Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023
OR
☐ 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: 001-40706
Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 98-1590107 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
PO Box 1093, Boundary Hall Cricket Square, Grand Cayman Cayman Islands |
KY1-1102 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +1 (345) 949-8066
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☒ No ☐
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of Each Class: | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered: | ||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None
As of May 22, 2023, there were shares of the Registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, shares of the Registrant’s Class F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and shares of the Registrant’s Class G common stock, par value $0.0001 per share issued and outstanding.
BLUE WHALE ACQUISITION CORP I
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Table of Contents
i
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
BLUE WHALE ACQUISITION CORP I
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 33,982 | $ | 1,737,114 | ||||
Prepaid expenses - current | 316,667 | 461,667 | ||||||
Total Current Assets | 350,649 | 2,198,781 | ||||||
Cash held in Trust Account | 230,494,413 | 229,408,110 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 230,845,062 | $ | 231,606,891 | ||||
LIABILITIES, CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Accrued expenses | $ | 774,228 | $ | 841,319 | ||||
Accrued expenses - related party | 200,000 | 170,000 | ||||||
Promissory note - related party | 156,384 | 156,384 | ||||||
Convertible note - related party - current | 1,000,000 | 2,500,000 | ||||||
Accounts payable - related party | 325,000 | 325,000 | ||||||
Total Current Liabilities | 2,455,612 | 3,992,703 | ||||||
Warrant liability | 686,226 | 632,050 | ||||||
Forward purchase agreement liability | 250,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable | 8,029,284 | 8,029,284 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | 11,421,122 | 12,904,037 | ||||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | ||||||||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption $ | par value, shares at redemption value of $10.05 and $10 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively230,494,413 | 229,408,110 | ||||||
Shareholders’ Deficit | ||||||||
Preference Shares, $ | par value; shares authorized, outstanding||||||||
Class A ordinary shares, $ | par value, shares authorized, -issued and outstanding (excluding 22,940,811 shares subject to redemption) at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively||||||||
Class F ordinary shares, $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively255 | 255 | ||||||
Class G ordinary shares, $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively509 | 509 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit | (11,071,237 | ) | (10,706,020 | ) | ||||
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | (11,070,473 | ) | (10,705,256 | ) | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES, CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFCIT | $ | 230,845,062 | $ | 231,606,891 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
1
BLUE WHALE ACQUISITION CORP I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 |
|||||||
Formation costs and other operating expenses | $ | 311,041 | $ | 559,957 | ||||
Loss from operations | (311,041 | ) | (559,957 | ) | ||||
Other Income (expense): | ||||||||
Interest income earned on cash held in trust account | 1,086,303 | |||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liability | (54,176 | ) | 3,160,249 | |||||
Change in fair value of forward purchase agreement | (150,000 | ) | ||||||
Net income | $ | 721,086 | $ | 2,450,292 | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A redeemable ordinary shares | 22,940,811 | 22,940,811 | ||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.10 | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, Class F ordinary shares non-redeemable shares | 2,548,979 | 2,548,979 | ||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class F ordinary shares, non-redeemable shares | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.10 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
2
BLUE WHALE ACQUISITION CORP I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 (UNAUDITED)
Class F Ordinary Shares |
Class G Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid in |
Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance – January 1, 2023 | 2,548,979 | $ | 255 | 5,097,958 | $ | 509 | $ | $ | (10,706,020 | ) | $ | (10,705,256 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Class A ordinary shares remeasurement to redemption value | - | - | (1,086,303 | ) | (1,086,303 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | - | - | 721,086 | 721,086 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2023 | 2,548,979 | 255 | 5,097,958 | 509 | (11,071,237 | ) | (11,070,473 | ) |
Class F Ordinary Shares |
Class G Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid in |
Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance – January 1, 2022 | 2,548,979 | $ | 255 | 5,097,958 | $ | 509 | $ | $ | (15,679,356 | ) | $ | (15,678,592 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net income | - | - | 2,450,292 | 2,450,292 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2022 | 2,548,979 | 255 | 5,097,958 | 509 | (13,229,064 | ) | (13,228,300 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
3
BLUE WHALE ACQUISITION CORP I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 (UNAUDITED)
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 |
|||||||
Cash flow from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 721,086 | $ | 2,450,292 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Interest income earned on cash held in trust account | (1,086,303 | ) | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liability | 54,176 | (3,160,249 | ) | |||||
Change in fair value of forward purchase agreement | 150,000 | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 145,000 | 207,088 | ||||||
Accrued expenses | (37,091 | ) | 193,620 | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (203,132 | ) | $ | (154,249 | ) | ||
Cash flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from convertible note - related party | 2,500,000 | |||||||
Repayment of convertible note - related party | (1,500,000 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | (1,500,000 | ) | $ | 2,500,000 | |||
Net change in cash | (1,703,132 | ) | 2,340,751 | |||||
Cash - Beginning of period | 1,737,114 | 66,156 | ||||||
Cash - End of Period | $ | 33,982 | $ | 2,406,907 | ||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption | 1,086,303 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
4
BLUE WHALE ACQUISITION CORP I
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on March 10, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity for the period March 10, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2023, related to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) and identifying a target for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 3, 2021. On August 6, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 200,000,000, which is described in Note 3. Simultaneously with the initial public offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of Private Placement Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $6,000,000. units (“Units” and, with respect to Class A ordinary shares included in the Units offered, the “Public Shares”), generating gross proceeds of $
On August 16, 2021, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities (the “underwriters”) partially exercised the over-allotment option granted to it by the Company and purchased an additional 29,408,110, received $588,162 in underwriting fees, and forfeited the remainder of the over-allotment option. The over-allotment closed on August 18, 2021. Simultaneously with the closing of the overallotment option, the Company completed the private placement of an aggregate of an additional Private Placement Warrants to the Company’s Sponsor, Blue Whale Sponsor I LLC, at a purchase price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $588,162. Over-Allotment Units, generating an aggregate of gross proceeds of $
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 6, 2021, an amount of $200,000,000 ($ per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering was placed in a Trust Account (as defined below).
