordinary shares determined in part by the redemption date and the “fair market value” of the Class A ordinary shares except as otherwise below;

 

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption; and

 

if, and only if, the last sale price of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations, and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

The “fair market value” of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares for the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of Warrants.

 

No fractional Class A ordinary shares will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the holder.

 

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Note 7 - Shareholders’ Deficit

 

Preference shares

 

The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share, 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 preference shares issued or outstanding.

 

Class A ordinary shares

 

The Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding, excluding 4,718,054 and 23,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, respectively.

 

Class B ordinary shares

 

The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.

 

Holders of the Class A ordinary shares and holders of the Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s shareholders, except as required by law or stock exchange rule; provided that only holders of the Class B ordinary shares shall have the right to vote on the election of the Company’s directors prior to the initial Business Combination.

 

The Class B founder shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities (as described herein), are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which the Class B ordinary shares will convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the sum of all Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon the completion of this offering, plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the business combination. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of the Class B ordinary shares will have the right to appoint all of our directors and may remove members of the board of directors for any reason in any general meeting held prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. On any other matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders, holders of the Class B ordinary shares and holders of the Class A ordinary shares will vote together as a single class, except as required by law and subject to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

 

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Note 8 - Fair Value Measurements

 

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 including the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques that the Company utilized to determine such fair value.

 

             
   Description    Level   Fair Value 
September 30, 2023  Marketable securities   1   $49,992,699 
December 31, 2022  Marketable securities   1   $234,716,046 

 

The following tables present information about the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, including the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques that the Company utilized to determine such fair value.

 

                    
September 30, 2023  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Liabilities:                    
Public Warrants  $564,650   $-   $-   $564,650 
Private Placement Warrants   -    436,990    -    436,990 
Total liabilities  $564,650   $436,990   $-   $1,001,640 

 

December 31, 2022  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Liabilities:                    
Public Warrants  $346,150   $-   $-   $346,150 
Private Placement Warrants   -    267,890    -    267,890 
Total liabilities  $346,150   $267,890   $-   $614,040 

 

On December 9, 2021, the Public Warrants surpassed the 52-day threshold waiting period to be publicly traded in accordance with the Prospectus filed October 21, 2021. Once publicly traded, the observable input qualifies the liability for treatment as a Level 1 liability. As such, as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company classified the Public Warrants as Level 1. The Private Warrants were valued based on the trading price of Public Warrants, which is considered to be a Level 2 fair value measurement. To estimate the value of the Private Placement Warrants, the Company used the public trading price of the Public Warrants. This value was adjusted to reflect the value of the issuer call provision of the Public Warrants, as this right is not applicable to the Private Placement Warrants unless they are sold by the initial holders. There were no transfers between fair value levels during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

 

The following table presents a summary of the changes in the fair value of Derivative Warrant Liabilities:

 

               
   Public
Warrant
Liability
   Public
Warrant
Liability
   Total 
Fair value at January 1, 2023  $346,150   $267,890   $614,040 
Change in fair value (loss)   218,500    169,100    387,600 
Fair value as of September 30, 2023  $564,650   $436,990   $1,001,640 

 

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Note 9 - Subsequent Events

 

Management has evaluated the impact of subsequent events the date the unaudited condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events, except as described below, that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

Non-Redemption Agreement

 

On October 8, 2023 and October 10, 2023, the Company and its Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements (each, a “Non-Redemption Agreement”) with certain unaffiliated third parties (each, a “Holder,” and collectively, the “Holders”) in exchange for the Holder or Holders agreeing either not to request redemption in connection with the Company’s extension or to reverse any previously submitted redemption demand in connection with the Extension with respect to an aggregate of 3,733,263 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A ordinary shares”, and such shares subject to each Non-Redemption Agreement, the “Non-Redeemed Shares”), of the Company sold in its initial public offering (the “IPO”) at the extraordinary general meeting called by the Company to, among other things, approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “business combination”), (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such business combination, and (3) redeem all of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares sold in the Company’s IPO, from 24 months from the closing of our IPO to 25 months from the closing of our IPO or such earlier date as is determined by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) to be in the best interests of the Company (such date, the “Extended Date”), and to allow the Company, without another shareholder vote, by resolution of our Board, to elect to further extend the Extended Date in one-month increments up to five additional times (with each such extension being upon five days’ advance notice in writing), for a total of up to 30 months from the closing of our IPO, unless the closing of a business combination will have occurred prior thereto (each an “Extension”).

