Cascadia Acquisition Corp. - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Delaware |
86-2105250 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one Redeemable Warrant |
CCAIU |
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Shares of Class A common stock |
CCAI |
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Redeemable Warrants |
CCAIW |
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
CASCADIA ACQUISITION CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Report”) or (“Annual Report”) may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including the statements under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including with respect to our initial business combination. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,”, “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. Forward looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may include, for example, statements about:
• | our ability to complete our initial business combination; |
• | our expectations regarding the RealWear Business Combination (as defined below) and related transactions; |
• | our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses; |
• | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; |
• | our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination; |
• | our ability to draw from the support and expertise of our sponsor, founders, directors, officers and other affiliates; |
• | our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination; |
• | our pool of prospective target businesses; |
• | the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities; |
• | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
• | the lack of a market for our securities; |
• | the availability to us of funds from interest income on the trust account balance; |
• | the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; |
• | our financial performance; or |
• | the other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). |
The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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PART I
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “the Company,” “Cascadia,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Cascadia Acquisition Corp. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors.
Item 1. Business.
Company Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 16, 2021 and were formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “business combination”). We are an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, are subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies. We also have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenue to date. Based on our business activities, the Company is a “shell company” as defined under the Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) because we have no operations and assets consisting almost entirely of investments held in the trust account.
Although we are not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a business combination, we have focused on sourcing business combination opportunities in industry sectors that are being fundamentally reshaped by the introduction of advanced technologies, such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence (“RAAI”), commonly referred to as “Industry 4.0.” In addition to RAAI, which has been a key theme and focus in our search for a business combination opportunity, we have utilized the experience and relationship networks of our management team and board of directors to identify and review attractive and high growth opportunities in the environmental, social and governance, and specifically, the sustainability arena. We believe that companies in these sectors that are using advanced data analytics, software, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge instrumentation and process automation to make their processes “intelligent” have a significant competitive advantage over those that have not yet embraced these solutions. Our focus on Industry 4.0, RAAI, and sustainability has been concentrated in various sub-verticals, such as robotics; artificial intelligence; mobility tech/autonomy; data management & analytics; augmented reality/virtual reality; manufacturing and operations automation; IoT; blockchain; DNA sequencing; energy storage; energy efficiency and decarbonization; renewable energy; energy and environmental/climate technology; smart grid/smart city; agriculture and food technology/innovation, recycling and remediation, advanced materials, and water and bioresources.
Our sponsor is Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). On February 22, 2021, our Sponsor paid $25,000 in consideration for 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”), of which 562,500 shares were forfeited in October 2021 in connection with the expiration of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. Prior to the closing of our initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”), our Sponsor transferred 25,000 Founder Shares to each of our three independent directors and sold an aggregate of 937,500 Founder Shares to 12 qualified institutional buyers or institutional accredited investors that are not affiliated with us, our Sponsor, our directors or any member of our management, which we refer to as “anchor investors”. Each anchor investor agreed to (a) vote any Founder Shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination and (b) subject any Founder Shares held by them to the same lock-up restrictions as the Founder Shares held by our Sponsor and independent directors.
On August 30, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) of 15,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units offered, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000, and incurring offering costs of $8,830,225 of which $5,250,000 was for deferred underwriting commissions. Each Unit consisted of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated a private placement with our Sponsor of an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (each, a “Private Placement Warrant” and collectively, the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $5,000,000 (the “Private Placement”). Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share.
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Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 30, 2021, an amount equal to $150,000,000, or $10.00 per Unit, from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. If we do not complete a business combination by August 31, 2023, the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law).
The outstanding shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock upon the consummation of a business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with a business combination, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the total number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding after such conversion, including the total number of shares of Class A common stock issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of a Business Combination, excluding any shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities or rights exercisable for or convertible into shares of Class A common stock issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a business combination and any private placement warrants issued to our Sponsor, officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans, provided that such conversion of Founder Shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis. Holders of our Founder Shares waived this Anti-Dilution Adjustment with respect to any shares issued in connection with the consummation of the RealWear Business Combination. However, such holders may not waive this right in connection with any alternative initial business combination, if applicable.
Extension of Business Combination Period
On February 22, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders at which our stockholders approved an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter Amendment”), to (i) extend the date by which we have to consummate a business combination to August 31, 2023 (the “Extension”) and (ii) expand the methods that Cascadia may employ to not become subject to the “penny stock” rules of the SEC. We filed the Charter Amendment on February 27, 2023.
In connection with the approval of the Extension, holders of 14,710,805 shares of our Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.11 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $148.7 million. As a result, approximately $148.7 million was removed from the Trust Account to redeem such shares and 289,195 shares of our Class A common stock remained outstanding.
Business Combination Agreement
On February 5, 2023, we entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, CAC MergerSub, Inc., a Washington corporation (“Merger Sub”), and RealWear, Inc., a Washington corporation (“RealWear”). The Business Combination Agreement provides, among other things, that on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into RealWear, with RealWear surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). The Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are referred to hereinafter as the “RealWear Business Combination.”
The Business Combination Agreement and the RealWear Business Combination were approved by the boards of directors of each of Cascadia and RealWear. The RealWear Business Combination is expected to close in the second half of 2023, following the receipt of the required approvals by the stockholders of Cascadia and shareholders of RealWear and the fulfillment of regulatory requirements and other customary closing conditions.
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In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Business Combination Agreement: (i) immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), the outstanding shares of each class of RealWear’s preferred stock will be converted into shares of common stock of RealWear; and (ii) at the Closing, (A) outstanding shares of common stock of RealWear (other than treasury shares and any Company Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement)), will be automatically converted into the right to receive shares of common stock of Cascadia (“Cascadia Shares”), (B) each of RealWear’s outstanding options will be converted into an option to purchase Cascadia Shares having substantially similar terms and conditions as such outstanding RealWear option, and (C) each of RealWear’s outstanding warrants will be converted into a warrant to acquire Cascadia Shares having substantially similar terms and conditions as such outstanding RealWear warrant, and in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement. In addition, RealWear shareholders will be entitled to receive up to an aggregate of 4,170,000 additional Cascadia Shares (the “Earn Out Shares”), contingent upon the achievement of certain stock price targets of Cascadia Shares during the five year period following the Closing (the “Earn Out Period”). The Earn Out Shares will be placed in escrow at Closing and any Earn Out Shares remaining in escrow following the expiration of the Earn Out Period will be distributed to Cascadia and promptly cancelled.
The Business Combination Agreement requires that, as a condition to RealWear’s obligation to consummate the RealWear Business Combination, the sum of the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to the Company or Merger Sub from the Trust Account as of immediately prior to the Closing (after reduction for amounts payable to Cascadia stockholders with respect to valid redemptions of Cascadia Shares and payment of all unpaid transaction expenses of Cascadia and RealWear) plus the aggregate cash proceeds actually received in respect of any applicable financing transactions (whether on or prior to the date of the Closing) equals or exceeds $20,000,000. In addition, the Business Combination Agreement allows RealWear to terminate the RealWear Business Combination in its discretion if, as of April 6, 2023, the aggregate value of our Public Shares committed to be held in trust through the Closing (based on the per-share amount held in our Trust Account) and the aggregate proceeds to be paid in connection with any committed financing transactions do not equal at least $25,000,000.
Upon closing of the RealWear Business Combination, the combined company will be named RealWear, Inc. and is expected to trade on the Nasdaq.
Business Strategy
Our acquisition and value creation strategy is to identify, acquire and build a company that complements the experience of our management team and can benefit from its strategic and operational expertise. After our initial business combination, we envision our strategy may include additional mergers and acquisitions and the application of new technologies and/or other operational improvements with a focus on generating attractive long-term risk adjusted returns for our stockholders. We have been leveraging our management team’s and Cascadia Capital’s network of potential transaction sources where we believe a combination of our relationships, knowledge and experience could catalyze a positive transformation or augmentation of existing businesses to enhance their overall value. We have also benefitted from our engagement of Cascadia Capital, LLC as a financial advisor on our business combinations and other transactions.
Investment Criteria
Based on our management’s experience, we developed the following non-exclusive investment criteria that we have been using to screen for and evaluate prospective target businesses.