Transaction costs amounted to $13,781,962 consisting of $4,588,162 of underwriting fees, $8,029,284 of deferred underwriting fees (see Note 6) and $1,164,516 of other costs.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. Nasdaq rules provide that the Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on any interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing a definitive agreement to enter a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination. Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, management has agreed that $ per Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering, including the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, will be held in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) and may or may not be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s shareholders, as described below.
5
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “public shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. In connection with a proposed Business Combination, the Company may seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against a Business Combination. The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to 15% or more of the Public Shares without the Company’s prior written consent.
The public shareholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially $ per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The per-share amount to be distributed to shareholders who redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriter (as discussed in Note 6). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants. These shares of Class A ordinary share will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
If a shareholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Certificate of Incorporation, offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
The Company’s Sponsor has agreed (a) to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5), the ordinary share included in the Private Units (the “Private Shares”) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company provides dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment; (c) not to redeem any shares (including the Founder Shares) and Private Placement Units (including underlying securities) into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or to sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination if the Company does not seek shareholder approval in connection therewith) or a vote to amend the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to shareholders’ rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the Founder Shares and Private Placement Units (including underlying securities) shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the Sponsor will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination.
The Company will have until August 6, 2023, to consummate a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any Extension Period, 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, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, 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 liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit $ .
6
The Sponsor has agreed to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares it will receive if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor or any of its respective affiliates acquire Public Shares, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, and in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Proposed Public Offering price per share ($10.00).
In order to protect the amounts held in the trust, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the day of liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). However, the Company has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, the Company cannot assure its shareholders that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Risks and Uncertainties
In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced military operations in Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. The impact of this action and related sanctions on the global 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.
Management is currently evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
7
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The information furnished in the condensed financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal, recurring adjustments), considered necessary to present fairly the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of the Company. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $230,494,413 and $229,408,110 cash held in the Trust Account, respectively; in addition, the Company held cash outside of the Trust Account of $33,982 and $1,737,114, respectively. Prior to the completion of the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s liquidity needs had been satisfied through the payment of certain offering costs of $25,000 from the Sponsor for the Founder Shares, and an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of $300,000 (see Note 5). The Company’s Sponsor has undertaken to fund working capital deficiencies of the Company and finance transaction costs in connection with an initial Business Combination of the Company by means of Company working capital loans, as defined below (see Note 5). On February 22, 2022, the Company received cash proceeds of $2,500,000 from a draw under the Working Capital Loan arrangement with the Sponsor. On March 13, 2023, the Company repaid $1,500,000 of this loan. The outstanding balance as of March 31, 2023, is $1,000,000.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with the authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.” The Company has until August 6, 2023, 24 months from the closing of the IPO, to consummate a Business Combination. It is uncertain that the Company will be able to consummate a Business Combination by the specified period. If a Business Combination is not consummated by August 6, 2023 and the Company decides not to extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution.
The Company’s evaluation of its working capital, along with, the liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern one year from the date that these financial statements are issued. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “Emerging Growth Company,” (“EGC”) 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 EGC’s including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts an EGC from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an EGC, 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 EGC nor an EGC which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
8
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant 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 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 $33,982 and $1,737,114 in cash and no cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Investments Held in Trust Account
As of March 31, 2023, substantially all assets were held in an interest-bearing account. As of December 31, 2022, substantially all of assets held in the Trust Account were held in non-interest bearing cash accounts.
Income Taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statements 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. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 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. In accordance with Cayman income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The Company accounts for its shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable shares of ordinary share (including shares of ordinary share that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. The Company’s shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at March 31, 2023, shares subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.
