Inception Growth Acquisition Ltd - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________ to ________________

Commission file number: 001-41134

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (315) 636-6638

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☒ No ☐

At June 30, 2022, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $128,056,750.

As of April 12, 2023, the Registrant had 7,114,136 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2022

CERTAIN TERMS

References to “the Company,” “IGTA,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Inception Growth Acquisition Limited, a blank check company incorporated on March 4, 2021 under the laws of the State of Delaware. References to our “Sponsor” refer to Soul Venture Partners LLC. References to our “IPO” or the “Initial Public Offering” refer to the initial public offering of Inception Growth Acquisition Limited, which closed on December 13, 2021.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. The statements contained in this report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. 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 “anticipates,” “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 report may include, for example, statements about our:

The forward-looking statements contained in this report 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 the heading “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 and/or if and when management knows or has a reasonable basis on which to conclude that previously disclosed projections are no longer reasonably attainable.

part I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Introduction

Inception Growth Acquisition Limited is a newly organized blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. While we will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, given the experience of our management team, our acquisition and value creation strategy will be to identify, acquire, and build a company based in the United States and/or Asia (excluding China) with a focus in the technology, media and telecom (TMT), sports and entertainment, and/or non-gambling gaming sectors. We shall not undertake our initial business combination with any entity with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). As of the date of this report, we have not selected any target business for our initial business combination.

Initial Public Offering

On December 13, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (“IPO”) of 9,000,000 units (the “Units”), each Unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrant”), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share, and one right (the “Right”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a share of Common Stock upon consummation of an initial business combination. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $90,000,000. On December 9, 2021, the underwriters of the IPO fully exercised their over-allotment option, and the closing and sale of an additional 1,350,000 Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”) occurred on December 13, 2021. The issuance by the Company of the Over-Allotment Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit resulted in total gross proceeds of $13,500,000.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO and the sale of the over-allotment units on December 13, 2021, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) with the Sponsor of 4,721,250 warrants (the “Private Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Warrant, generating total proceeds of $4,721,250. These securities (other than our IPO securities) were issued pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended pursuant to Section 4(2) of the securities Act.

The Private Warrants are identical to the warrants sold in the IPO except that the Private Warrants will be non-redeemable and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise thereof are entitled to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the Sponsor or their permitted transferees. Additionally, our Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign, or sell any of the Private Warrants or underlying securities (except in limited circumstances, as described in the Registration Statement) until 30 days after the Company completes its initial business combination.

A total of $104,535,351 of the net proceeds from the IPO   (including the over-allotment) and the Private Placement were deposited in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders. The proceeds held in the trust account may be invested by the trustee only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. On January 21, 2022, our shares of common stock, warrants and rights underlying the Units sold in our IPO began to trade separately on a voluntary basis.

Since our IPO, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates. The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus has resulted in a widespread health crisis that has adversely affected the economies and financial markets worldwide, and potential target companies may defer or end discussions for a potential business combination with us whether or not COVID-19 affects their business operations. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. We may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. 

Industries Overview

Our objectives are to generate compelling attractive returns and to enhance value through top line growth and hands-on operational improvement for our potential target companies. We believe our management team’s personnel, network and relationships combined with their unique and diversified experiences in investing, operating and transforming businesses will uniquely position our team to identify and execute attractive business combination opportunities. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location, except that we shall not undertake our initial business combination with any entity with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). We plan to target companies that compete in the following industries in the United States and/or Asia (excluding China):

We believe each of these markets has considerable growth potential. For example:

TMT

While Covid-19 has negatively affected the global economy in 2020, its impact on the TMT sector has been both positive and negative, based on PwC CEE analysis as of June 2020. Positive effects include the acceleration of trends such as digital transformation, over-the-top (i.e. a means of providing television and film content over the internet at the request and to suit the requirements of the individual consumer) video usage, and even new telehealth applications. According to this analysis, the total global TMT expenditure has grown at a pace substantially above the rate of inflation in the past a few years and this growth rate is projected to continue this year.

The TMT industry is a multifaceted industry comprised of networks, wireless communications, entertainment media and content generation as well as other consumer technologies. Within the TMT industry, the media sector is witnessing high growth. The Media Global Market Report by The Business Research Company in December 2020 stated that the global media market reached a value of nearly $1,713.0 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow rapidly to $2,670.0 billion in 2025. Given the technological advancement, we see a huge growth opportunity for the media industry. The pandemic has encouraged people to spend more time at home. As a result, physically distanced-friendly activities have become extremely popular including streaming services.

As for the telecom sector, it is going through a major development with 5G rollout. According to a March 2020 report by the GSM Association, an industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, forecasts that 5G technologies will add $2.2 trillion to the global economy particularly for manufacturing and financial services industries, both of which are key sectors in the United States. The report also states that by 2025, 20% of communication connections worldwide will incorporate 5G networks with a strong presence in Asia, North America and Europe. We believe the 5G technologies will play an important role in supporting economic growth in those regions.