• | Companies that operate in industries and sectors that are ripe for technological disruption or are currently undergoing technological transformations. We have identified industries and sectors that are in the process of, or have significant potential to benefit from and adopt, an Industry 4.0 solution, and have been searching for potential business combination targets that are well positioned to capitalize on this trend, which we believe is driving high growth opportunities in sectors that align well with our experience and expertise, such as robotics, automation, artificial intelligence (RAAI) and ESG (Sustainability). |
• | Companies with an attractive and defensible competitive position. We are targeting companies with market positions and technologies that we believe offer long-term competitive advantages. These could include proprietary technology, a market leading product suite, unique processes, strong market share, or a culture of innovation that we believe is enduring and unique. |
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• | Clear Benefit from a Business Combination with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company. We have been seeking a business that has a clear use of proceeds and a clear catalyst or inflection point resulting from our capital, team, public listing, roll-up synergies, deleveraging and/or re-rating milestones expected to propel the business through our structural dilution in the near term with enhanced financial results, margins, market position and stockholder value. |
• | Tangible Benefit from our Capabilities. We have been seeking a business where the collective capabilities of our management and Sponsor, and any operating partners we involve, can be leveraged to tangibly improve the operations and market position of the target. |
• | Proprietary and/or High Conviction Transactions. We have leveraged our business network to source our initial business combination on a proprietary basis. |
• | Committed and Capable Management Team. We have been seeking a business with a management team whose interests are aligned with our strategic focus and who can clearly and confidently articulate the business plan and market opportunities to public market investors. Where necessary, we may also look to complement and enhance the capabilities of the target business’s management team and their board of directors by recruiting additional talent through our network of contacts or otherwise. This may include recruiting experienced industry professionals, or operating partners, to assist in our evaluation of the opportunity and marketing of the business combination prior to its completion, who may assume an ongoing role with the business or board thereafter. |
• | Potential to Grow, including Through Further Acquisition Opportunities. We have been seeking a business that has the potential to grow organically and inorganically through additional acquisitions, with management having identified a pipeline of potentially actionable accretive acquisitions. We expect to work with the ongoing management team to develop the business strategy around geographic expansion, new products, high-return capital expenditure projects and acquisitions, as well as creating and maintaining the optimal capital structure for growth. |
• | Preparedness for the Process and Public Markets. We have been seeking a business that has, or can put in place prior to the closing of a business combination, the governance, financial systems and controls required in the public markets. Specifically, we are seeking to avoid situations where extensive accounting or restructuring work is required with an uncertain timetable or outcome before a transaction can be completed. |
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as amended, the “amended and restated certificate of incorporation”) contains certain requirements and restrictions relating to the Initial Public Offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of 65% of our Class A and Class B common stock. Our Sponsor, independent directors and anchor investors (collectively, the “initial stockholders”), who collectively beneficially own approximately 92.8% of our Class A and Class B common stock, may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
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• | If we are unable to complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 (the “Deadline Date”), 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, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the holders of our Class A common stock (the “public stockholders”) as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the requirements of other applicable law; |
• | Prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote as a class with our Public Shares (a) on our initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond the Deadline Date or (y) amend the foregoing provisions; |
• | So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, the Nasdaq rules require that our initial business combination must occur with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination; |
• | If our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023, or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, subject to the limitations described herein; and |
• | We will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will not redeem our Public Shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 unless we are otherwise exempt from the provisions of Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Website
Our website address is https://www.cascadiaacquisitioncorp.com. Information contained on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments and exhibits to these reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available on our website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Alternatively, you may access these reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We have registered our Units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, this Annual Report contains financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
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We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of RealWear or any potential alternative business as part of the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials (as applicable) sent to stockholders. These financial statements in the case of the RealWear Business Combination are, and in the case of an alternative business combination may be, required to be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the historical financial statements are required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). We cannot assure you that RealWear or any potential alternative target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that any applicable requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have 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, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
SUMMARY RISK FACTORS
Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in Cascadia Acquisition Corp. speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below, after this summary. An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described in this summary and the section below titled “Risk Factors,” together with the other information contained in this Report. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described below, alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
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• | We are a blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. |
• | Concentration of ownership among our Sponsor and the anchor investors may prevent other investors from influencing significant corporate decisions or adversely affect the trading price of our common shares. |
• | If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders and management team have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote. |
• | The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash has had a negative impact on our financial condition, which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination with a target. |
• | The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure. |
• | Since our Sponsor, executive officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to Public Shares they may acquire during or after the Initial Public Offering), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination. |
• | If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination, the requirement that we complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on alternative business combination targets, as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders. |
• | Our ability to complete a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the status of debt and equity markets. |
• | If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our Public Shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for submitting or tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed. |
• | Stockholders do not have any rights or interests in funds from the Trust Account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or warrants, potentially at a loss. |
• | Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions. |
• | Stockholders are not entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies. |
• | Because of our limited resources, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 on our redemption of their shares in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. |
• | Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report expresses substantial doubt about our ability continue as a “going concern.” |
• | Past performance by our management team and their affiliates, including investments and transactions in which they have participated and businesses with which they have been associated, may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the Company. |
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RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability to Consummate,
a Business Combination and Post-Business Combination Risks
Our initial stockholders and management team have agreed to vote in favor of our initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, if we seek stockholder approval of an initial business combination, such initial business combination will be approved if we receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voted at such meeting, including the Founder Shares. Our initial stockholders’ Founder Shares constitute 92.8% of the shares outstanding following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension. In addition, our initial stockholders and management team may from time to time purchase Class A common stock prior to our initial business combination. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial stockholders and management team to vote in favor of our initial business combination will be sufficient to approve such initial business combination and we will not need any Public Shares to be voted in favor of such initial business combination.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
Since our initial stockholders’ Founder Shares constitute 92.8% of the Class A and Class B shares outstanding following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension and these stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of our initial business combination, we do not need any of our public stockholders to vote in favor of our initial business combination for it to be approved. Accordingly, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding our initial business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash has had a negative impact on our financial condition, which may make it difficult for us to complete our business combination.
The Business Combination Agreement for the RealWear Business Combination requires that, as a condition to RealWear’s obligation to consummate the RealWear Business Combination, the sum of the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to the Company or Merger Sub from the Trust Account as of immediately prior to the Closing (after reduction for amounts payable to Cascadia stockholders with respect to valid redemptions of Cascadia Shares and payment of all unpaid transaction expenses of Cascadia and RealWear) plus the aggregate cash proceeds actually received in respect of any applicable financing transactions (whether on or prior to the date of the Closing) equals or exceeds $20,000,000 (the “Minimum Cash Condition”). In addition, the Business Combination Agreement allows RealWear to terminate the RealWear Business Combination in its discretion (the “RealWear Termination Right”) if, as of April 6, 2023, the aggregate value of our Public Shares committed to be held in trust through the Closing (based on the per-share amount held in our Trust Account) and the aggregate proceeds to be paid in connection with any committed financing transactions do not equal at least $25,000,000 (the “Financing Condition”). Because the amount in our Trust Account available for our initial business combination was significantly diminished as a result of the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, we will need to complete one or more financings to satisfy the Financing Condition and the Minimum Cash Condition and complete the RealWear Business Combination. If we do not raise sufficient funds to satisfy the Financing Condition by April 6, 2023, RealWear may elect to exercise the RealWear Termination Right in its discretion. Even if we successfully raise the funds needed to satisfy the Financing Condition, any subsequent redemptions completed in connection with the approval of the RealWear Business Combination may again reduce the funds in our Trust Account such that we may not be able to meet the Minimum Cash Condition and proceed with the business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
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At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the Trust Account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the Trust Account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the Trust Account or arrange for third party financing. After we entered into the Business Combination Agreement with RealWear, holders of 14,710,805 shares of our Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares in connection with the Extension, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $148.7 million. As a result, we will need third party financing to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition. In addition, RealWear may exercise the RealWear Termination Right if the aggregate value of our Public Shares committed to be held in trust through the Closing (based on the per-share amount held in our Trust Account) and the aggregate proceeds to be paid in connection with any committed financing transactions do not equal at least $25,000,000. Raising additional third party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. In addition, the amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the representative of the underwriters for our Initial Public Offering will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per share amount we will distribute to stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions and after such redemptions, the amount held in trust will continue to reflect our obligation to pay the entire amount of the deferred underwriting commissions. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, including RealWear, as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination, including RealWear, will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination by the Deadline Date, which is August 31, 2023. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our Public Shares and liquidate.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination by the Deadline Date. Our ability to complete the RealWear Business Combination or any other initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. If we have not completed our initial business combination by August 31, 2023, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case, to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
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Our ability to complete a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the status of debt and equity markets.
Public health crises and geopolitical factors could adversely affect economies and financial markets in the United States and worldwide, and the business of RealWear or any other potential target business with which we might consummate a business combination, could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if concerns relating to a public health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, or cause vendors and services providers to be unavailable to consummate a transaction in a timely manner.
In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction will be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our Public Shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the proxy rules when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our proxy materials, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials that we will furnish to holders of our Public Shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly submit Public Shares for redemption. For example, we intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent, or to deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials. This date may be up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its Public Shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy materials, its shares may not be redeemed.
You do not have any rights or interests in funds from the Trust Account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders are entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of our Public Shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination by August 31, 2023, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if our plan to redeem our Public Shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination by August 31, 2023 is not completed for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our Trust Account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond August 31, 2023 before they receive funds from our Trust Account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the Trust Account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
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You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of our Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants are intended to be used to complete our initial business combination, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, our stockholders are not afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units are tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account to us unless and until the funds in the Trust Account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As of December 31, 2022, we had $329,361 of cash in our operating bank account and $1,042,703 in current liabilities. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs as a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as expenses in connection with our proposed initial business combination with RealWear.
If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our Sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Neither our Sponsor, members of our management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the Trust Account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such working capital loans may be convertible into warrants of the post-business combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our Trust Account. We cannot assure you that any efforts to raise capital (if required) or to consummate an initial business combination (including the current proposed initial business combination with RealWear) will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account.
Subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we intend to combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will identify all material issues that may be present with a particular business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining debt financing to partially finance the initial business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain stockholders or warrant holders following the RealWear Business Combination, or any potential alternative business combination, could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy materials relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
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If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest, cause of action or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management team will consider whether competitive alternatives are reasonably available to us and will only enter into an agreement with such third party if our management team believes that such third party’s engagement would be in the best interests of the company under the circumstances. The underwriters of our Initial Public Offering and our registered independent public accounting firm have not executed agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. Upon redemption of our Public Shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per Public Share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to the letter agreement the form of which is filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other 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 date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per public 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 the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have not, however, asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than the $10.00 per Public Share initially held in the Trust Account. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your Public Shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
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Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our Sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case less taxes payable, and our Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and executive officers or Cascadia Holdings and its affiliates.
We have agreed to indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law and have agreed to indemnify Cascadia Holdings and its affiliates in connection with the services provided pursuant to the services agreement. However, each of our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account and to not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever and Cascadia Holdings has agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account, and not to seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to the indemnification obligations set forth in the services agreement. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination. Our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors or Cascadia Holdings and its affiliates pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, by paying public stockholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the Trust Account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
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Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our Public Shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. It is our intention, however, to redeem our Public Shares as soon as reasonably possible following August 31, 2023 in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our Public Shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could delay the opportunity for our stockholders to elect directors.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq), and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL. Moreover, our Class B stockholders are entitled to elect all of our directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination and may elect to do so by written consent without a meeting.
If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination, we may seek business combination opportunities in industries or sectors that may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.
If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination we may consider an alternative business combination opportunity outside of our management’s areas of expertise if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive business combination opportunity for our company. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any such business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our securities will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors than a direct investment in RealWear or any potential alternative business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue a business combination outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this Report regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire.
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As a result, our management may not be able to ascertain or assess adequately all of the relevant risk factors. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may complete our initial business combination with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue, cash flow or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues, cash flows or earnings or difficulty in retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include volatile revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from a valuation or appraisal firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business with which we combine is fair to us from a financial point of view.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or from a valuation or appraisal firm that the price we are paying is fair to us from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors or a special committee thereof, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an initial business combination.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, special purpose acquisition companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that our stockholders may not support.
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In order to effectuate a business combination, special purpose acquisition companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, special purpose acquisition companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We amended our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in February 2023 to effect the Extension that was approved at our special meeting of stockholders and to expand the methods that we may employ to not become subject to the “penny stock” rules of the SEC. Further amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, and amending our warrant agreement will require a vote of holders of at least a majority of the public warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, a majority of the then outstanding private placement warrants. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires us to provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash if we propose an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by August 31, 2023 or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. To the extent any of such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of our publicly traded securities, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to further amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination. Following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, our initial stockholders collectively beneficially own 92.8% of our common stock. As a result, our initial stockholders would be able to approve any such amendment without the votes of any public stockholders in favor of such amendment.