9
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the ordinary share reflected on the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:
Gross Proceeds | $ | 229,408,110 | ||
Less: | ||||
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants | (6,236,666 | ) | ||
Class A ordinary shares issuance costs | (13,396,055 | ) | ||
Plus: | ||||
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value | 19,632,721 | |||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption at December 31, 2022 | $ | 229,408,110 | ||
Plus: | ||||
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value | 1,086,303 | |||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption at March 31, 2023 | $ | 230,494,413 |
Offering Costs
Offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs amounting to $13,781,962 were charged to temporary equity, shareholder’s deficit or operations upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.
The transfer of the Founder Shares (see Note 5) is in the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Under ASC 718, share-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The Founders Shares were granted subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Share-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination is considered probable (i.e., upon occurrence of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of Founders Shares that ultimately vest multiplied by the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founders Shares. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company determined that a Business Combination is not considered probable, and, therefore, no share-based compensation expense has been recognized.
The fair value at the grant date of the shares transferred to the Company’s directors was $ or $ per share. Upon consummation of an initial business combination, the Company will recognize $ in compensation expense.
Basic income per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income applicable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Consistent with ASC Topic 480, ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, as well as their pro rata share of undistributed trust earnings consistent with the two-class method, have been excluded from the calculation of income per ordinary share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022. Such shares, if redeemed, only participate in their pro rata share of trust earnings, Class G shares do not participate in the distribution of earnings, thus they are not included in the EPS calculation show below. Diluted income per share includes the incremental number of ordinary shares to be issued to settle warrants, as calculated using the treasury method. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022, the Company did not have any dilutive warrants, securities or other contracts that could potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares. As a result, diluted income per ordinary share is the same as basic income per ordinary share for all periods presented.
10
A reconciliation of net income per ordinary share is as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 |
|||||||||||||||
Class A | Class F | Class A | Class F | |||||||||||||
EPS | ||||||||||||||||
Numerator: Net Income | ||||||||||||||||
Allocation of net income | $ | 648,977 | $ | 72,109 | $ | 2,205,263 | $ | 245,029 | ||||||||
Denominator: Weighted Average share | ||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 22,940,811 | 2,548,979 | 22,940,811 | 2,548,979 | ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 |
Concentration 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 Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
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 balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In August 2020, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020- 06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
11
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold Units at a purchase price of $ per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one Class A ordinary share, $ par value, and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share (see Note 9).
On August 16, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 29,408,110, received $588,162 in underwriting fees in cash, and forfeited the remainder of the over-allotment option. The over-allotment closed on August 18, 2021. Over-Allotment Units, generating an aggregate of gross proceeds of $
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously with the initial public offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 3,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $6,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the overallotment option, the Company completed the private sale of an additional 294,081 Private Placement Warrants to the Company’s Sponsor, Blue Whale Sponsor I LLC, at a purchase price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $588,162.
Each Private Placement Warrant is identical to the warrants offered in the Initial Public Offering, except there will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to Private Placement Warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not consummate a Business Combination within the Combination Period.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On March 11, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 25,000. The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part. Such shares have been recapitalized into Class F ordinary shares and Class G ordinary shares (which we respectively refer to as “Class F founder shares” and “Class G founder shares,” and collectively refer to as “founder shares” as further described herein). Pursuant to a re-organization of the Company’s share capital effective July 5, 2021, the Class B ordinary shares have been cancelled and all of the shares presently issued and outstanding are Class F ordinary shares and Class G ordinary shares. (See Note 8). shares of Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $
On August 16, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option resulting in the issuance of an additional Class F ordinary shares and Class G ordinary shares to the Sponsor. On September 17, 2021, the remaining balance of the over-allotment option expired unexercised and was therefore forfeited.
The Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares until two years after the completion of a Business Combination.
Promissory Note — Related Party
On March 11, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). The Note is non-interest bearing and is payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2022 or (ii) the date the Company completes its initial Business Combination. On March 13, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor amended and restated the Note (the “Amended Note”). The Amended Note is non-interest bearing and is payable on the earlier of (i) the date by which the Company is required to complete an initial Business Combination pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company and (ii) the date the Company completes its initial Business Combination. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has $156,384 outstanding on the Note, which is classified as current on our Balance Sheets.
12
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor, an affiliate of the Sponsor, or the Company’s officers and directors may loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. On February 16, 2022, the Sponsor confirmed to the Company that it will provide any such Working Capital Loans for at least the next twelve months, pursuant to a promissory note. The notes would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $2,500,000 of notes may be converted upon consummation of a Business Combination into warrants at a price of $2.00 per warrant. The warrants will be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans.
On February 16, 2022, the Company entered into a promissory note with the Sponsor pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 which the Company drew down in full on February 22, 2022. This note is non-interest bearing and is due on the earlier of the day by which the Company must complete a Business Combination, and the effective date of a Business Combination. The outstanding balance under this loan amounted to $1,000,000 and $2,500,000 as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Management determined that there was an embedded conversion feature related to the note that would require bifurcation and be classified as a liability. However, based on a third-party valuation, the amount was determined to be de minimis and therefore the Company did not record a conversion option liability in the financial statements as of March 31, 2023.