Sports & Entertainment

According to a May 2021 market report by the Business Research Company, despite Covid-19, the Sports industry was worth approximately $388.3 billion in 2020. We expect that industry to continue to grow as a result of emergence of e-sports, rising sponsorships, and increase in internet accessible devices. Companies are finding new ways to fuel year-round fan-engagement and new revenue streams.

We believe one of the biggest sources of alternative revenue for sports organizations will be sports analytics. We expect data-driven platforms and artificial intelligence to play a huge part in helping organizations to better understand consumer behaviors in the coming years. By monitoring and tracking off-fields sports data such as digital and customer engagement, and marketing data, organizations will understand the needs of their target market and improve the customer experience and find new sources of revenue. Big data will also provide insights into player metrics and team performance. An analysis performed by KBV Research in 2019 predicts that the Global Sports Analytics Market size is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2025.

Another segment of the industry that is witnessing phenomenal growth is Esports, also known as “electronic sports”. Esports is a form of sport competition using video games. This segment not only includes traditional sports-related games for professional players to join teams to compete for cash prizes but also for individual players to get involved in streaming entertainment to engage with fans. Whilst it was previously a subset within the Sports industry, it is now a billion-dollar industry of its own. The Esports market is on track to surpass $1.0 billion in revenue and hit $1.8 billion by 2022, per 2019 Newzoo figures cited by Statista. The total viewership is expected to grow at a 9% CAGR from 454 million in 2019 to 646 million in 2023, which puts the audience on a pace to double over six years. The ecosystem is strong, supported by many technology platforms, services, analytic platforms, and substantial investor capital. In addition, the number of brand sponsorship in the Esports market has grown significantly with nearly 53% of the brands being non-Esports related. Brands recognize that the key to connect with the younger generation audience is through Esports.

Non-Gambling Gaming

The global gaming market was valued at $173.70 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $314.40 billion by 2026, according to Mordor Intelligence. The gaming market is segmented by game type (console, tablet, smartphone, browser PC, and downloaded PC) and consistent with our business strategy. Our team expects to identify high quality companies in this market.

With improving internet infrastructure, increasing smartphone penetration rate and large numbers of software and hardware developers, we anticipate that Asia Pacific will hold the largest market share in the gaming industry. We expect that technologies such as 5G will help fuel the growth of the Asia Pacific gaming market by providing faster internet access for cloud gaming. According to Statista, the Japanese and Korean gaming markets are expected to grow rapidly. Statista forecasted that the Japanese video gaming market will reach over $14 billion by 2026 (Japanese video gaming market report published in January 2021), and finally the South Korea’s gaming industry will reach over $15 billion by 2022 (South Korea gaming industry report published in March 2021). We believe these statistics are indicators of the huge potential in Asia. Just like the Asia Pacific region, the gaming industry in the United States is experiencing healthy growth. We believe this growth can be attributed to several factors including technological advancements that are enhancing gaming experiences for customers. Consumer spending on video games is projected to reach $13.4 billion in the combined November and December 2020 holiday period, reaching a record high in the United States market, according to the 2020 Gamer Segmentation Report by the NPD Group, an American market research company. This was 24% higher than the previous year. Based on the NPD Group’s 2020 Gamer Segmentation Report, the United States had 244 million video game players as of 2020, which is 30 million more players than in 2018.

The surge in the number of players proves the growing demand and bright prospect for the gaming sector in Asia and the United States. Given the favorable industry outlook, we believe there will be many attractive investment opportunities to acquire a potential growth company in the gaming industry.

Our Competitive Advantages

We intend to capitalize on our below competitive advantages to find a suitable target company:

1. Experienced Management Team

We have a strong portfolio of leaders on our team. Both our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have years of experience successfully managing and running a variety of corporations in Asia and the United States.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Cheuk Hang Chow, has almost a decade of C-suite leadership and business development experience in several industries including technology, media and entertainment. He has served as CEO of companies such as MetaOne Limited, a non-fungible token (NFT) asset management platform based in Asia, and China Creative Digital Entertainment Limited (formerly HMV Digital China Group), an investment holding company engaged in media and entertainment businesses in East Asia, as well as CFO and Executive Director to listed companies like China Food and Beverage Group Limited (HKG:8272), an investment holding company operating restaurant businesses in Hong Kong. We are confident that we can capitalize on Mr. Chow’s previous experiences in advising and expanding startups and listed companies to help guide and prepare the target for the business combination.