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our Trust Account) may be amended without the approval of our public stockholders, unlike some other special purpose acquisition companies. It is easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of our Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants into the Trust Account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our Trust Account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. If we amend such provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in connection with a stockholder meeting. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. Following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, our initial stockholders collectively beneficially own 92.8% of our common stock (assuming they have not purchased any units or shares of Class A common stock in the public markets). Our initial stockholders may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we are able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other special purpose acquisition companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
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Our Sponsor, executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to written agreements with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023 or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our Sponsor, executive officers, or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, we need to obtain additional financing to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition set forth in the RealWear Business Combination Agreement. We may be similarly required to seek additional financing to complete any potential alternative initial business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, if, as of April 6, 2023, the aggregate value of our Public Shares committed to be held in trust through the Closing (based on the per-share amount held in our Trust Account) and the aggregate proceeds to be paid in connection with any committed financing transactions do not equal at least $25,000,000, RealWear may elect to exercise the RealWear Termination Right to terminate the RealWear Business Combination. To the extent that such additional financing proves to be unavailable, we may be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon the RealWear Business Combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. Further, we may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the closing of our initial business combination for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, or to fund the purchase of other companies. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Our initial stockholders control a substantial interest in us and thus may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, our initial stockholders own approximately 92.8% of our issued and outstanding common stock. Accordingly, they may control or exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. If our initial stockholders purchase any additional Class A common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Neither our initial stockholders nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this Report. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by our Sponsor, is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a terms of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
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If the RealWear Business Combination is not completed, resources could be wasted in researching other business combinations that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
If the RealWear Business Combination is not completed, we anticipate that the investigation of any other specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we do not complete an initial business combination, including the RealWear Business Combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. We may decide not to complete a specific business combination or may fail to complete a business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination and pursue a business combination with a different acquisition target, our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with such target business in connection with such business combination, and such business combination may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination and pursue a business combination with a different acquisition target, our key personnel may be able to remain with our company after the completion of such initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. Such negotiations also could make such key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, subject to their fiduciary duties under Delaware law.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target business’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target business’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain stockholders or warrant holders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination and we effect our initial business combination with a company located outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may adversely affect us.
If we do not complete the RealWear Business Combination and we pursue a target company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such initial business combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
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If we pursue a target a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign jurisdiction, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
• | costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations; |
• | rules and regulations regarding currency redemption; |
• | complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
• | laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected; |
• | exchange listing and/or delisting requirements; |
• | tariffs and trade barriers; |
• | regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
• | local or regional economic policies and market conditions; |
• | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; |
• | challenges in managing and staffing international operations; |
• | longer payment cycles; |
• | tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States; |
• | currency fluctuations and exchange controls; |
• | rates of inflation; challenges in collecting accounts receivable; |
• | cultural and language differences; |
• | employment regulations; |
• | underdeveloped or unpredictable legal or regulatory systems; |
• | corruption; |
• | protection of intellectual property; |
• | social unrest, crime, strikes, riots and civil disturbances; |
• | regime changes and political upheaval; |
• | terrorist attacks and wars; and deterioration of political relations with the United States. |
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete such initial business combination, or, if we complete such initial business combination, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this Report to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following our Initial Public Offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We and our officers have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest, cause of action or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the Trust Account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the Trust Account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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• | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; |
• | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
• | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand; |
• | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding; |
• | our inability to pay dividends on our Class A common stock; |
• | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our Class A common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
• | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
• | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and |
• | limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
We may only complete one business combination, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
• solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or
• dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our business combination strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
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In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and if we do not continue to pursue the RealWear Business Combination it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify another suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
The market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed in ways adverse to us and our management team.. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (such insurance, “run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
The officers and directors of a business combination target may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The loss of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Although we contemplate that certain members of a business combination target will remain associated with such business following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of the target business will not wish to remain in place.
Risks Relating to our Sponsor and Management Team
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
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Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
We are dependent upon our executive officers and directors and their loss could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our executive officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Since our Sponsor, executive officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to Public Shares they may acquire), and because our Sponsor, officers and directors who have an interest in Founder Shares may profit substantially from a business combination even under circumstances where our public stockholders would experience losses in connection with their investment, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
In February 2021 our Sponsor paid $25,000 in exchange for 4,312,500 Founder Shares. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our Sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The purchase price of the Founder Shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of Founder Shares issued. Our Sponsor assigned 75,000 of its Founder Shares to our three independent directors (25,000 shares each) on August 26, 2021, and sold an aggregate of 937,500 of is Founder Shares to 12 anchor investors in connection with the Initial Public Offering. Our Sponsor forfeited 562,500 of its Founder Shares in October 2021, when the underwriter’s over-allotment option expired unexercised.
The Founder Shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, or $5,000,000, that will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination. In addition, we have engaged Cascadia Capital, LLC (“Cascadia Capital”) as our lead financial advisor on our business combination and other transactions with fees for such engagements to be conditioned upon the completion of the business combination.
These personal and financial interests of our executive officers, directors and members of our Sponsor may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination, and may result in a misalignment of interests between the holders of our Founder Shares and our officers and directors, on the one hand, and our public stockholders, on the other. In particular, because the Founder Shares were purchased at approximately $0.006 per share, the holders of our Founder Shares (including members of our management team that directly or indirectly own Founder Shares) could make a substantial profit after our initial business combination even if our public stockholders lose money on their investment as a result of a decrease in the post-combination value of their shares of Class A common stock (after accounting for any adjustments in connection with an exchange or other transaction contemplated by the business combination). For example, a holder of 1,000 Founder Shares would have paid approximately $6.00 to obtain such shares. At the time of an initial business combination, such holder would be able to convert such Founder Shares into 1,000 shares of our Class A common stock, and would receive the same consideration as a public stockholder for the same number of shares of our Class A common stock.
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If the value of the shares of our Class A common stock on a post-combination basis (after accounting for any adjustments in connection with an exchange or other transaction contemplated by the business combination) were to decrease to $5.00 per share of our Class A common stock, the holder of our Founder Shares would obtain a profit of approximately $4,994 on account of the 1,000 Founder Shares that the holder had converted into shares of Class A common stock in connection with the initial business combination. By contrast, a public stockholder holding 1,000 shares of Class A common stock would lose approximately $5,000.00 in connection with the same transaction. In addition, this risk may become more acute as August 31, 2023 nears, which is the deadline for our completion of an initial business combination.
Our executive officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our executive officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit any period of time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our executive officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our executive officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities. If our executive officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our executive officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see Part III, Item 10, “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Our officers and directors are now, and any of them in the future may become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us, including without limitation and may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations to other entities and clients of other entities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying, evaluating and combining with one or more businesses. Our Sponsor, Cascadia Capital and our directors and officers are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. Our Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary, contractual or other obligations to other entities or to clients of Cascadia Capital or other affiliates of our Sponsor pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or director becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary, contractual or other obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary, contractual or other obligations to present such opportunity to such entity and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. However, we do not believe that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our business combination.
In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with, or that is owed a fiduciary, contractual or other obligation by, our Sponsor, officers or directors, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with such an entity unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view, and (ii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors.
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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation without violating another legal obligation.
In addition, our Sponsor, Cascadia Capital, our officers and directors and their respective affiliates may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures, even prior to us entering into a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
For a complete discussion of our executive officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see Part III, Item 10, “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance,” under the heading “Conflicts of Interest” and Part III, Item 13,“Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence.”
Our executive officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, our directors or executive officers, although we do not intend to do so. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours. In particular, affiliates of our Sponsor, founders, our directors and our officers have invested, and may in the future invest, in a broad array of sectors, including those in which our company may invest. As a result, there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable business combination for us and companies that would make an attractive target for such other affiliates.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of Class A common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of Class A common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding Class A common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s shares than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain control of the target business.
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We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our Sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our Sponsor, executive officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders. Our directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described in Part III, Item 10, “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance, under the heading “Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities or clients of entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our Sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no substantive discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our choosing to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of the consideration to be paid by us in a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
We engaged Cascadia Capital, a member and affiliate of our Sponsor, as a financial advisor on our business combination and other transactions. Any fee in connection with such engagements is conditioned upon the completion of such transactions. A financial interest in the completion of such transactions may influence the advice Cascadia Capital provides.
We have engaged Cascadia Capital, a member and affiliate of our Sponsor as a financial advisor in connection with our initial business combination. Investment banking professionals of Cascadia Capital working on such engagement may be members of our Sponsor. In connection with any such engagement, we may pay such affiliate a customary financial advisory fee in an amount that constitutes a market financial advisory fee for comparable transactions. Pursuant to any such engagement, the affiliate may earn its fee upon closing of the initial business combination. The payment of such fee would likely be conditioned upon the completion of the initial business combination.
Therefore, affiliates of our Sponsor will have additional financial interests in the completion of the initial business combination. These financial interests may influence the advice Cascadia Capital provides us as our financial advisor, which advice would contribute to our decision on whether to pursue a business combination with any particular target.
We may compete with clients of Cascadia Capital or other affiliates of our Sponsor, for acquisition opportunities for our company, which could negatively impact our ability to locate a suitable business combination.
Our business strategy may overlap with some of the strategies of clients of Cascadia Capital and certain of its other affiliates. Cascadia Capital is an independent investment bank. Acquisition opportunities that may be of interest to us may come to Cascadia Capital, its clients or other affiliates of our Sponsor, instead of us or may be pursued by those parties. Our affiliates are not restricted from competing with our business and none of our affiliates are required to refer any such opportunities to us except as may be required by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation with respect to certain opportunities referred to our officers and directors. Our Sponsor and its affiliates face conflicts of interest relating to performing services on our behalf and allocating investment opportunities to us, and such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor, meaning we could find less suitable acquisition opportunities which could limit our ability to find a business combination that we find attractive.
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Conflicts may arise from Cascadia Capital’s affiliation with us and its provision of services both to us. In performing services for other clients, Cascadia Capital may take commercial steps which may have an adverse effect on us. Cascadia Capital is often engaged as a financial advisor, or placement agent, to corporations and other entities and their directors and managers in connection with the sale of those entities, their assets or their subsidiaries. Since clients generally require Cascadia Capital to act exclusively on their behalf and/or for other reasons, we may be precluded from attempting to acquire securities of the business being sold or otherwise participate as a buyer in the transaction. Alternatively, Cascadia Capital, or another affiliate of our Sponsor, may be a financial advisor to a target business that we pursue a business combination with and Cascadia Capital, or another affiliate of our Sponsor, may receive fees from the target business in connection with a business combination. Cascadia Capital also represents potential buyers’ businesses. Cascadia Capital may be incentivized to direct an opportunity to one of these buyers, thereby eliminating or reducing the investment opportunity available to us. Any of Cascadia Capital’s other activities may, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on us, and the interests of Cascadia Capital or its clients or counterparties may at times be adverse to ours.