In addition, our Sponsor, officers and directors, or our 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, executive officers or directors, or our affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. There was $325,000 due to related party on March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Administrative Support Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, whereby, commencing on August 6, 2021, through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, the Company may reimburse an affiliate of the Sponsor up to an amount of $10,000 per month for office space and secretarial and administrative support. The Company considered this agreement under the guidance of ASC 842, Leases, and determined that this agreement did not meet the definitions of a lease. The Company had accrued $200,000 and $170,000 of these fees as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company has incurred $30,000 in administrative support fees as of March 31, 2023 and 2022.
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrant, the Units, and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and in each case holders of their component securities, as applicable) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering, requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to our Class A ordinary shares). The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
13
Underwriting Agreement
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of 2.00% of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $4,488,162. In addition, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred fee of three and half percent (3.50%) of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $8,029,284. On August 16, 2021, the Underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional Over-Allotment Units, generating an aggregate of gross proceeds of $29,408,110, incurred $588,162 in cash underwriting fees and $1,029,284 in deferred underwriters’ fees, and forfeited the remainder of the option, which over-allotment closed on August 18, 2021. The deferred fee was placed in the Trust Account and will be paid in cash upon the closing of a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Forward Purchase Agreement
The Company entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement (“FPA”) that will provide for the purchase of an aggregate of 5,000,000 units for an aggregate purchase price of up to $50,000,000, or $10.00 per unit, in a private placement to close substantially concurrently with the closing of our initial business combination. The forward purchase investor will determine in its sole discretion the specific number of forward purchase units it will purchase, if any, pursuant to the forward purchase agreement. Each forward purchase unit will consist of one Class A ordinary share and one- fourth of one redeemable warrant. The terms of the forward purchase units will generally be identical to the terms of the units being issued in this offering, except that the securities underlying the forward purchase units will be subject to certain registration rights.
Consistent with the warrant liability discussed in Note 9, the Company will account for the FPA in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40. Such guidance provides that because the FPA units do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, each unit must be recorded as an asset or a liability. The Company will classify the FPA at its fair value. The FPA is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such remeasurement, the FPA will be adjusted to fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in the Company’s statement of operations. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 the fair value of the FPA was a liability of $250,000, respectively.
NOTE 7. CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION
The Company’s Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of future events. The Company is authorized to issue Holders of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 there were Class A ordinary shares outstanding which were subject to possible redemption and are classified outside of permanent equity in the balance sheets. shares of Class A ordinary shares with a par value $ per share.
NOTE 8. SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
Preferred Shares — The Company is authorized to issue shares of $ par value preferred share. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no preferred share issued or outstanding.
Founder shares — The Company is authorized to issue up to class F ordinary shares, $ par value and class G ordinary shares, $ par value, out of which we have issued Class F ordinary shares and Class G ordinary shares. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 2,548,979 and 5,097,958 Class F and Class G ordinary shares issued and outstanding, respectively. (See Note 5)
Shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held (on an as-converted to Class A ordinary share basis) on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Prior to our initial Business Combination, only holders of our Class F ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors. Holders of our Class G ordinary shares and public shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time.
14
The Class F founder shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares on the first business day following the closing of our initial business combination, at a ratio such that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class F founder shares will equal, in the aggregate on an as converted basis, 10% of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon completion of this offering (including any over-allotment shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option and without giving effect to any redemptions of any public shares in connection with the initial business combination), plus (ii) the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion of the Class F founder shares, plus (iii) unless waived by our Sponsor, the total number of Class A ordinary shares or equity- linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial business combination, including any forward purchase shares, and excluding (x) any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and (y) any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the Class G founder shares. Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class F ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors.
The Class G founder shares will convert into Class A ordinary shares after our initial business combination only to the extent certain triggering events occur prior to the applicable anniversary of our initial business combination including three triggering events based on our shares trading at $15.00, $20.00 and $25.00 per share following the closing of our initial business combination and also upon specified strategic transactions, in each case, as described in the Company’s final prospectus filed with the SEC on August 4, 2021 (the “Prospectus”). The Class G founder shares will be convertible into Class A ordinary shares at a ratio such that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all founder shares (including both Class F founder shares and Class G founder shares) would equal, in the aggregate on an as-converted basis, 15%, 20% and 25% (based on varying triggers as discussed in more detail in the Prospectus) of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon completion of this offering (including any over-allotment shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option and without giving effect to any redemptions of any public shares in connection with the initial business combination), plus (ii) the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion of the Class F founder shares and Class G founder shares, plus (iii) unless waived by our Sponsor, the total number of Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial business combination, including any forward purchase shares and excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination.