Mr. Felix Yun Pun Wong, our Chief Financial Officer, is a seasoned chief financial officer. In fact, he has served as chief financial officer for four other companies. He has proven himself to be an adaptable and strong leader as he served as a top executive at a wide range of companies, from media to private equity to technology in both mainland China and Hong Kong and served as the chief financial officer of Tottenham Acquisition I Limited on NASDAQ. We believe Mr. Wong’s experiences will be valuable throughout the entire SPAC IPO process and in selecting target companies for acquisition.

Our management team has been actively involved in operating, advising, expanding and generating high returns for many companies. Their executive leadership, operational oversight, strategic management will boost investor confidence in the team’s ability to complete a successful business combination. As a result, we believe our management team is well-positioned to take advantage of growing acquisition opportunities in the TMT, sports & entertainment and gaming (non-gambling) industry.

2. Strong Board of Directors

We have recruited an accomplished and well-recognized group of leaders to be our board of directors. Our board of directors comes from a plethora of industries where they serve as vice presidents, advisors, directors, presidents, vice chairman for public companies, private companies and venture capital firms in Asia and the United States.

Mr. Michael Lawrence Coyne, one of our directors, has 8 years of extensive capitals markets, business development, and deal origination experience. Since January 2023, Mr. Coyne has been serving as a Principal and Head of Capital Markets in the financial advisory firm Benjamin Securities. From February 2018 to January 2023, Mr. Coyne was a partner and Head of Capital Markets at Ingalls & Snyder, LLC, an investment advisory firm. From August 2015 to February 2018, Mr. Coyne served as Vice President and Head of Equity Syndicate of Capital Integration Systems LLC, an online financial services platform based in New York. Prior to that, in March 2015, he began his career in financial services at the Blackstone Group, as a private wealth management intern. Concurrently, from February 2012 to July 2019, Mr. Coyne served as 1st Lieutenant, executive Officer, task force officer-in-charge and platoon leader and operations officer of the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army. Mr. Coyne passed the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 7, 63, 24, 79 examination and obtained a Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) license in September 2, 2015; January 25, 2016; September 24, 2018; August 22, 2018 and October 1, 2018, respectively.. His skills in managing businesses in large public corporations, financial planning and strategic management will be a great asset for the target company.

Ms. Yan Xu has over 9 years of experience working in the Chinese gaming market and in a variety of industries in the Japanese market. She has also worked closely with top executives in PRC companies. Ms. Xu has been an independent director for Ace Global Business Acquisition Limited since February 2021. Since February 2014, Ms. Xu has served as the head of the Japanese division for Whiz Partners Asia Ltd where she worked closely with Japanese companies to help identify potential Chinese partners to expand their business operations. She has also been the vice president of the China Hero Fund project, one of the first funds created to support game developers in China since 2016. Prior to this role, she worked as the assistant to the chief executive officer for Blue Ridge China, where she was responsible for post-investment tracking. Between 2008 to 2011, she worked at SinoCom Software Group Ltd. as secretary to the Third Division and Team Leader of the Translation Department. Ms. Xu also spent three years working at Neusoft Group Co. Ltd as secretary of business software division and team leader of translation department. Her experience and skills in the Chinese and Japanese markets will be a great asset for the target company.

Mr. Albert Chang has served in multiple executive positions including vice president for Insight Soul Partners, a leading venture capital firm and as vice president of investments for Kenetic Capital responsible for managing a portfolio of over $100 million venture investments. He has also previously served at Pacific Century Group, a leading Asian family office, managing venture investments and corporate finance. Prior to Pacific Century, he managed mergers and acquisitions at PCCW Group, a leading regional TMT company. His capital markets experience and strategic management and implementation will be an added value as we identify a potential target and complete a business combination.

Our team has extensive experiences in identifying, selecting, screening, acquiring and managing companies. We believe these are the skill sets that are essential for a successful management team. With our board of directors’ deep understanding and experience of all aspects in the TMT, sports & entertainment and gaming (non-gambling) industry, we could effectively position our investment strategy, evaluation of potential acquisition candidates and complete our initial business combination.

3. Strong and Extensive Network to Source a Suitable Target Company

We believe our team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with many potential business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, they have served in a variety of capacities, allowing them to expand their network in both Asia and the United States. In addition, many of them are currently board directors and non-executive directors of other public companies. These contacts and sources include those in government, private and public companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment bankers, attorneys and accountants. For example, our CEO, Mr. Cheuk Hang Chow, was the chief executive officer of an NFT asset management platform and an investment holding company principally engaged in media and entertainment businesses in East Asia. His roles in these companies provides access to a massive network of tech executives, founders and investors. We can leverage his connections to identify multiple potential targets. Our independent director, Mr. Michael Lawrence Coyne, has 8 years of extensive capitals markets, business development, and deal origination experience while Ms. Yan Xu, also our independent director, has over 9 years of experience working in the Chinese gaming market and in a variety of industries in the Japanese market. We believe the extensive network our directors have in the TMT, sports & entertainment and gaming (non-gambling) industry will give us a competitive advantage when exploring potential business combination opportunities.