 

Trust Agreement and Extension Amendments

 

On October 16, 2023, the Company had an extraordinary meeting and in connection with such meeting, the Company received shareholders approval to amend the Trust Agreement and extended the Company’s for additional period. In connection with the extension proposal, holders of 938,987 Class A ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.66 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $10.0 million. As a result, approximately $40.3 million will remain in the Company’s trust account and 3,779,067 Class A ordinary shares remain outstanding.

 

Registration Rights Agreement Amendment

 

On October 26, 2023, the Company, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto (the “Holders”) entered into an amendment (the “Registration Rights Agreement Amendment”) to that certain registration rights agreement, dated October 19, 2021, among the Company, the Sponsor and the Holders (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), to, among other things, amend the definition of “Founder Shares Lock-up Period” to conform to the amendment to the transfer restrictions contained in the Letter Agreement as described above under “—Letter Agreement Amendment”.

 

Subscription Agreement

 

On October 28, 2023, November 5, 2023, and November 6, 2023, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with a certain investor (the “PIPE Investor”), pursuant to which, among other things, the PIPE Investor has agreed to subscribe for and purchase Class A ordinary shares from the Company. The Subscription Agreement contains customary conditions to closing, including the consummation of the Business Combination. Refer to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 6, 2023.

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

 

On November 5, 2023 and November 6, 2023, the Company entered into amendments to the Forward Purchase Agreements (each, a “Forward Purchase Agreement Amendment”) with certain of the FPA Parties. The Forward Purchase Agreement Amendments provide that, among other things, the FPA Party will purchase certain units of shares from the Counterparty, subject to a 9.9% ownership limitation; provided that such number of additional shares that may be purchased from the Counterparty shall not exceed (x) the Maximum Number of Shares, minus (y) the Recycled Shares.

 

Non-Redemption Agreement

 

On November 3, 2023 and November 5, 2023, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into non-redemption agreements with certain investors (the “NRA Investors”), pursuant to which, among other things, the NRA Investors agreed to reverse the redemptions of up to an aggregate of 1,342,976 Class A ordinary shares of the Company. Refer to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 3, 2023 and November 6, 2023.

 

Consummation of Business Combination

 

On November 6, 2023, as contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement, the Company consummated the Business Combination, following the approval by the Company’s shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders held on November 2, 2023. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the Company adopted the Proposed Amended and Restated Articles of Association and changed its name from Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp. to Aeries Technology, Inc.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this annual report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

 

Overview

 

We are a newly incorporated blank check company, incorporated on March 5, 2021, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, shares and debt.

 

The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preference shares in a business combination:

 

may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in our IPO, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B ordinary shares resulted in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares;

 

may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if preference shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our ordinary shares;

 

could cause a change of control if a substantial number of our ordinary shares is issued, which result in the resignation or removal of our present directors and officers;

 

may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;

 

may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, ordinary shares and/or warrants; and

 

may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.

 

Similarly, if we issue debt or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:

 

default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

 

acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

 

our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;

 

our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;

 

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our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares;

 

using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

 

increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

 

limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.

 

Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events

 

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for our IPO. Following our IPO, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after our IPO. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After our IPO, we expect 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. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of our IPO.

 

Results of Operations

 

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from inception through September 30, 2023 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, described below, the Company’s search for a target business with which to complete a Business Combination and activities in connection with the proposed Transactions. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities. We are incurring 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 completing a Business Combination.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we had net loss of $1,521,855, consisting of general and administrative expenses of $1,597,474, offset by a loss from the change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities of $554,880 and an unrealized gain on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $630,499.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had net loss of $348,075 which consists of general and administrative expenses of $1,441,411, offset by and a gain from the change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities of $63,240 and by an unrealized gain on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $957,118.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we had net loss of $1,020,930, which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $5,344,586, offset by an unrealized gain on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $4,711,256, and a loss from the change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities of $387,600.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had net income of $9,626,072, which consists of general and administrative expenses of $2,101,762, offset by and a gain from the change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities of $10,404,000, gain in settlement of underwriters’ fees of $202,459, and by an unrealized gain on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $1,121,245.

 

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Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern Considerations

 

Until the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of ordinary shares by the Sponsor and loans from our Sponsor.