Risks Relating to our Securities
Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum number of holders of our securities (400 public holders). Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with the Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
• | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
• | reduced liquidity for our securities; |
• | a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities; |
• | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
• | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.”
Because our Class A common stock and warrants are listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and warrants are covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities, including in connection with our initial business combination.
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The securities in which we invest the funds held in the Trust Account are subject to adverse developments affecting the financial services industry and fluctuations in interest rates, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
The proceeds held in the Trust Account are currently invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations 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. Following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, we may elect to liquidate the remaining investments held in the Trust Account and maintain those funds in cash in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a bank. While short-term U.S. government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination or make certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the Trust Account, plus any interest income, net of taxes paid or payable. Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
In addition, actual events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. For example, the closing of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank by bank regulators in March 2023, created significant disruptions in access to accounts for depositors at those banks. Cash deposits at financial institutions in the U.S. are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) in an amount up to $250,000 for any depositor, and any cash deposits in excess of this insured amount could be lost. To the extent we hold cash deposits, including funds in the Trust Account, in amounts that exceed the FDIC insurance limitation, in the event of a failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain deposits, we may incur a loss to the extent such loss exceeds the FDIC insurance limitation, and such a failure could have a material adverse effect upon our liquidity and financial condition. Additionally, we may be unable to access funds in such deposit account or other accounts, including money market funds, held with a financial institution or lending arrangements with such a financial institution.
Inflation and rapid increases in interest rates have led to a decline in the trading value of previously issued government securities with interest rates below current market interest rates. Although the U.S. Department of Treasury, FDIC and Federal Reserve Board have announced a program to provide up to $25 billion of loans to financial institutions secured by certain of such government securities held by financial institutions to mitigate the risk of potential losses on the sale of such instruments, widespread demands for customer withdrawals or other liquidity needs of financial institutions for immediate liquidity may exceed the capacity of such program. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Department of Treasury, FDIC and Federal Reserve Board will provide access to uninsured funds in the future in the event of the closure of other banks or financial institutions, or that they would do so in a timely fashion.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
• | restrictions on the nature of our investments; and |
• | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. |
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
• | registration as an investment company with the SEC; |
• | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
• | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations that we are not subject to. |
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business is to identify and complete a business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the Trust Account are currently invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, we may elect to liquidate the remaining investments held in the Trust Account and maintain those funds in cash in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a bank. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
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Our securities are not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of either: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by August 31, 2023; and (iii) absent an initial business combination by August 31, 2023 or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, our return of the funds held in the Trust Account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the Public Shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our Initial Public Offering without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor for the Founder Shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your Public Shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination.
We offered our units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. However, prior to the Initial Public Offering, our Sponsor paid a nominal aggregate purchase price of $25,000 for the Founder Shares, or approximately $0.006 per share. As a result, the value of your Public Shares may be significantly diluted upon the consummation of our initial business combination, when the Founder Shares are converted into Public Shares.
The value of the Founder Shares following completion of our initial business combination is likely to be substantially higher than the nominal price paid for them, even if the trading price of our common stock at such time is substantially less than $10.00 per share.
The Sponsor invested in us an aggregate of $5,025,000, comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares and the $5,000,000 purchase price for the Private Placement Warrants. Assuming a trading price of $10.00 per share upon consummation of our initial business combination, the Founder Shares would have an aggregate implied value of $32,343,750. Even if the trading price of our common stock was as low as $1.17 per share, and the private placement warrants were worthless, the value of the Founder Shares would be equal to our Sponsor’s initial investment in us. As a result, our Sponsor is likely to be able to recoup its investment in us and make a substantial profit on that investment, even if our Public Shares have lost significant value. Accordingly, our management team, which owns interests in our Sponsor, may have an economic incentive that differs from that of the public shareholders to pursue and consummate an initial business combination rather than to liquidate and to return all of the cash in the trust to the public shareholders, even if that business combination were with a riskier or less-established target business. For the foregoing reasons, you should consider our management team’s financial incentive to complete an initial business combination when evaluating whether to redeem your shares prior to or in connection with the initial business combination.
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We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Founder Shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after our Initial Public Offering, there were 85,000,000 and 6,250,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants or shares issuable upon conversion of the Class B common stock. The Class B common stock is automatically convertible into Class A common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination, initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. There are no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions as set forth therein. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote as a class with our Public Shares (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond August 31, 2023 or (y) amend the foregoing provisions. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock:
• | may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in our Initial Public Offering; |
• | may subordinate the rights of holders of Class A common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A common stock; |
• | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of Class A common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and |
• | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants. |
You will not be permitted to exercise your warrants unless we register and qualify the underlying Class A common stock or certain exemptions are available.
If the issuance of the Class A common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, holders of warrants will not be entitled to exercise such warrants and such warrants may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the Class A common stock included in the units.
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We have not registered the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the registration under the Securities Act of the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and thereafter will use our best efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following our initial business combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order.
If the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, under the terms of the warrant agreement, holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and, instead, will be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
In no event will warrants be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their 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 or qualification is available.
If our shares of Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, not permit holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants to do so for cash and, instead, require them to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act; in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement or register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities (other than upon a cashless exercise as described above) or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
You may only be able to exercise your Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” under certain circumstances, and if you do so, you will receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
The warrant agreement provides that in the following circumstances holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and will, instead, be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act: (i) if the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement; (ii) if we have so elected and the shares of Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act; and (iii) if we have so elected and we call the Public Warrants for redemption. If you exercise your Public Warrants on a cashless basis, you would pay the warrant exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our shares of Class A common stock (as defined in the next sentence) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” is the average reported closing price of the shares of Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent or on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, as applicable. As a result, you would receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
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We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of Public Warrants with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Public Warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the Public Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Public Warrants approve of such amendment. Our ability to amend the terms of the Public Warrants with the consent of at least a majority of the then outstanding Public Warrants is unlimited. Examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
Following the consummation of the Initial Public Offering and the concurrent Private Placement of Warrants, we had 12,500,000 warrants outstanding (comprised of the 7,500,000 warrants included in the units and the 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants). We account for these warrants as a warrant liability, which means that we record them at fair value upon issuance with any changes in fair value each period reported in earnings. The impact of changes in fair value on earnings may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, potential targets may seek a business combination partner that does not have warrants that are accounted for as a warrant liability, which may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
Our warrant agreement designates the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder. This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
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We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to proper notice of such redemption provided that on the date we give notice of redemption. We will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to (i) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants. None of the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by their initial purchasers or their permitted transferees.
Our warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares of Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We issued warrants to purchase 7,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock as part of the units offered in our Initial Public Offering and, simultaneously with the closing of our Initial Public Offering, we issued in a private placement an aggregate of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, or $5,000,000. In addition, if our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors makes any working capital loans, such lender may convert those loans into up to an additional 1,500,000 Private Placement Warrants, at the price of $1.00 per warrant. To the extent we issue common stock to effectuate a business transaction, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Such warrants, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock and reduce the value of the Class A common stock issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business transaction or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
Because each unit contains one-half of one warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other special purpose acquisition companies.
Each unit contains one-half of one warrant. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, no fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units, and only whole units will trade. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the warrant holder. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one common share and one warrant to purchase one whole share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one-half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if it included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
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A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike some other blank check companies, if
(i) | we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share; |
(ii) | the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and |
(iii) | the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, |
then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted 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 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and holders of our Private Placement Warrants and the anchor investors may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our shares of Class A common stock.
Pursuant to the registration rights agreement we entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in our Initial Public Offering, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the shares of Class A common stock into which Founder Shares are convertible, holders of our Private Placement Warrants, the anchor investors and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and holders of the warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such warrants or the Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of such warrants. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the shares of common stock owned by our initial stockholders, holders of our Private Placement Warrants or holders of warrants issued in connection with our working capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered for resale.
A market for our securities may not develop or may be volatile, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
The price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained or may be volatile. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our shares of Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty and certain other actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will, subject to certain exceptions, be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, which may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty and certain other actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This choice of forum provision may limit or make more costly a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain exceptions. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. We note, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Unlike some other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies, our initial stockholders may receive additional shares of Class A common stock if we issue certain shares to consummate an initial business combination.
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Founder Shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments, at a ratio such that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the total number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding after such conversion, including the total number of shares of Class A common stock issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial business combination, excluding any shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities or rights exercisable for or convertible into shares of Class A common stock issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any Private Placement Warrants issued to our Sponsor, officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans (such automatic conversion, the “Anti-Dilution Adjustment”), provided that such conversion of Founder Shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis. This is different than some
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other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies in which the initial stockholders will only be issued an aggregate of 20% of the total number of shares to be outstanding prior to our initial business combination. Holders of our Founder Shares waived the Anti-Dilution Adjustment with respect to any shares issued in connection with the consummation of the RealWear Business Combination. However, such holders may not waive this right in connection with any alternative initial business combination, if applicable.
General Risk Factors
We are a blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware with no operating results, and did not commence operations until our Initial Public Offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination. We recently entered into the Business Combination Agreement with RealWear, but may be unable to complete the RealWear Business Combination or any potential alternative initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by our management team and their affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team or businesses associated with them is presented for informational purposes only. The past performance of our management team or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either: (i) success with respect to any business combination we may consummate; or (ii) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their respective affiliates’ performance as indicative of any future performance.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
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The SEC’s new SPAC proposal could chill or impede the completion of our business combination.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC proposed comprehensive new rules and amendments to enhance disclosure and investor protection in initial public offerings by special purpose acquisition companies and in business combination transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies and private operating companies. If adopted, these new and amended rules could make our completion of a business combination more difficult, costly and time consuming.
Certain agreements related to our Initial Public Offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Each of the agreements related to our Initial Public Offering to which we are a party, other than the warrant agreement and the investment management trust agreement, may be amended without stockholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the letter agreement among us and our initial stockholders, Sponsor, officers and directors; the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders; the private placement warrants purchase agreement between us and our Sponsor; and the services agreement among us, and Cascadia Holdings, an affiliate of our Sponsor. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example, our letter agreement and the underwriting agreement contain certain lock-up provisions with respect to the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and other securities held by our initial stockholders, Sponsor, officers and directors. Amendments to such agreements would require the consent of the applicable parties thereto and would need to be approved by our board of directors, which may do so for a variety of reasons, including to facilitate our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement. Any amendment entered into in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to such initial business combination, and any other material amendment to any of our material agreements will be disclosed in a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities. For example, amendments to the lock-up provision discussed above may result in our initial stockholders selling their securities earlier than they would otherwise be permitted, which may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that
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apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have 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, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
Our executive offices are located at 1000 2nd Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104. Our executive offices are provided to us by an affiliate of the Sponsor.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Our units, common stock, and warrants are each traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “CCAIU,” “CCAI,” and “CCAIW,” respectively.