4. Strong M&A Expertise and de-SPAC Experience

In addition to supporting us in the areas of investment strategy and improving the company’s processes, our team also has experience in M&A and raising funds. Our team consists of seasoned professionals with significant M&A, capital markets, finance and private equity experience across a wide variety of industries and market conditions and have proven track records of producing high returns for investors. In addition, we have a unique advantage as Mr. Felix Wong, our Chief Financial Officer, has track record in successfully completing the initial business combinations of SPACs (“de-SPAC”). He was previously the CFO of Tottenham Acquisition I Limited, which successfully merged with Clene Nanomedicine Inc (NASDAQ: CLNN) in December 2020. After merging, the stock price reached a peak of $16.3 per share, resulting in more than 60% return (as compared to the $10.00 IPO price of Tottenham Acquisition I Limited) for investors. His previous experience in selecting a SPAC and managing a successful merger will be extremely valuable in ensuring the success of our initial business combination.

5. Advantages of being a Publicly Listed Company

We believe we are offering a unique opportunity for companies that want to grow and enter into the international markets. Our structure will make us an attractive business partner. As a publicly listed company, our business partners will have access to the capital markets for greater financing and be able to expand their existing customer base. Furthermore, SPACs also offer an alternate route to the traditional IPO that is less costly and can accelerate a company’s market entry. Even smaller companies with large growth prospects have the opportunity to be selected. In addition, the risk of failure to raise capital is much lower since the money is raised prior to selecting the target. Although there are some risks to a certain extent, we believe the benefits of partnering with a SPAC and going public outweigh the costs. We are also confident that the track record of our management team and board of directors will bring in many attractive options. Our management team and board consist of industry veterans like Mr. Cheuk Hang Chow, Mr. Felix Wong, Mr. Michael Lawrence Coyne, Mr. Albert Chang and Ms. Yan Xu. Together, we expect that they will bring to the table a pool of expertise that will be attractive to target companies seeking for public listing in the United States.

Acquisition Criteria

We intend to focus on the target company with a size measured between $500 million – $1 billion. Other than this, we also intend to look for target company who possesses the following core values:

Our Acquisition Process

Our sponsor believes that conducting comprehensive due diligence on prospective investments is particularly important within the technology industry. In evaluating a prospective initial business combination, we expect to conduct a thorough diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, financial analyses and technology reviews, as well as a review of other information that will be made available to us.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, our officers, or our directors, subject to certain approvals and consents. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to us from a financial point of view.

Members of our management team may directly or indirectly own our securities following the IPO, and accordingly, 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. Further, each of 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 currently do not have any specific targets for an initial business combination selected. None of our officers and directors, nor has anyone on their behalf contacted or had any discussions with possible target businesses in which they directly or indirectly proposed or encouraged a potential target to consider a possible combination with us.

As described in “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides 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. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.

Initial Business Combination

Nasdaq rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. We anticipate structuring our initial business combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses, or (ii) in such a way so that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders, or for other reasons. However, we will only complete an initial business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the “Investment Company Act”. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of Nasdaq’s 80% of net assets test. If the initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the transactions and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.

Our Business Combination Process

In evaluating prospective business combinations, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review process that will encompass, among other things, a review of historical and projected financial and operating data, meetings with management and their advisors (if applicable), on-site inspection of facilities and assets, discussion with customers and suppliers, legal reviews and other reviews as we deem appropriate.

We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities 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 directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present the opportunity to such entity, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. 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 our 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.

Status as a Public Company

We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As a public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination with us. Following an initial business combination, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with stockholders’ interests than it would as a private company. A target business can further benefit by augmenting its profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. In a business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of stock in the target business for our shares of common stock (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of our shares of common stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers.

Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more expeditious and cost-effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial public offering process takes a significantly longer period of time than the typical business combination transaction process, and there are significant expenses in the initial public offering process, including underwriting discounts and commissions, marketing and road show efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with an initial business combination with us.

Furthermore, once a proposed initial business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Following an initial business combination, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public company can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.

While we believe that our structure and our management team’s backgrounds will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history and our ability to seek stockholder approval of any proposed initial business combination, negatively.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of the IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30^th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.

Certain companies requiring federal-issued licenses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Our Sponsor, Soul Venture Partners LLC, is controlled by Mr. Jason Wong, a non-U.S. person and a Hong Kong national. Our sponsor currently owns 19.0% of our outstanding shares. We are therefore likely considered a “foreign person” under the regulations administered by CFIUS and will continue to be considered as such in the future for so long as our Sponsor has the ability to exercise control over us for purposes of CFIUS’s regulations. Therefore, we could be subject to foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review if our proposed business combination is between us and a U.S. target company engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security. The scope of CFIUS review was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business combination with a U.S. target company falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The foreign ownership limitations, and the potential impact of CFIUS, may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.