The Class G ordinary shares were granted subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination), as well as various market conditions (i.e., share price targets after consummation of the Business Combination). The various market conditions are considered in determining the grant date fair value of these instruments using Monte Carlo simulation. Compensation expense related to the Class G ordinary shares is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence.
NOTE 9. WARRANT LIABILITIES
The Company accounts for 9,029,283 warrants—5,735,202 Public Warrants and the 3,294,081 Private Placement Warrants—issued in connection with the Proposed Public Offering 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 must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company will classify each warrant as a liability at its fair value. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such remeasurement, the warrant liability will be adjusted to fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in the Company’s statement of operations.
Warrants — Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the consummation of a Business Combination. The Public Warrants will expire five years from the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
15
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Public Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration. No Public Warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their Public Warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available.
The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of a Business Combination, it will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement registering the issuance, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the shares of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of a Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $ . Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Warrants for redemption:
● | in whole and not in part; |
● | at a price of $ per Public Warrant; |
● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder and |
● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
The Company will not redeem the warrants as described above unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then 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 us, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if the Company is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00. Once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Warrants for redemption:
● | in whole and not in part; |
● | at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A ordinary shares; |
● | if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant); and |
● | if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant), the private placement warrants must also concurrently be called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above. |
16
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise its redemption right if the issuance of shares of ordinary shares upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.
The exercise price and number of shares of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Public Warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless. If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of shares of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
In addition, if (x) the Company issues, other than in connection with its forward purchase agreement, additional ordinary shares or equity- linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $ per share of Class A ordinary shares (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the 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”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Company’s initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of such initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the greater of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
The Private Placement Warrants will be identical to the Public Warrants included in the Units being sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants will and the shares of ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:
● | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; | |
● | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and | |
● | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
17
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2023 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Warrant Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Public Warrants | $ | 435,875 | $ | $ | $ | 435,875 | ||||||||||
Private Placement Warrants | 250,350 | 250,350 | ||||||||||||||
Total Warrant Liabilities | $ | 435,875 | $ | $ | 250,350 | $ | 686,225 | |||||||||
FPA liability | $ | $ | $ | 250,000 | $ | 250,000 |
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2022, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Warrant Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Public Warrants | $ | 401,464 | $ | $ | $ | 401,464 | ||||||||||
Private Placement Warrants | $ | 230,586 | 230,586 | |||||||||||||
Total Warrant Liabilities: | $ | 401,464 | $ | $ | 230,586 | $ | 632,050 | |||||||||
FPA liability | $ | $ | $ | 250,000 | $ | 250,000 |
The Warrants liabilities and FPA were accounted for in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented within warrant liabilities and FPA on our balance sheet. The warrant liabilities and FPA are measured at fair value at inception and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within change in fair value of warrant liabilities and change in fair value of FPA, respectively, in the statement of operations.
Level 1 instruments include the Public Warrants. The Company uses inputs such as actual trade data, benchmark yields, quoted market prices from dealers or brokers, and other similar sources to determine the fair value of its investments. The Public Warrants for periods where no observable traded price was available are valued using a barrier option simulation. For the period ended March 31, 2023 (the periods subsequent to the detachment of the Public Warrants from the Units), the Public Warrant quoted market price was used as the fair value as of each relevant date.
Initial Measurement
Warrants
The Warrants were accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented within warrant liabilities on our balance sheets. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented in the statements of operations.
The Private Placement Warrants were valued using a Modified Black Scholes Option Pricing Model, which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement. The Modified Black Scholes model’s primary unobservable input utilized in determining the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants is the expected volatility of the ordinary shares. The expected volatility as of the IPO date was derived from observable public warrant pricing on comparable ‘blank-check’ companies without an identified target. The expected volatility as of subsequent valuation dates was implied from the Company’s own public warrant pricing.
18
March 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
Risk-free interest rate | % | % | ||||||
Expected term (years) | ||||||||
Expected Volatility | % | % | ||||||
Exercise Price | $ | $ | ||||||
Share Price | $ | $ |
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants, a Level 3 liability, measured on a recurring basis.
Fair Value as of August 6, 2021 | $ | 3,524,667 | ||
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions(1) | (724,698 | ) | ||
Fair Value as of December 31, 2021 | $ | 2,799,969 | ||
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions(1) | (2,569,383 | ) | ||
Fair Value as of December 31, 2022 | $ | 230,586 | ||
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions(1) | 19,764 | |||
Fair Value as of March 31, 2023 | $ | 250,350 |
(1) | Represents the non-cash gain on the change in valuation of the Private Placement Warrants and is included in Gain on change in fair value of warrant liability in the statement of operations. |
FPA
The FPA were valued using a discounted cash flows method, which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement. Under the discounted cash flow method utilized, the aggregate commitment of $200 million pursuant to the FPA is discounted to present value and compared to the fair value of the ordinary shares and warrants to be issued pursuant to the FPA. The fair value of the ordinary shares and warrants to be issued under the FPA are based on the public trading price of the Units issued in the Company’s IPO. The excess (liability) or deficit (asset) of the fair value of the ordinary shares and warrants to be issued compared to the $50 million fixed commitment is then reduced to account for the probability of consummation of the Business Combination. The primary unobservable input utilized in determining the fair value of the FPA is the probability of consummation of the Business Combination. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the probability assigned to the consummation of the Business Combination was 40% and 60%, respectively, which was determined based on observed success rates of business combinations for special purpose acquisition companies.