 

On October 22, 2021, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 shares, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $200,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 8,000,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor at a price of $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds of $8,000,000. On November 15, 2021, the underwriters exercised their overallotment option to purchase 3,000,000 ordinary shares and 1,500,000 public warrants, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $30,000,000. Also on November 15, 2021, we consummated additional sale of 900,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor at a price of $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds of $900,000.

 

Following the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, a total of $232,300,000 was placed in the Trust Account. We incurred $21,834,402 in transaction costs, including $4,600,000 of underwriting fees, $8,050,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $9,184,402 of other costs.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, cash provided in operating activities was $33,723. Net loss of $1,020,930 was offset by general and administrative expenses paid by related party of $87,810, interest earned on investment held in Trust Account of $4,711,256, changes in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities of $387,200, and changes in operating assets and liabilities, which generated $5,290,499 of cash.

 

As of September 30, 2023, we had cash of $8,412. 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, structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.

 

As of September 30, 2023, we had cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $49,992,699. We may withdraw interest to pay our income taxes, if any. We intend to use substantially all the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and excluding deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our share capital is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete a 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.

 

In order to fund working capital needs or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant unit at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

 

We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial Business Combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our Business Combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our Business Combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination.

 

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Liquidity and Going Concern Considerations

 

On a routine basis, we assess going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40 “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern”. As of September 30, 2023, we had $8,412 in our operating bank account, a working capital deficit of $9,337,388, and $49,992,699 of securities held in the Trust Account to be used for a Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem our ordinary shares in connection therewith. In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” we have determined that mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We believe that we will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity to meet our needs through the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or one year from this filing. However, there is a risk that our liquidity may not be sufficient. The Sponsor intends, but is not obligated to, provide us with Working Capital Loans to sustain operations in the event of a liquidity deficiency.

 

We have until April 22, 2024 to consummate a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by this date and an extension is not requested by the Sponsor there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Uncertainty related to consummation of a Business Combination raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should we be required to liquidate after April 22, 2024. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities to reflect a required liquidation after April 22, 2024.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

In March 2021, our sponsor subscribed for an aggregate of 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On September 17, 2021, our sponsor effected a surrender of 2,875,000 Class B ordinary shares to us the company for no consideration, resulting in a decrease in the number of Class B ordinary shares outstanding from 8,625,000 to 5,750,000, such that the total number of founder shares would represent 20% of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding upon completion of our IPO.

 

We have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which we pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial, administrative and support services, up to a maximum of $160,000. The maximum threshold of $160,000 was reached in February 2023 and the Company ceased paying monthly fees in the following months.

 

Our sponsor, directors and officers, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, directors, officers or our or any of their respective affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

 

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

 

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Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,900,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant ($8,900,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of our IPO. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in our IPO except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us (except under certain circumstances when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00); (2) they (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) they (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.

 

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into with our initial shareholders and anchor investors, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. These holders, and holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them for sale under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders have the right to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters-Registration Rights.”

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Contractual Obligations, Quarterly Results

 

As of September 30, 2023, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this report as we have conducted no operations to date.

 

JOBS Act

 

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

 

Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things: (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (2) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (3) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis); and (4) disclose certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As of September 30, 2023, we were not subject to any market or interest rate risk. Following the consummation of our Initial Public Offering, the net proceeds of our Initial Public Offering, including amounts in the Trust Account, have been invested in certain U.S. government obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in certain money market funds that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the evaluation date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weakness described below.

 

In connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2023, we identified certain errors relating to financial statement review. As part of such a process, management concluded that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed related to the review of financial statements. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during this fiscal quarter of 2023 covered by this Quarterly Report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except as stated below.

 

In light of the material weakness described above, we plan to enhance our processes of reviewing financial statements. Our plans at this time include increased communication with third-party service providers and additional procedures to ensure that the review of the Company’s financial statements have sufficient documentation to determine accuracy. 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.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risks discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results. There have been no material changes in the risk factors discussed in our annual report.

 

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

 

None.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

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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
2.1  Business Combination Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2023, by and among Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp., WWAC Amalgamation Sub Pte. Ltd. and Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2023).
    
31.1  Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-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) and 15(d)-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
     
101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels 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)

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AERIES TECHNOLOGY, INC.
     
Date: November 14, 2023   /s/ Sudhir Appukuttan Panikassery
  Name: Sudhir Appukuttan Panikassery
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director

  

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