Moreover, the process of government review, whether by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our initial business combination. If we cannot complete our initial business combination within 21 months from the closing of our initial public offering because the review process drags on beyond such timeframe or because our initial business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive $10.25 per share, and our warrants and rights will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.

Risks related to Potential Application of the Investment Company Act and Inflation Reduction Act

As of the date hereof, substantially all of the assets held in the trust account are held in money market funds, which primarily invest in U.S. Treasury Bills. There is uncertainty under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) whether special purpose acquisition companies, or “SPACs,” could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. The longer that the funds in the trust account are held in U.S. government securities or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the trust account at any time and instead hold all funds in the trust account in a bank deposit account in order to mitigate the risks of falling within the definition of “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.

If we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds and for which we would not have sufficient time to comply with prior to the expiration of its time to complete a business combination. As a result, if we were deemed to be an investment company, we would expect to abandon its efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead to liquidate and dissolve. If we are required to liquidate and dissolve, our investors would lose the opportunity to invest in a target company and would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in the post-business combination company, including the potential appreciation of our share price following such a transaction. In addition, in the event of our liquidation and dissolution, our warrants and rights would expire worthless.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”), which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on any publicly traded domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased stock, with certain exceptions. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities are trading on Nasdaq, we will be a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IR Act. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”), who has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the Excise Tax, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with an initial business combination, extension vote or otherwise, unless an exemption is available. The Excise Tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holders. Generally, issuances of securities by us in connection with our initial business combination transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of our initial business combination), as well as any other issuances of securities not in connection with our initial business combination, would be expected to reduce the amount of the Excise Tax in connection with redemptions occurring in the same calendar year.

Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination, extension vote or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets. Finally, based on recently issued interim guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury in Notice 2023-2, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our liquidation.

To mitigate the current uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the IR Act, the Sponsor intends to indemnify the Company for any Excise Tax liabilities resulting from the implementation of the IR Act with respect to any future redemptions. For the avoidance of doubt, the proceeds deposited in the trust account and the interest earned thereon shall not be used to pay for any Excise Tax due under the IR Act in connection with any redemptions of the Public Shares in connection with any Redemption Event (including the extension and the Company’s initial Business Combination).

Financial Position

With funds available for an initial business combination initially in the amount of $102,702,337 assuming no redemptions before non-reimbursable fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination and after payment of $2,250,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $1,100,000 in offering costs, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.

Effecting Our Initial Business Combination

We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following the IPO. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of the IPO and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of the IPO or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.

If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.

We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the initial business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.

Sources of Target Businesses

We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers and investment professionals. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us by calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read the prospectus relating to the IPO and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as our sponsor and their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors and our sponsor and their respective industry and business contacts as well as their affiliates. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee, advisory fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of finder’s fees is customarily tied to completion of a transaction; in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account. In no event, however, will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which our sponsor or officers are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation by the company prior to, or in connection with any services rendered for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). None of our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be allowed to receive any compensation, finder’s fees or consulting fees from a prospective business combination target in connection with a contemplated initial business combination. We have agreed to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support and to reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-transaction company following our initial business combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an initial business combination candidate.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, executive officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm hat is a member of FINRA or a qualified independent accounting firm that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.

As more fully discussed in Item 10 of Part III of this report entitled “Directors, Executive Officers And Corporate Governance — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.

Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination

Nasdaq rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. The fair market value of our initial business combination will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation, a valuation based on trading multiples of comparable public businesses or a valuation based on the financial metrics of M&A transactions of comparable businesses. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. We do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be taken into account for purposes of Nasdaq’s 80% of net assets test. 

To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.

In evaluating a prospective business target, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.

The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.

Lack of Business Diversification

For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team

Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.

We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

Following an initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.

Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination

We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.

Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:

Ability to Extend Time to Complete Business Combination

The Company’s IPO prospectus dated December 8, 2021 provides that the Company initially had until 15 months from the closing of the IPO to complete its initial business combination, or, if we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 15 months, we may, but are not obligated to, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination two times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination) by depositing $0.10 for each public share that has not been redeemed (or an aggregate of $1,035,000 if there are no redemptions) into the trust account for each three (3) month extension. However, as approved by its shareholders at the annual meeting of stockholders held on March 13, 2023 (the “Meeting”), on March 13, 2023, we entered into an amendment to the investment management trust agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, allowing us to extend the time available for us to consummate an initial business combination for an additional six (6) months from March 13, 2023 to September 13, 2023 without having to make any extension payment. On March 13, 2023, the Company decided to extend the available time to complete a business combination for an additional six (6) months from March 13, 2023 to September 13, 2023. Public stockholders were not offered the opportunity to vote on or redeem their shares in connection with any such extension. In connection with the stockholders vote at the Meeting, 5,873,364 shares of common stock were tendered for redemption.