Holders
As of March 21, 2023, we had 1 holder of record of our Class A common stock, 27 holders of record of our Class B common stock, 1 holder of record of our units, and 1 holder of record of our warrants.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
None.
Performance Graph
This item is not applicable as we are a smaller reporting company.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Offerings
Unregistered Sales
On February 22, 2021, our Sponsor paid $25,000 in consideration for 4,312,500 Founder Shares. The underwriter’s over-allotment option expired on October 9, 2021, and as a result, 562,500 Founder Shares were forfeited. As of December 31, 2021, there were 3,750,000 Founder Shares outstanding. The Founder Shares were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 5000,000 warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant in a private placement to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $5,000,000. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The sales of the Private Placement Warrants were made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants were added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account.
Use of Proceeds
On August 30, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 15,000,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000, which is discussed in Note 1 of the accompanying financial statements. The Units sold in the Initial Public Offering were registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-258515). The SEC declared the registration statement effective on August 25, 2021.
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Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
Item 6 [Removed and reserved].
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
References to the “Company,” “Cascadia Acquisition Corp.,” “Cascadia,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Cascadia Acquisition Corp. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included herein.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report including, without limitation, statements under this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Report, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward- looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in our filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 16, 2021. We were formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Although we are not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a business combination, we have focused on sourcing business combination opportunities in industry sectors that are being fundamentally reshaped by the introduction of advanced technologies, such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as “Industry 4.0.” In addition to RAAI, which has been a key theme and focus in our search for business combination opportunities, we have also utilized the experience and relationship networks of our management team and board of directors to identify and review attractive and high growth opportunities in the environmental, social and governance, and specifically, the sustainability arena.
Our Sponsor is Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The registration statement for our Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 25, 2021. On August 30, 2021, we consummated our Initial Public Offering of 15,000,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000, and incurring offering costs of $8,868,326 of which $5,250,000 was for deferred underwriting commissions. We granted the underwriter a 45- day option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 Units at the Initial Public Offering price to cover over- allotments, if any. On October 11, 2021, the over-allotment option expired without being exercised.
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Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one Public Warrant. Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the Private Placement of an aggregate of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor, generating total gross proceeds of $5,000,000.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 30, 2021, an amount of $150,000,000, or $10.00 per Unit, from the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in our Trust Account and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 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 stockholders, as described below.
Our 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 remaining in the Trust Account following the completion of redemptions in connection with the Extension, although most the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that we will be able to complete a business combination successfully. The Nasdaq rules provide that the Initial Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the Trust Account (excluding deferred underwriting costs and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing a definitive agreement to enter a Business Combination. We 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.
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We will have until August 31, 2023 to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). On February 22, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). As approved by its stockholders at the Special Meeting, the Company filed the Charter Amendment to extend the Combination Period for 6 months to August 31, 2023 (the “Extended Combination Period”). If we are unable to complete a business combination within the Extended Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the remaining funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a business combination within the Extended Combination Period. In connection with the Special Meeting and the Charter Amendment, 14,710,805 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock were tendered for redemption.
Liquidity and Capital Resources, and Going Concern
As of December 31, 2022, we had $329,361 of cash in our operating bank account and $1,042,703 in current liabilities.
Our liquidity needs prior to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering were satisfied through the payment of $25,000 from our Sponsor to cover for certain offering costs on our behalf in exchange for issuance of Founder Shares, and loan proceeds of $123,795 under a promissory note. We repaid the promissory note in full on August 30, 2021. Our liquidity needs have otherwise been satisfied through the net proceeds from the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the Private Placement and a loan from our Sponsor with a principal amount of $221,785 outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
Based on the foregoing, we do not believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet our current and future estimated financial obligations. The Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company with working capital loans. If we complete a business combination, we would repay any working capital loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such working capital loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans through December 31, 2022. The working capital loans would either be repaid without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such working capital loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant of the post-business combination entity. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.
Additionally, if our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available to us from the Trust Account is less than we expect as a result of the current interest rate environment, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, following the redemptions completed in connection with the Extension, we will need to obtain additional financing to consummate our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations. If we are unable to complete a business combination by August 31, 2023, we will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidation, unless the Combination Period is extended.
Our anticipated shortfall of sufficient liquidity to meet our current and future estimated financial obligations raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of time within one year after the date that the accompanying financial statements are issued. We plan to address this uncertainty through working capital loans and through consummation of our initial business combination. There is no assurance that working capital loans will be available to the Company or that our plans to consummate the RealWear Business Combination, or any other initial business combination will be successful.
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Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations, and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of this Annual Report. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Results of Operations
Our entire activity since inception up to December 31, 2022, was in preparation for our formation and the Initial Public Offering and since the Initial Public Offering, our search for, evaluation of and negotiations in connection with prospective business combination opportunities. We will not be generating any operating revenues until the closing and completion of our initial business combination.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net income of approximately $6,886,000, which consisted of a provision for income taxes of $360,000 and loss from operations of approximately $1,216,000, which was comprised of approximately $1,016,000 of general and administrative expenses and $200,000 of franchise tax expense, and non-operating income of approximately $8,462,000, which was comprised of interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of approximately $2,087,000 and a change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities of $6,375,000.
Contractual Obligations
Administrative Services Agreement
Commencing on the date of the Initial Public Offering, we entered into an agreement to pay Cascadia Capital Holdings, LLC a total of $10,000 per month for executive and other operational support, including accounting services and office space provided to members of our management team. The Company and Cascadia Capital Holdings, LLC agreed to end these payments after the February 2022 payment. The Company and the Sponsor have agreed to indemnify Cascadia Capital Holdings, LLC and its affiliates in connection with the services provided pursuant to the services agreement. In addition, our Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations.
Underwriting Agreement
We granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,250,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments at the Initial Public Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriter waived the election to exercise its over-allotment option on October 11, 2021.
The underwriter received a cash underwriting discount of $0.55 per Unit, or $8,250,000 in the aggregate of which $3,000,000 was paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The representative of the underwriter has agreed to defer underwriting commissions of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering. Upon and concurrently with the completion of our initial business combination, $5,250,000, which constitutes the underwriter’s deferred commissions will be paid to the underwriter from the funds held in the Trust Account.
Critical Accounting Policies
Derivative Warrant Liabilities and Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We do not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We account for warrants based on an assessment of specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of
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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 warrant issuance and as of each subsequent reporting period while the warrants are outstanding. Because the Company does not control the occurrence of events, such as a tender offer or exchange, that may trigger cash settlement of the warrants where not all of the shareholders also receive cash, the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, as such, the warrants must be recorded as a derivative liability.
We issued 7,500,000 Public Warrants to investors in our Initial Public Offering and issued 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants. All of our outstanding warrants are recognized as derivative liabilities in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, we recognize the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjust the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our statement of operations. The fair value of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants were estimated using a Monte-Carlo simulation model.
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of the RealWear Business Combination, or in the event the RealWear Business Combination is not completed, any subsequent business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve such business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public 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). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a business combination with respect to the Company’s warrants. The Public Shares subject to redemption are recorded at redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering in accordance with the ASC 480.
Net Income per Common Share
We comply with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share. Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period as calculated using the two-class method. At December 31, 2022, we had outstanding warrants to purchase up to 12,500,000 Class A common shares. The weighted average of these shares was excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As a result, diluted net income per common share is the same as basic net income per common share for the year ended December 31, 2022 and period from February 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021. We have two classes of common shares, Class A common shares and Class B common shares. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of common shares.
Recent Accounting Standards
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2022, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
This item is not applicable as we are a smaller reporting company.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
This information appears following Item 16 of this Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Report, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company conducted an evaluation (pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act), under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2022, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer has concluded that as of December 31, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2022. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013), our management concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2022.
This Report does not include an attestation report of internal controls from our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.
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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not Applicable.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
As of the date of this Report, our directors and officers are as set forth in the table below. There are no family relationships between any of our directors or senior management. There are no arrangements or understandings with major shareholders, customers, suppliers or others, pursuant to which any person referred to above was selected as a director or member of senior management. The Company is not aware of any agreements or arrangements between any director and any person or entity other than the Company relating to the compensation or other payments in connection with such director’s candidacy or service as a director of the Company. At the time of our Initial Public Offering, our Sponsor transferred 25,000 Founder Shares to each of our three independent directors.
Name | Age | Position | ||
Michael Butler |
62 | Chairman of the Board | ||
Jamie Boyd |
47 | Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Edgar Lee |
47 | Director | ||
Scott Prince |
56 | Director | ||
Arun Venkatadri |
41 | Director |
Michael Butler has served as a Chairman of our Board since inception. Mr. Butler is also Chairman and CEO of Cascadia Capital, which he co-founded in 1999. Mr. Butler has over 35 years of investment banking and mergers and acquisitions experience. Mr. Butler manages the firm and co-leads the firm’s Robotics, Automation & Artificial Intelligence practice and co-founded the firm’s Energy and Applied Technology Practice. Prior to co-founding Cascadia Capital, he served as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers responsible for global equity sales and equity syndicate. He also served on Lehman Brothers’ Equity Commitment Committee, Equity Syndicate Committee and Private Equity Commitment Committee. Before joining Lehman Brothers, Michael was a Principal with Morgan Stanley & Company, where he was responsible for divisional global product and risk management and was a member of the division’s Operating Committee. Mr. Butler currently serves on the board of directors of Coldstream Capital Management, Inc. and D4DT Inc. Mr. Butler holds an M.B.A in International Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Jamie Boyd has been a director and our Chief Executive Officer since inception, and serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Boyd also serves as a Managing Director and investment banker at Cascadia Capital since 2004, where he has advised on billions of dollars of innovative transactions. At Cascadia Capital, Mr. Boyd leads the origination and execution responsibilities for a global client base seeking M&A, capital raise and complex corporate finance advice. He founded and co-leads the firm’s Energy & Applied Technologies practice, in addition to co-founding the firm’s Robotics, Automation & Artificial Intelligence investment banking practice. Prior to joining Cascadia Capital, he was a lawyer practicing corporate securities and M&A law on the East Coast for Dechert LLP, an international specialist law firm. Before entering the legal profession, he was based in Vancouver, Canada with Colliers International, where he advised corporate and institutional clients with respect to significant commercial and residential real estate investment transactions. Mr. Boyd holds a L.L.M. from New York University School of Law, a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law and a BComm from Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.