Fair Value as of August 6, 2021 – Liability | $ | 100,000 | ||
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions(1) | (250,000 | ) | ||
Fair Value as of December 31, 2021 – (Asset) | $ | (150,000 | ) | |
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions(1) | 400,000 | |||
Fair Value as of December 31, 2022 – Liability | $ | 250,000 | ||
Change in valuation inputs or other assumptions(1) | ||||
Fair Value as of March 31, 2023 – Liability | $ | 250,000 |
(1) | Represents the non-cash gain on the change in valuation of the FPA (asset) and liability and is included in change in fair value of FPA in the statement of income. |
NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management of the Company evaluated events that have occurred after the balance sheet date of March 31, 2023 through the date these financial statements were issued. Based upon the review, other than below, management did not identify any recognized or non-recognized subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
On May 16, 2023, pursuant to a promissory note between the Sponsor and the Company signed on February 16, 2022, the Company drew $200,000 on the Working Capital Loan with the Sponsor. The Working Capital Loan is non-interest bearing and due on the earlier of the date by which the Company has to complete a Business Combination, and the effective date of a Business Combination.
19
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
References to “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company” are to Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I, except where the context requires otherwise. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” are to Blue Whale Sponsor I LLC. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our condensed financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and variations thereof and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 24, 2023. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on March 10, 2021, for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar Business Combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”). While we may pursue an initial Business Combination target in any industry or geographic location, we intend to focus our search for a target business operating in the media, entertainment and technology industries. We have not selected any Business Combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of our Initial Public Offering (defined below) and the private placement of the Private Placement Warrants (defined below), our shares, debt or a combination of cash, equity and debt. We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.
Our registration statement for our initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) was declared effective on August 3, 2021. On August 6, 2021, we consummated our Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $200,000,000. On August 16, 2021 the underwriters in the Initial Public Offering partially exercised their over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment”) and purchased an additional 2,940,811 Units, generating gross proceeds of $29,408,110. Each Unit consisted of one Public Share and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Public Share for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of 3,000,000 Warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants,” and together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”) at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $6,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the partial exercise of the Over-Allotment, the Company consummated an additional private placement (the “Additional Private Placement”) of 294,081 additional Private Placement Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $588,162.
20
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 6, 2021, and the closing of the Over-Allotment on August 18, 2021, $229,408,110 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Over-Allotment and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a non-interest bearing trust account (the “Trust Account”)with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. The proceeds held in the Trust Account are invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Assuming an interest rate of 0.10% per year, the Trust Account may generate approximately $229,408 of interest annually; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount or that we will invest in U.S. government treasury obligations. We will not be permitted to withdraw any of the principal or interest held in the Trust Account except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any. The funds held in the Trust Account will not otherwise be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of: (1) our completion of an initial Business Combination; (2) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our Public Shares if we have not completed an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, subject to applicable law.
We must consummate our initial Business Combination with one or more operating businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust and taxes payable) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial Business Combination. However, we will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. There is no assurance that we will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully.
We have not commenced any operations. All activity for the for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and the Initial Public Offering, and, since the closing of our Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective initial Business Combination. We may not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will recognize changes in the fair value of Warrant liability as other income (expense).
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of the initial Business Combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) without a shareholder vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, subject to the limitations.
We have 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering to complete the initial Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). However, if we are unable to complete our initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of our Initial Public Offering or during any extended time that we have to consummate a Business Combination beyond 24 months (an “Extension Period”), we 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, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, 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 liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distribution with respect to our Warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial Business Combination within the 24-month time period or during any Extension Period.
21
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On August 6, 2021 the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 units, generating gross proceeds of $200,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated a private placement of 3,000,000 Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant to its Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $6,000,000.