Non-redemption Agreements

On March 3, 2023, the Company and Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements (“Non-Redemption Agreement”) with an unaffiliated third parties in exchange for such third party agreeing not to redeem an aggregate of 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock sold in its initial public offering (“Non-Redeemed Shares”) in connection with the annual meeting of the stockholders called by the Company and to be held on March 13, 2023 (the “Meeting”) to consider and approve, among other things, an amendment to the Company’s investment management trust agreement dated December 8, 2021, (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”) to extend the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination for a period of six months without having to make any payment to the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Non-Redeemed Shares, the Sponsor has agreed to transfer to such third party an aggregate of up to 120,000 shares of the Common Stock held by the Sponsor following the Meeting if they continue to hold such Non-Redeemed Shares through the Meeting. The Company has waived the transfer restrictions set forth in the Letter Agreement dated December 8, 2021, between the Company and Sponsor (the “Letter Agreement”), regarding the transfers of the shares Common Stock contemplated by the Non-Redemption Agreement. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2021, by and between the Company and EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (“EF Hutton”). EF Hutton has consented in writing to waive the transfer restrictions set forth in Sections 15 and 18 of the Letter Agreement in connection to the transfers of the shares Common Stock contemplated by the Non-Redemption Agreements.

On March 6, 2023, the “Company and the Sponsor entered into Non-Redemption Agreement with certain unaffiliated third parties in exchange for such third parties agreeing not to redeem an aggregate of 2,100,000 shares of the Common Stock sold in its initial public offering (“Non-Redeemed Shares”) in connection with the annual meeting of the stockholders called by the Company to be held on March 13, 2023 (the “Meeting”) to consider and approve, among other things, an amendment to the Company’s investment management trust agreement dated December 8, 2021, (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”) to extend the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination for a period of six months without having to make any payment to the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Non-Redeemed Shares, the Sponsor has agreed to transfer to such third party an aggregate of up to 630,000 shares of the Common Stock held by the Sponsor following the Meeting if they continue to hold such Non-Redeemed Shares through the Meeting.

On March 7, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into additional Non-Redemption Agreements with certain unaffiliated third parties in exchange for such parties agreeing not to redeem an aggregate of 625,000 Non-Redeemed Shares. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Non-Redeemed Shares, the Sponsor has agreed to transfer to such third party an aggregate of up to 187,500 shares of the Common Stock held by the Sponsor following the Meeting if they continue to hold such Non-Redeemed Shares through the Meeting.

On March 8, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into Non-Redemption Agreement with certain unaffiliated third parties in exchange for such third parties agreeing not to redeem an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares of the Common Stock sold in its initial public offering (“Non-Redeemed Shares”) in connection with the annual meeting of the stockholders called by the Company and held on March 13, 2023 (the “Meeting”) to consider and approve, among other things, an amendment to the Company’s investment management trust agreement dated December 8, 2021, (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”) to extend the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination for a period of six months without having to make any payment to the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Non-Redeemed Shares, the Sponsor has agreed to transfer to such third party an aggregate of up to 360,000 shares of the Common Stock held by the Sponsor following the Meeting if they continue to hold such Non-Redeemed Shares through the Meeting.

Permitted Purchases of our Securities

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 initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination.

The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.

Any purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.

Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.25 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.

Manner of Conducting Redemptions

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. If we structure an initial business combination with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed initial business combination. We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with such rules.

If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.

In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares which are not purchased by our sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.

If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.

If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count toward this quorum and pursuant to the letter agreement. Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after the IPO (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our sponsor, officers and directors may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions. For example, the proposed initial business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.

Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination if we Seek Stockholder Approval

Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 the IPO, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” Such restriction shall also be applicable to our affiliates. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed initial business combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in the IPO without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. 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.

Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights

We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.

There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.

The foregoing is different from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the initial business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the initial business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation.

As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the initial business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the initial business combination is approved.

Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or the date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.

If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.

If our initial proposed initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until 21 months from the closing of the IPO.

Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Initial Business Combination

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only up to 21 months (as we extended the time to complete a business combination as described in this report) from the closing of the IPO to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 21 months, 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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our 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 our warrants and rights, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 21-month time period.

Our initial stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 21 months from the closing of the IPO. However, if our sponsor, our officers or directors acquire public shares in or after the IPO, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 21-month time period.

Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the ability of holders of our public shares to seek redemption in connection with our initial business combination or our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 21 months from the closing of the IPO or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of 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 and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.

However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). If this optional redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of public shares such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement (described above), we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of our public shares at such time.

We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $1,100,000 (the amount will remain the same if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes on interest income earned on the trust account balance, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $50,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.

If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.25. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.25. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.

Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would 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 an 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 will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. 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. We are not aware of any product or service providers who have not or will not provide such waiver other than the underwriters of the IPO and our independent registered public accounting firm.

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. 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 similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.25 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 $10.25 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, if any, 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 the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not 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 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. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (i) $10.25 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, if any, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification 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 may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.25 per public share.

We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $1,100,000 from the proceeds of the IPO with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $1,100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $775,000 we may fund such excess with funds from the funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,100,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.

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 within 21 months from the closing of the IPO may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the 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.

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 within 21 months from the closing of the IPO, 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. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 21 months from the closing of the IPO, 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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our 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. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following our 21st month   and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. 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 well beyond the third anniversary of such date.

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 subsequent 10 years. 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. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below (i) $10.25 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes, if any, and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.

If 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, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.10 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if 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. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (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 any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the ability of holders of our public shares to seek redemption in connection with our initial business combination or our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 21 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our business combination within 21 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with the initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. 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.

Competition

In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic business combinations. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the initial business combination of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.

Facilities

Our executive offices are located at 875 Washington Street, New York, NY 10014 and our telephone number is (315) 636-6638. Our executive offices are provided to us by our sponsor. We have agreed to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

Employees

We currently have two officers, namely Mr. Cheuk Hang Chow, our Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Felix Wong, our Chief Financial Officer. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they 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 they 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 initial 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. 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

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

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

We do not own any real estate or other physical properties materially important to our operations. We maintain our principal executive offices at 875 Washington Street, New York, NY 10014. The cost for this space is provided to us by an affiliate of our sponsor, as part of the $10,000 per month payment we make to it for office space and related services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We may be subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of our business from time to time. We are not currently a party to any material litigation or other legal proceedings brought against us. We are also not aware of any legal proceeding, investigation or claim, or other legal exposure that has a more than remote possibility of having a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

part II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our units began to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “IGTAU” on December 9, 2021. The shares of common stock, warrants and rights comprising the units began separate trading on Nasdaq on January 21, 2022, under the symbols “IGTA”, “IGTAW” and “IGTAR”, respectively.

Holders of Record

As of April 12, 2023, there were 7,114,136 of our shares of common stock issued and outstanding held by 11 stockholders of record.  The number of record holders was determined from the records of our transfer agent and does not include beneficial owners of shares of common stock whose shares are held in the names of various security brokers, dealers, and registered clearing agencies.

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an 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 a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

None.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Use of Proceeds

On December 13, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (“IPO”)of 10,350,000 units (the “Units”), each Unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrant”), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share, and one right (the “Right”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a share of Common Stock upon consummation of an initial business combination. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $103,500,000.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO and the sale of the over-allotment units on December 13, 2021, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) with the Sponsor of 4,721,250 warrants (the “Private Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Warrant, generating total proceeds of $4,721,250. These securities (other than our IPO securities) were issued pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended pursuant to Section 4(2) of the securities Act.

The Private Warrants are identical to the warrants sold in the IPO except that the Private Warrants will be non-redeemable and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise thereof are entitled to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the Sponsor or their permitted transferees. Additionally, our Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign, or sell any of the Private Warrants or underlying securities (except in limited circumstances, as described in the Registration Statement) until 30 days after the Company completes its initial business combination.

As of December 31, 2022, a total of $106,052,337   was held in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders, which included $103,500,000 of the gross proceeds from the IPO (including the exercise of the over-allotment option) and $4,721,250 of the Private Placements and subsequent interest income.

We paid a total of $1,811,250 in underwriting discounts and commissions (not including the deferred underwriting commission payable at the consummation of initial business combination) and approximately $433,947 for other costs and expenses related to our formation and the initial public offering.

For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our initial public offering, see below Part II, Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-K.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

None.

ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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

We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on March 4, 2021 and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination and (pursuant to backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing.

Our sponsor is controlled by Jason Wong.

The issuance of additional shares in connection with an initial business combination to the owners of the target or other investors:

Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or the owners of a target, it could result in:

Results of Operations

Our entire activity from inception up to December 13, 2022 was in preparation for the initial public offering. Since the initial public offering, our activity has been limited to the evaluation of business combination candidates, and we will not be generating any operating revenues until the closing and completion of our initial business combination. We expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after this period.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had a net income of $475,491, which was comprised of dividend income of $1,217,668 and interest income of $299,318, offset by formation, general and administrative expenses of $742,265 and income taxes of $299,230.  