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Edgar Lee has served as a director since the completion of the Initial Public Offering. Mr. Lee is the managing member of Sagent Group LLC, worked as a private investor from January 2020 to July 2022, and previously was a senior executive and Portfolio Manager for Oaktree Capital Management from July 2007 to January 2020. Mr. Lee currently serves on the board of directors of Healthy Spot Holdings, Neo Performance Materials (TSX: NEO) and Cloud5 Communications, and previously served on the board of directors of Oaktree Strategic Income II, Sorrento Therapeutics (Nasdaq: SRNE), Nine Entertainment (ASX: NEC) and Charter Communications (Nasdaq: CHTR). He received his B.A. in Economics from Swarthmore College and his MPP from Harvard University. We believe that Mr. Lee’s decades of experience investing in and advising companies in the technology, media and telecommunications industries qualify him to serve on our Board.
Scott Prince has served as a director since the completion of the Initial Public Offering. Mr. Prince has been Chief Executive Officer of AP Shale Logistics Holdco, an industrial logistics company, since February 2018; he also served as Chief Executive Officer of Takkion Holdings, a renewables logistics and services company, from January 2020 to June 2021, both of these companies are portfolio companies of funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. Mr. Prince currently serves as the Executive Chairman of Vallen Distribution Inc. Mr. Prince was previously President and Chief Executive Officer of Pilot Thomas Logistics and Maxum Petroleum from October 2013 to June 2017, and Operating Partner and Lead Director of Industrial Distribution Group from 2008 until 2013. Mr. Prince has previously served on the boards of several private distribution, logistics, infrastructure, and technology companies. Mr. Prince received his B.A. in Economics and his MBA from Vanderbilt University. We believe that Mr. Prince is qualified to serve on our Board due to his decades of M&A experience as well as his advisory and operating expertise.
Arun Venkatadri has served as a director since the completion of the Initial Public Offering. Mr. Venkatadri worked as a Staff Product Manager at Aurora in 2021. Prior to joining Aurora, Mr. Venkatadri was a Senior Product Manager at Uber ATG/ATC from January 2018 to January 2021, and a Product Manager at Lyft from January 2016 to November 2017. Mr. Venkatadri founded Interlake Ventures in December 2020, and has been an advisor for Buf since January 2020, an advisor at Bloomfield Robotics since January 2021, and a board observer at Gridwise since February 2021. He has also served as an Executive in Residence at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science & Tepper School of Business since 2020. Mr. Venkatadri received his MSEE from Columbia University and his B.S. in engineering from SUNY Buffalo. We believe that Mr. Venkatadri’s extensive expertise in the areas of Automation, Data and Artificial Intelligence qualify him to serve on our Board.
Employees
Our executive officers are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time our executive officers will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Both our audit committee and our compensation committee are composed solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules, the Nasdaq rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the Nasdaq rules require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee operates under a charter that has been approved by our board and will have the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee is available on our website.
Audit Committee
Mr. Lee, Mr. Prince and Mr. Venkatadri serve as members of our audit committee, and Mr. Lee is the chair of the audit committee. All members of our audit committee are independent of and unaffiliated with our Sponsor and our underwriters.
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Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Lee and Prince each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
We adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
• | assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm; the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us; |
• | pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures; reviewing and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence; |
• | setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (1) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues; |
• | meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and |
• | reviewing with management, the independent, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. |
Compensation Committee
Mr. Lee, Mr. Prince and Mr. Venkatadri serve as members of our compensation committee. Mr. Prince is the chair of the compensation committee.
We adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
• | reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation; |
• | reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to the compensation, and any incentive compensation and equity based plans that are subject to board approval of all of our other officers; |
• | reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans; |
• | implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
• | assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
• | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees; |
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• | producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
• | reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, other than any potential advisory fees to Cascadia Capital for financial advisory services provided in connection with an initial business combination, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid by us to any of our existing stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of an initial business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Mr. Lee, Mr. Prince and Mr. Venkatadri serve as members of our nominating and corporate governance committee. Mr. Venkatadri is the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee.
We adopted a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which details the principal functions of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including to assist the board in:
• | identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
• | developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines; |
• | coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the Company; and |
• | reviewing on a regular basis our corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary. |
Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees
Our nominating and corporate governance committee will recommend to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees (our “Code of Ethics”). A copy of the Code of Ethics is available on our website. If we make any amendments to our Code of Ethics other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions requiring disclosure under applicable SEC or the Nasdaq rules, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
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Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors are indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors. Except with respect to any Public Shares they acquired in the Initial Public Offering or may acquire thereafter (in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination), our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title, interest, cause of action or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account, and not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever, including with respect to such indemnification.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Conflicts of Interest
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
• | the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity; |
• | the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and |
• | it would not be fair to our company and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation |
Our officers are employed by Cascadia Capital, an independent middle market investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions advice, equity placement, private capital, debt capital, fairness opinions, strategic advisory, and special situational advisory to entrepreneurs and family-owned and institutionally backed businesses. Although Cascadia Capital is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which may present an attractive opportunity for us, Cascadia Capital will not have any duty or other obligation to offer acquisition opportunities to us. In addition, our officers and directors may have a duty to offer acquisition opportunities to clients of Cascadia Capital, or our other affiliates. As a result, our affiliates and their respective clients may compete with us for business combination opportunities in the same industries and sectors as we may target for our initial business combination, and if any of them decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities.
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Subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Delaware law, none of our directors or officers who are also employed by, or directors or officers of, our Sponsor or its affiliates or other entities have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, and may choose or be required to present potential business combinations to current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us.
Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, including Cascadia Capital, he or she will honor these obligations or duties to present such opportunity to such entity and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless (i) such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, (ii) such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue and (iii) the director or officer is permitted to refer the opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Additionally, our Sponsor, directors and officers are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and are not prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. Our Sponsor, Cascadia Capital, officers, directors and their respective affiliates may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures, even prior to us entering into a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. We do not believe, however, that any such potential conflicts or the time taken by our management team’s other duties would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with, or to which there is a fiduciary, contractual or other obligation by, our Sponsor, officers or directors, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with such an entity unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the initial business combination is fair to the company from a financial point of view, and (ii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors.
Cascadia Holdings is a member and affiliate of our Sponsor and is providing certain support services to us. Conflicts may arise from Cascadia Capital’s affiliation with us, and its provision of services both to us and to third-party clients. Cascadia Capital is often engaged as a financial advisor, or placement agent, to corporations and other entities and their directors and managers in connection with the sale of those entities, their assets or their subsidiaries. Clients generally require Cascadia Capital to act exclusively on their behalf and as a result and/or for other reasons, we may be precluded from attempting to acquire securities of the business being sold or otherwise participating as a buyer in the transaction. Alternatively, Cascadia Capital or another affiliate of our Sponsor, may be a financial advisor to a target business that we pursue a business combination with and Cascadia Capital or another affiliate of our Sponsor, may receive fees from the target business in connection with a business combination. Cascadia Capital also represents potential buyers’ businesses and may be incentivized or obligated to direct an opportunity to one of these buyers in lieu of us, thereby eliminating or reducing the investment opportunity available to us.
Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties, contractual or other obligations:
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Individual | Entity |
Entity’s Business |
Affiliation | |||
Michael Butler | Cascadia Capital | Investment Banking Firm | Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder | |||
Coldstream Capital Management Inc. | Wealth Management Firm | Director | ||||
D4DT Inc. | Data Platform Company | Director | ||||
Jamie Boyd | Cascadia Capital | Investment Banking Firm | Managing Director | |||
Edgar Lee | Neo Performance Materials | Industrial Materials | Director | |||
Cloud5 Communications |
Communications |
Director | ||||
Healthy Spot Holdings |
Retail |
Director | ||||
Sagent Group LLC |
Investment Management |
Managing Member | ||||
Scott Prince | AP Shale Logistics Holdco |
Logistics |
Chief Executive Officer | |||
Vallen Distribution Inc. |
Industrial Distribution |
Director | ||||
Arun Venkatadri | Aurora | Autonomous Vehicles |
Staff Product Manager | |||
Carnegie Mellon University | University | Executive in Residence | ||||
Extremis Ventures | Investments | Founder | ||||
Buf | Technology | Advisor | ||||
Gridwise | Technology | Advisor | ||||
Bloomfeld Robotics | Technology | Advisor |
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
• | Our executive officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit any specified period of to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our executive officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which they may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our executive officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. |
• | In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities or clients of the other entities with which they are affiliated, including, without limitation, Cascadia Capital. Our management may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
• | Our initial stockholders purchased Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants. Our initial stockholders have entered into agreements with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and any Public Shares they hold in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. The other members of our management team have entered into agreements similar to the one entered into by our initial stockholders with respect to any Public Shares acquired by them in or after the Initial Public Offering. Additionally, our initial stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. Furthermore, our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (i) one year after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property (the “Original Lock-Up Agreement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the lockup. Upon completion of the RealWear Business Combination, the Original Lock-Up Agreement will be superseded by the Lock-Up Agreement entered into in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, pursuant to which our initial stockholders and certain shareholders of RealWear agreed not to effect any transfer of Cascadia Shares for a period of 180 days following the closing of the Business Combination. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable until 30 days following the completion of our initial business combination. Because each of our executive officers and directors will own common stock or warrants directly or indirectly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. |
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• | Our officers and directors, Cascadia Capital or its affiliates may sponsor, form or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. |
• | Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination |
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, may obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm, that the consideration to be paid by us in such initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view.
We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
In the event that we submit the RealWear Business Combination or any other initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote our initial stockholders have agreed to vote their Founder Shares, and they and the other members of our management team have agreed to vote any Founder Shares they hold and any shares purchased during or after the offering, and our anchor investors have agreed to vote any Founder Shares they hold, in favor of our initial business combination.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
From September 2021 through February 2022, we paid Cascadia Capital an aggregate fee of up to $10,000 per month for executive and other operational support, including accounting services and office space provided to members of our management team. We and the Sponsor have agreed to indemnify Cascadia Capital and its affiliates in connection with the services provided pursuant to the services agreement. Cascadia Capital has agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account, and not to seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to the indemnification obligations set forth in the services agreement. In addition, our Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations.
Other than the administrative fee of up to $10,000 per month through February 2022, and reimbursement of expenses and the potential payment of advisory fees to Cascadia Capital for financial advisory services provided in connection with an initial business combination, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder’s, consulting fees and other similar fees, will be paid to our Sponsor, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, they will receive repayment of any loans from our Sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards and Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
We do not have any equity incentive plans under which to grant awards.
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Employment Agreements
We do not currently have any written employment agreements with any of our directors and officers.
Retirement/Resignation Plans
We do not currently have any plans or arrangements in place regarding the payment to any of our executive officers following such person’s retirement or resignation.