On August 16, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 2,940,811 Units, generating an aggregate of gross proceeds of $29,408,110, incurred $588,162 in cash underwriting fees, and forfeited the remainder of the option, which over-allotment closed on August 18, 2021. Simultaneously with the closing of the exercise of the over-allotment option, the Company completed the private sale of an aggregate of 294,081 Private Warrants to the Company’s Sponsor, at a purchase price of $2.00 per Private Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $588,162.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 6, 2021 and the closing of the Over-Allotment on August 18, 2021, an amount of $229,408,110 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Over-Allotment and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the Trust Account. Transaction costs amounted to $13,781,962 consisting of $4,588,162 of underwriting fees, $8,029,284 of deferred underwriting fees and $1,164,516 of other costs.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash of approximately $230,494,413 held in the Trust Account. We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account and the proceeds from the sale of the forward purchase shares as described below to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our shares or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the post-Business Combination entity, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had cash of $33,982 and $1,737,114 outside of the Trust Account, respectively. Subsequent to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement, the Company’s liquidity needs have been satisfied from the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. During the period ended March 31, 2023, the Company has sustained negative cash flows from operations and expects to continue to incur negative cash flows from operations for at least the next twelve months from the filing of this report. As of March 31, 2023, these factors raised substantial doubts about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s Sponsor has undertaken to fund working capital deficiencies of the Company and finance transaction costs in connection with an initial Business Combination of the Company by means of Company working capital loans, as defined below. We intend to use the funds held outside of the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, properties, or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representative or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor, or our officers and directors may provide us working capital loans (“Working Capital Loans”). On February 16, 2022, the Sponsor confirmed to the Company that it will provide any such Working Capital Loans for at least the next twelve months. On February 22, 2022, the Company drew down and received cash proceeds of $2.5 million. The outstanding balance under this loan is $1 million as of March 31, 2023. If we complete a Business Combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. 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 $2,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $2.00 per warrant, at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with the authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.” The Company has until August 6, 2023, 24 months from the closing of the IPO, to consummate a Business Combination. It is uncertain that the Company will be able to consummate a Business Combination by the specified period. If a Business Combination is not consummated by August 6, 2023 and the Company decides not to extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution.
22
The Company’s date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern one year from the date that the condensed financial statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are issued. These condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Results of Operations
Our only activities from inception through March 31, 2023 were those related to our formation, the preparation for our Initial Public Offering and, since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective initial Business Combination. We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any operating revenues to date. We will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial Business Combination, at the earliest. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (including for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for expenses in connection with searching for a prospective initial Business Combination.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we had a net income of $721,086 which is comprised of formation and operating expenses of $311,041 and a change in fair value of the warrant liability of $54,176 and interest income from cash held in the trust account of $1,086,303.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had a net income of $2,450,292 which is comprised of formation and operating expenses of $559,957, a change in fair value of the warrant liability $3,160,249 and a change in fair value of the forward purchase agreement asset of $150,000.
Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On March 11, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part. Such shares have been recapitalized into 2,548,979 Class F ordinary shares and 5,097,958 Class G ordinary shares (which we respectively refer to as “Class F founder shares” and “Class G founder shares,” and collectively refer to as “Founder Shares” as further described herein). Pursuant to a re-organization of the Company’s share capital effective July 5, 2021, the Class B ordinary shares have been canceled and all of the shares presently issued and outstanding are Class F ordinary shares and Class G ordinary shares. (See Note 8).
On August 18, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option resulting in the issuance of an additional 326,757 Class F ordinary shares and 653,513 Class G ordinary shares to the Sponsor.
The Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares until two years after the completion of a Business Combination.
Related Party Loans
On March 11, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). The Note is non-interest bearing and is payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2022 or (ii) the date the Company completes its initial Business Combination. On March 13, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor amended and restated the Note (the “Amended Note”). The Amended Note is non-interest bearing and is payable on the earlier of (i) the date by which the Company is required to complete an initial Business Combination pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company and (ii) the date the Company completes its initial Business Combination. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $1,000,000 outstanding on the Amended Note, and as of December 31, 2022, the Company had $2,500,000 outstanding on the Note, both of which are classified as current on our Condensed Balance Sheets.
23
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor, an affiliate of the Sponsor, or the Company’s officers and directors may loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. On February 16, 2022, the Sponsor confirmed to the Company that it will provide any such Working Capital Loans for at least the next twelve months, pursuant to a promissory note. On February 22, 2022, the Company drew down and received cash proceeds of $2.5 million. The outstanding balance under this loan is $1,000,000 as of March 31, 2023. The notes would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $2,500,000 of notes may be converted upon consummation of a Business Combination into Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Warrant. The Warrants will be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. 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.
In addition, our Sponsor, officers and directors, or our 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, executive officers or directors, or our affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. There was $325,000 due to related party as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Contractual Obligations
Administrative Services Agreement
Commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of consummation of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation, we agreed to pay our Sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to us by an affiliate of our Sponsor. There was $200,000 and $170,000 due to related parties at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company considered this agreement under the guidance of ASC 842, Leases, and determined that this agreement did not meet the definition of a lease.
Registration Rights Agreement
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares, and any shares that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement signed upon the effective date of the Initial Public Offering. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of 2.00% of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $4,588,162. In addition, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred fee of three and half percent (3.50%) of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $8,029,284. On August 16, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 2,940,811 Over-Allotment Units, generating an aggregate of gross proceeds of $29,408,110, incurred $588,162 in cash underwriting fees and $1,029,284 in deferred underwriters’ fees, and forfeited the remainder of the option, which over-allotment closed on August 18, 2021. The deferred fee was placed in the Trust Account and will be paid in cash upon the closing of a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Forward Purchase Agreement
The Company entered into a forward purchase agreement with MIC Capital Partners (Public) Parallel Cayman, LP, an affiliate of the Sponsor, providing for the purchase, in its sole discretion, an aggregate of up to 5,000,000 Units for an aggregate purchase price of up to $50,000,000, or $10.00 per Unit, in a private placement to close substantially concurrently with the closing of our initial Business Combination. The forward purchase investor will determine in its sole discretion the specific number of forward purchase Units it will purchase, if any, pursuant to the forward purchase agreement. Each forward purchase Unit will consist of one Class A ordinary share and one-fourth of one redeemable Warrant. The terms of the forward purchase Units will generally be identical to the terms of the Units issued in the Initial Public Offering, except that the securities underlying the forward purchase Units will be subject to certain registration rights.
24
Critical Accounting Estimates
This management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Polices (“GAAP”). The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to fair value of financial instruments and accrued expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The company has identified the following as its critical accounting policies:
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company accounts for the Warrants and Forward Purchase Agreements (“FPAs”) as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the specific terms of the Warrants and FPAs and the applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”), and ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“Warrants and FPAs ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether they are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the Warrants and FPAs are indexed to the Company’s own ordinary shares and whether the holders of the Warrants could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of issuance of the Warrants and execution of the FPAs and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the Warrants and FPAs are outstanding. For issued or modified Warrants and FPAs that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, such Warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified Warrants and FPAs that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, such Warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of liability-classified Warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In August 2020, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020- 06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.
25
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 March 31, 2023, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act.
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that during the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2023.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three-month period up to March 31, 2023, covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
26
PART II-OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this Quarterly Report are any of the risks previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2023. Any of those factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2023. We may disclose changes to such factors or disclose additional factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities
Unregistered Sales
In March 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain offering costs in consideration for 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001. Up to 750,000 Founder Shares were subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised. Such shares have been recapitalized into 2,548,979 Class F ordinary shares and 5,097,958 Class G ordinary shares (which we respectively refer to as “Class F founder shares” and “Class G founder shares,” and collectively refer to as “Founder Shares”). Pursuant to a re-organization of the Company’s share capital effective July 5, 2021, the Class B ordinary shares have been canceled and all of the shares presently issued and outstanding are Class F ordinary shares and Class G ordinary shares.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated a private placement of 3,000,000 Private Placement Warrants to our Sponsor at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating total proceeds of $6,000,000. On August 18, 2021, simultaneously with the issuance and sale of the Over-Allotment Units, the Company consummated the sale of an additional 294,081 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor at a purchase price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $588,162.
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Warrants sold as part of the Units in the Initial Public Offering except that, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees: (1) they are not redeemable by us (except in certain redemption scenarios when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00 (as adjusted)); (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.
Of the gross proceeds received from the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants, $229,408,110 were placed in the Trust Account.
We paid a total of $4,588,162 in underwriting discounts and commissions and $1,164,516 of other offering costs (including in connection with the exercise of the over-allotment option). In addition, the underwriters agreed to defer $8,029,284 in underwriting discounts and commissions (including those attributable to the Units sold in connection with the exercise of the over-allotment option).
Use of Proceeds
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 3, 2021. On August 6, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $200,000,000. On August 16, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 2,940,811 Over-Allotment Units, generating additional gross proceeds of $229,408,110. Each Unit consisted of one Public Share and one-fourth of one redeemable Warrant. Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Public Share for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
27
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated a private placement of 3,000,000 Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $6,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the partial exercise of the Over-Allotment, the Company consummated an additional private placement of 294,081 additional Private Placement Warrants at a price of $2.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $588,162.
In connection with the Initial Public Offering, we incurred offering costs of $13,781,962 (including deferred underwriting commissions of approximately $8,029,284). Other incurred offering costs consisted principally of preparation fees related to the Initial Public Offering. After deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions (excluding the deferred portion, which amount will be payable upon consummation of the initial Business Combination, if consummated) and the Initial Public Offering expenses, $229,408,110 of the net proceeds from our Initial Public Offering and the Over-Allotment and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (or $10.00 per Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering) was placed in the Trust Account. The net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants are held in the Trust Account as described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
There has been no material change in the planned use of the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement as is described in the Company’s final prospectus related to the Initial Public Offering.
For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our Initial Public Offering, see Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
28
Item 6. Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished. |
29
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Blue Whale Acquisition Corp I | ||
Date: May 22, 2023 | /s/ Maxime Franzetti | |
Name: | Maxime Franzetti | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Date: May 22, 2023 | /s/ Russ Pillar | |
Name: | Russ Pillar | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
30