Director Compensation
We have not paid our directors fees in the past for attending board meetings. In the future, we may adopt a policy of paying independent directors a fee for their attendance at board and committee meetings. We reimburse each director for reasonable travel expenses related to such director’s attendance at board of directors and committee meetings.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock as of March 21, 2023 by:
• | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; |
• | each of our officers, directors and director nominees; and |
• | all of our officers, directors and director nominees as a group. |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
The beneficial ownership of our common stock is based on shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 21, 2023, consisting of 289,195 shares of Class A common stock and 3,750,000 shares of Class B common stock.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER (1) | NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED (2) |
APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE OF OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK (3) |
||||||
Directors, executive officers and Founders |
||||||||
Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC (our Sponsor)(4) |
2,737,500 | 67.8 | % | |||||
Michael Butler |
2,737,500 | 67.8 | % | |||||
Jamie Boyd |
2,737,500 | 67.8 | % | |||||
Edgar Lee |
25,000 | * | ||||||
Scott Prince |
25,000 | * | ||||||
Arun Venkatadri |
25,000 | * | ||||||
All executive officers and directors as a group (five individuals) |
2,812,500 | 69.6 | % | |||||
Five Percent Holders |
||||||||
Castle Creek Arbitrage, LLC(5) 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3050 Chicago, IL 60603 |
1,485,000 | (5 | ) | |||||
Linden Capital L.P. (6) 150 N. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60606 |
1,255,000 | (6 | ) | |||||
Radcliffe Capital Management, L.P. (7) 50 Monument Road, Suite 300 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 |
1,320,247 | (7 | ) | |||||
Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. (8) 16 York Street, Suite 2900 Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0E6 |
1,435,000 | (8 | ) | |||||
Atalaya Capital Management LP (9) One Rockefeller Plaza, 32nd Floor New York, NY10020 |
1,083,889 | (9 | ) |
* | Less than one percent. |
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(1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following is 1000 2nd Avenue Suite 1200, Seattle, Washington 98104. |
(2) | Interests shown consist of Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments. This table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants as they are not exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2023. |
(3) | The following ownership percentages are based on 4,039,195 shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock issued and outstanding as of March 21, 2023. |
(4) | Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC is the record holder of the Founder Shares reported herein. Mr. Butler and Mr. Boyd are each managers of Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC. Each of Mr. Butler and Mr. Boyd has voting and investment discretion with respect to the common stock held of record by Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC. Each of Mr. Butler and Mr. Boyd disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares held by Cascadia Acquisition Sponsor LLC except to the extent of his ultimate pecuniary interest. |
(5) | Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2022 by Castle Creek Arbitrage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Mr. Allan Weine, as the principal beneficial owner of Castle Creek Arbitrage, LLC, CC ARB West, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, CC Arbitrage, Ltd., a Cayman Island Company, and Castle Creek SPAC Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited Liability Company (collectively, the “Castle Creek Parties”). The 13G/A reports shared voting and investment power with respect to 1,485,000 Public Shares by Castle Creek Arbitrage, LLC, shared voting and investment power with respect to 1,485,000 Public Shares by Mr. Weine, shared voting and investment power with respect to 566,528 Public Shares by CC ARB West, LLC, shared voting and investment power with respect to 217,552 Public Shares by CC Arbitrage, Ltd., and shared voting and investment power with respect to 700,920 Public Shares by Castle Creek SPAC Fund, LLC. The number of Public Shares held by the Castle Creek Parties is based on the number of shares held on December 31, 2022, which would not reflect any redemption of shares by the Castle Creek Parties in connection with the Extension or any other transactions after December 31, 2022. Accordingly, since the number of Public Shares held by the Castle Creek Parties on December 31, 2022 is in excess of the total number of Public Shares outstanding as of March 21, 2023, the ownership percentages have been omitted from the table as they would not accurately reflect the Castle Creek Parties’ current percentage ownership. |
(6) | Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 3, 2022 by Linden Capital L.P., a Bermuda limited partnership, Linden Advisors LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Linden GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Mr. Siu Min (Joe) Wong (collectively, the “Linden Capital Parties”). Each of the aforementioned Linden Capital Parties share voting and investment control and may be deemed to beneficially own 1,255,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The number of Public Shares held by the Linden Capital Parties is based on the number of shares held on December 31, 2022, which would not reflect any redemption of shares by the Linden Capital Parties in connection with the Extension or any other transactions after December 31, 2022. Accordingly, since the number of Public Shares held by the Linden Capital Parties on December 31, 2022 is in excess of the total number of Public Shares outstanding as of March 21, 2023, the ownership percentages have been omitted from the table as they would not accurately reflect the Linden Capital Parties’ current percentage ownership. |
(7) | Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022 by Radcliffe Capital Management, L.P. RGC Management Company, LLC, Steven B. Katznelson, Christopher Hinkel, Radcliffe SPAC Master Fund, L.P., and Radcliffe SPAC GP, LLC (collectively, the “Radcliffe Parties”). Each of the aforementioned Radcliffe Parties share voting and investment control and may be deemed to beneficially own 1,320,247 shares of Class A Common Stock. The number of Public Shares held by the Radcliffe Parties is based on the number of shares held on December 31, 2022, which would not reflect any redemption of shares by the Radcliffe Parties in connection with the Extension or any other transactions after December 31, 2022. Accordingly, since the number of Public Shares held by the Radcliffe Parties on December 31, 2022 is in excess of the total number of Public Shares outstanding as of March 21, 2023, the ownership percentages have been omitted from the table as they would not accurately reflect the Radcliffe Parties’ current percentage ownership. |
(8) | Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2022 by Polar Asset Management Partners Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada (“Polar”), which serves as the investment advisor to Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“PMSMF”) with respect to Public Shares directly held by PMSMF. The 13G/A reports shared voting and investment power with respect to 1,435,000 Public Shares by Polar. The number of Public Shares held by Polar is based on the number of shares held on December 31, 2022, which would not reflect any redemption of shares by Polar in connection with the Extension or any other transactions after December 31, 2022. Accordingly, since the number of Public Shares held by Polar on December 31, 2022 is in excess of the total number of Public Shares outstanding as of March 21, 2023, the ownership percentages have been omitted from the table as they would not accurately reflect Polar’s current percentage ownership. |
55
(9) | Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022 by Atalaya Special Purpose Investment Fund II LP (“ASPIF II”), ACM ASOF VII (Cayman) Holdco LP (“ASOF”), ACM Alameda Special Purpose Investment Fund II LP (“Alameda”), ACM Alamosa (Cayman) Holdco LP (“Alamosa”), Atalaya Capital Management LP (“ACM”), Corbin ERISA Opportunity Fund, Ltd. (“CEOF”), Corbin Capital Partners GP, LLC (“Corbin GP”), and Corbin Capital Partners, L.P. (“CCP”) (collectively, the “ASPIF Parties”). The 13G/A reports shared voting and investment power with respect to 198,252 Public Shares by ASPIF II, shared voting and investment power with respect to 278,134 Public Shares by ASOF, shared voting and investment power with respect to 174,492 Public Shares by Alameda, shared voting and investment power with respect to 154,870 Public Shares by Alamosa, shared voting and investment power with respect to 1,083,889 Public Shares by ACM, shared voting and investment power with respect to 278,141 Public Shares by CEOF, shared voting and investment power with respect to 278,141 Public Shares by Corbin GP, and shared voting and investment power with respect to 278,141 Public Shares by CCP. The number of Public Shares held by the ASPIF Parties is based on the number of shares held on December 31, 2022, which would not reflect any redemption of shares by the ASPIF Parties in connection with the Extension or any other transactions after December 31, 2022. Accordingly, since the number of Public Shares held by the ASPIF Parties on December 31, 2022 is in excess of the total number of Public Shares outstanding as of March 21, 2023, the ownership percentages have been omitted from the table as they would not accurately reflect the ASPIF Parties’ current percentage ownership. |
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Assignment of Founder Shares
On February 22, 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000 in consideration for 4,312,500 Founder Shares, including an aggregate of up to 562,500 Founder Shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor if the underwriters’ over-allotment were not exercised. On August 26, 2021, the Sponsor assigned 75,000 of its Founder Shares to three directors (25,000 shares each) of the Company that will automatically convert to Class A common shares upon the consummation of the initial business combination. In addition, the Sponsor sold an aggregate of 937,500 of is Founder Shares to 23 anchor investors in connection with the Initial Public Offering. The underwriter’s over-allotment option expired unexercised on October 9, 2021, and as a result, 562,500 Founder Shares were forfeited. As of December 31, 2022, there were 3,750,000 Founder Shares outstanding.
Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares, with the exception of transferring, assigning or selling any such Founder Shares to the Company’s directors, officers, and certain other permitted transferees, until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of a business combination or (B) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or similar transaction that results in the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the business combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the lock-up. Upon completion of the RealWear Business Combination, the Original Lock-Up Agreement will be superseded by the Lock-Up Agreement entered into in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, pursuant to which our initial stockholders and certain shareholders of RealWear agreed not to effect any transfer of Cascadia Shares for a period of 180 days following the closing of the Business Combination.
Private Placement
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, our Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $5,000,000. On October 9, 2021, the underwriter’s over-allotment option expired unexercised. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants were added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If we do not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless.
56
Promissory Note - Related Party
On February 16, 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 an unsecured promissory note (the “Promissory Note”). The Company borrowed $123,795 under the Promissory Note and repaid the Promissory Note on August 30, 2021 with proceeds from the Initial Public Offering. As of December 31, 2021, there was no balance outstanding under the Promissory Note.
On September 1, 2022, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $350,000 to cover expenses, pursuant to an unsecured promissory note (the “Second Note”). Amounts outstanding under the Second Note bear interest at a rate of 3.05% per annum and are due upon demand. As of December 31, 2022, there was $221,785 outstanding under the Second Note.
Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering in August 2021 to pay the to pay Cascadia Capital Holdings, LLC a total of $10,000 per month for executive, and other operational support, including accounting and administrative services and office space provided to members of our management team. The Company and Cascadia Capital Holdings, LLC agreed to end these payments after the February 2022 payment. The Company and the Sponsor have agreed to indemnify Cascadia Capital Holdings, LLC and its affiliates in connection with the services provided pursuant to the services agreement. In addition, our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations.
Director Independence
Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Lee, Mr. Prince and Mr. Venkatadri is an “independent director” under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Fees for professional services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, for the last two fiscal years include:
For the Year ended December 31, 2021 |
For the Year ended December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 82,220 | $ | 87,450 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
— | — | ||||||
Tax Fees(3) |
13,395 | 14,031 | ||||||
All Other Fees(4) |
— | — | ||||||
Total |
$ | 95,615 | $ | 101,481 |
(1) Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by Grant Thornton in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
(2) Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related services consist of fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. We did not pay Grant Thornton for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards for the year ended December 31, 2022.
57
(3) Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of fees for professional services relating to tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. We did not pay Grant Thornton for tax planning and tax advice for the year ended December 31, 2022.
(4) All Other Fees. We did not pay Grant Thornton for other services for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Pre-Approval Policy
Since the formation of our audit committee upon the consummation of our Initial Public Offering, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit). The audit committee pre-approved all auditing services provided by Grant Thornton set forth above for 2022.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
a. | The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: Financial Statements: See “Index to Financial Statements” at “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” herein. |
b. | Exhibits: The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
58
EXHIBIT INDEX
59
* | Filed herewith |
** | Furnished herewith |
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Cascadia Acquisition Corp. | ||||||
Date: March 31, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jamie Boyd | ||||
Name: Jamie Boyd | ||||||
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name | Position |
Date | ||
/s/ Michael Butler |
Chairman of the Board | March 31, 2023 | ||
Michael Butler | ||||
/s/ Jamie Boyd |
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director | March 31, 2023 | ||
Jamie Boyd | (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ Edgar Lee |
Director | March 31, 2023 | ||
Edgar Lee | ||||
/s/ Scott Prince |
Director | March 31, 2023 | ||
Scott Prince | ||||
/s/ Arun Venkatadri |
Director | March 31, 2023 | ||
Arun Venkatadri |
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Page |
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F-2 |
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Financial Statements: |
F-3 |
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F-4 |
||||
F-5 |
||||
F-6 |
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F-7 |
December 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
ASSETS |
| |||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | 329,361 | $ | 650,409 | ||||
Prepaid expenses |
290,478 | 698,366 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
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Total current assets |
619,839 | 1,348,775 | ||||||
Investments Held in Trust Account |
151,772,731 | 150,001,689 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
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Total assets |
$ | 152,392,570 | $ | 151,350,464 | ||||
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|
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LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
||||||||
LIABILITIES |
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Current liabilities |
||||||||
Accrued expenses |
$ | 152,852 | $ | 86,813 | ||||
Accrued offering costs |
250,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
Franchise tax payable |
58,066 | 174,845 | ||||||
Income tax payable |
360,000 | — | ||||||
Note payable |
221,785 | — | ||||||
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|
|
|
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Total current liabilities |
1,042,703 | 511,658 | ||||||
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Non-current liabilities |
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Deferred underwriter fee payable |
5,250,000 | 5,250,000 | ||||||
Warrant liability |
125,000 | 6,500,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-current liabilities |
5,375,000 | 11,750,000 | ||||||
|
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|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
6,417,703 | 12,261,658 | ||||||
|
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|
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Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Redeemable Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 15,000,000 shares issued and outstanding subject to possible redemption, at redemption value |
151,354,665 | 150,000,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |
— | — | ||||||
Class A Common Stock; $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding, excluding 15,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption |
— | — | ||||||
Class B Common Stock; $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 3,750,000 issued and outstanding |
375 | 375 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
— | — | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(5,380,173 | ) | (10,911,569 | ) | ||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total Stockholders’ Deficit |
(5,379,798 | ) | (10,911,194 | ) | ||||
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|
|
|
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Total Liabilities, Redeemable Class A Common Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit |
$ | 152,392,570 | $ | 151,350,464 | ||||
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
For the Period From February 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
General and administrative expenses |
$ | 1,015,713 | $ | 394,712 | ||||
Franchise tax expense |
200,000 | 174,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Loss from operations |
(1,215,713 | ) | (569,557 | ) | ||||
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|
|||||
Other income (expense) |
||||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
2,086,774 | 1,689 | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
6,375,000 | 2,800,000 | ||||||
Offering costs associated with warrant liabilities |
— | (326,718 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Other income, net |
8,461,774 | 2,474,971 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
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Net income before provision for income taxes |
7,246,061 | 1,905,414 | ||||||
Provision for income taxes |
(360,000 | ) | — | |||||
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|
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Net income allocable to common stockholders |
$ | 6,886,061 | $ | 1,905,414 | ||||
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|||||
Weighted average of shares outstanding of Class A redeemable common shares, basic and diluted |
15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class A redeemable common shares |
$ | 0.29 | $ | (0.65 | ) | |||
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|
|||||
Weighted average of shares of Class B non-redeemable common shares |
3,750,000 | 3,750,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B non-redeemable common shares |
$ | 0.29 | $ | (0.65 | ) | |||
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|
|
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable Class A Common Stock |
Class B Common Stock |
Additional paid-in capital |
Accumulated deficit |
Total stockholder’s equity (deficit) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, February 16, 2021 (inception) |
— | $ | — | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor |
— | — | 4,312,500 | 431 | 24,569 | — | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of units in initial public offering, less allocation to derivative warrant liabilities, gross |
15,000,000 | 140,700,000 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Offering costs |
— | (8,541,608 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Private placement of warrants, includes excess cash received of $1,250,000 over the fair value at issuance date of August 30, 2021 |
— | 3,750,000 | — | — | 1,250,000 | — | 1,250,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture of Class B shares due to non-exercise of over-allotment option |
— | — | (562,500 | ) | (56 | ) | — | 56 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Deemed dividend to Class A Stockholders |
— | 14,091,608 | — | — | (1,274,569 | ) | (12,817,039 | ) | (14,091,608 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | 1,905,414 | 1,905,414 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2021 |
15,000,000 |
$ |
150,000,000 |
3,750,000 |
$ |
375 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(10,911,569 |
) |
$ |
(10,911,194 |
) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable Class A Common Stock |
Class B Common Stock |
Additional paid-in capital |
Accumulated deficit |
Total stockholder’s equity (deficit) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2021 |
15,000,000 | $ | 150,000,000 | 3,750,000 | $ | 375 | $ | — | $ | (10,911,569 | ) | $ | (10,911,194 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accretion for Class A Common Stock Subject to Redemption |
— | $ |
1,354,665 |
— | — | — | (1,354,665 | ) | (1,354,665 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | 6,886,061 | 6,886,061 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2022 |
15,000,000 |
$ |
151,354,665 |
3,750,000 |
$ |
375 |
$ |
— |
$ |
(5,380,173 |
) |
$ |
(5,379,798 |
) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Period From | ||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
February 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities |
| |||||||
Net income |
$ | 6,886,061 | $ | 1,905,414 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities used in operating activities |
(2,086,774 | ) | (1,689 | ) | ||||
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities |
(6,375,000 | ) | (2,800,000 | ) | ||||
Offering costs associated with derivative warrant liabilities |
— | 326,718 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
| |||||||
Prepaid expenses |
407,888 | (698,366 | ) | |||||
Accrued expenses |
66,039 | 86,813 | ||||||
Income tax payable |
360,000 | — | ||||||
Franchise tax payable |
(116,779 | ) | 174,845 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(858,565 | ) | (1,006,265 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities |
| |||||||
Purchases of marketable securities in Trust Account |
— | (150,000,000 | ) | |||||
Withdrawal from Investment held in trust account to pay taxes |
315,732 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
315,732 | (150,000,000 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities |
| |||||||
Proceeds from note payable |
221,785 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor |
— | 25,000 | ||||||
Proceeds from Sponsor note |
— | 123,795 | ||||||
Repayment of Sponsor note |
— | (123,795 | ) | |||||
Proceeds received from initial public offering, gross |
— | 150,000,000 | ||||||
Proceeds received from private placement |
— | 5,000,000 | ||||||
Offering costs paid |
— | (3,368,326 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
221,785 | 151,656,674 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash |
(321,048 | ) | 650,409 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash - Beginning of period |
650,409 | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash - End of period |
$ | 329,361 | $ | 650,409 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities: |
||||||||
Offering costs included in accrued offering costs |
$ | $ | 250,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deferred underwriting commissions |
$ | — | $ | 5,250,000 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Accretion of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption |
$ | 1,354,665 | $ | — | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deemed dividend to Class A stockholders |
$ | — | $ | 14,091,608 | ||||
|
|
|
|
• | 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. |
For the year ended December 31, 2022 |
For the period from February 16, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021 |
|||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | |||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share |
||||||||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||||||
Allocation of net income (loss) |
$ | 4,287,430 | $ | 1,071,857 | $ | (9,748,617 | ) | $ | (2,437,577 | ) | ||||||
Denominator: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding |
15,000,000 | 3,750,000 | 15,000,000 | 3,750,000 | ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share |
$ | 0.29 | $ | 0.29 | $ | (0.65 | ) | $ | (0.65 | ) |
• | in whole and not in part; |
• | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
• | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
• | if, and only if, the closing price of the common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on each of 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing after the warrants become exercisable and ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
Description |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account – BLACKROCK LIQ TREASURY TR INST |
$ | 151,722,731 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||
Public Warrants |
$ | 75,000 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Private Placement Warrants |
$ | $ | 50,000 | $ | — |
Description |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account—Treasury Securities |
$ | 150,001,689 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||
Public Warrants |
$ | 4,050,000 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Private Placement Warrants |
$ | $ | 2,450,000 | $ | — |
Inputs |
Public Warrants |
Private Placement Warrants | ||
Exercise price |
$11.50 | $11.50 | ||
Stock price at issuance date |
$9.49 | $9.49 | ||
Expected term (years) |
6.00 | 6.00 | ||
Probability of acquisition |
90.00% | 90.00% | ||
Volatility |
10% pre-merger and 15% post-merger |
14.4% | ||
Risk-free rate |
0.92% | 0.92% |
Warrant liabilities measured with level 3 inputs at February 16, 2021 (inception) |
$ | — | ||
Issuance of public and private warrants at August 30, 2021 |
9,300,000 | |||
in fair value of warrant liabilities |
375,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Warrant liabilities measured with level 3 inputs at September 30, 2021 |
9,675,000 | |||
Transfer of Public Warrants to Level 1 |
(5,775,000 | ) | ||
Transfer of Private Placement Warrants to Level 2 |
(3,900,000 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Warrant liabilities measured with level 3 inputs at December 31, 2021 |
$ | — | ||
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Federal: |
||||||||
Current |
$ | 360,000 | $ | — | ||||
Deferred |
176,938 | 119,252 | ||||||
State: |
||||||||
Current |
— | — | ||||||
Deferred |
— | — | ||||||
Change in valuation allowance |
(176,938 | ) | (119,252 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income tax provision |
$ | 360,000 | $ | — | ||||
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Statutory federal income tax rate |
21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | ||||
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
(18.5 | )% | (30.9 | )% | ||||
Transaction costs allocated to warrant liability |
— | % | 3.6 | % | ||||
Change in valuation allowance |
2.5 | % | 6.3 | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income tax provision |
5.0 | % | — | % | ||||
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Deferred tax asset |
$ | 296,190 | $ | 82,890 | ||||
Organizational costs/Startup expenses |
— | 36,362 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Federal net operating loss |
— | — | ||||||
Total deferred tax asset |
296,190 | 119,252 | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
(296,190 | ) | (119,252 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance |
$ | — | $ | — | ||||
|
|
|
|