For the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, we had a net loss of $181,960, which was comprised formation, general and administrative expenses of $182,311, offset by dividend income $351.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, we had cash of $680,812 and investments held in the Trust Account of $106,052,337. Until the consummation of the initial public offering, the only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of ordinary shares by our Sponsor, monies loaned by the Sponsor under a certain unsecured promissory note and advances from our Sponsor.   On December 13, 2021, we drew $134,885 against the promissory note and the entire balance was repaid on December 16, 2021.

On December 13, 2021, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 10,350,000 ordinary units (the “Public Units”), which includes the full exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option in the amount of 1,350,000 Public Units, at $10.00 per Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $103,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 4,721,250 Warrants (the “Private Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in a private placement to Soul Venture Partners LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $4,721,250.

We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account to complete our initial business combination (less deferred underwriting commissions). We may withdraw interest to pay taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of this offering, to be $200,000, which is the maximum amount of annual franchise taxes payable by us as a Delaware corporation per annum, which we may pay from funds from this offering held outside of the trust account or from interest earned on the funds held in our trust account and released to us for this purpose. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our income and franchise taxes. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.

Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us the approximately $1,100,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete an initial business combination.

The Company initially had 15 months from the consummation of this offering to consummate the initial business combination. If the Company does not complete a business combination within 15 months from the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company will trigger an automatic winding up, dissolution and liquidation pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. As a result, this has the same effect as if the Company had formally gone through a voluntary liquidation procedure under the Companies Law. Accordingly, no vote would be required from our shareholders to commence such a voluntary winding up, dissolution and liquidation. However, the Company may extend the period of time to consummate a business combination two times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 27 months from the consummation of the Public Offering to complete a business combination). The Company is unable to consummate the Company’s initial business combination by September 13, 2023 (unless further extended), the Company will, as promptly as possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Company’s outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not necessary to pay taxes, and then seek to liquidate and dissolve. However, the Company may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of the Company’s public shareholders. In the event of dissolution and liquidation, the public rights will expire and will be worthless.

On March 13, 2023, in connection with the stockholders vote at the Annual Meeting, 5,873,364 shares were redeemed by certain shareholders at a price of approximately $10.31 per share, including interest generated and extension payments deposited in the Trust Account, in an aggregate amount of $60,583,162.

Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern due to business combination is not consummated by September 13, 2023 (unless further extended).   These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Off-balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2022. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.  

Contractual Obligations

We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities other than an agreement to pay our Sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative services to us. We began incurring these fees on March 4, 2021 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of the business combination and our liquidation. Also, we are committed to the below:

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Warrants (and their underlying securities) and the warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and their underlying securities) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed on the effective date of the Public Offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the Founder Shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants issued in payment of Working Capital Loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a Business Combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Underwriting Agreement

We are committed to pay the Deferred Fee committed to pay the Deferred Discount of the Initial Public Offering, to the underwriter upon the Company’s consummation of the business combination. The deferred fee can be paid in cash.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have not identified any significant accounting policies.

We account for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“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 our own common stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of our 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 quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of equity at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as liabilities at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations.

As the warrants issued upon the IPO and private placements meet the criteria for equity classification under ASC 480, therefore, the warrants are classified as equity.

We account for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stocks subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stocks (including common stocks that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stocks are classified as stockholders’ equity. Our common stocks feature certain redemption rights that are subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events and considered to be outside of our control. Accordingly, at December 31, 2022 and 2021, 10,350,000 shares of common stock subject to possible redemption, respectively, are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of our balance sheet.

We comply with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A – “Expenses of Offering”. Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Public Offering and that were charged to shareholders’ equity upon the completion of the Public Offering.

We calculate net loss per share in accordance with ASC Topic 260, “Earnings per Share.” In order to determine the net income (loss) attributable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares, we first considered the undistributed income (loss) allocable to both the redeemable common stock and non-redeemable common stock and the undistributed income (loss) is calculated using the total net loss less any dividends paid. We then allocated the undistributed income (loss) ratably based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding between the redeemable and non-redeemable common stock. Any remeasurement of the accretion to the redemption value of the common stock subject to possible redemption was considered to be dividends paid to the public stockholders. As of December 31, 2022, we have not considered the effect of the warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering and private warrants to purchase an aggregate of 9,896,250  shares in the calculation of diluted net loss per share, since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events and the inclusion of such warrants would be anti-dilutive and we did not have any other dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in our earnings. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.

The net income (loss) per share presented in the statement of operations is based on the following:

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Our financial statements and the notes thereto begin on page F-1 of this Annual Report.

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, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our current chief executive officer and chief financial officer (our “Certifying Officers”), the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, due to the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described below, our Certifying Officers concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were not 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 Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15- d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), 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 GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

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) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 due to the existence of the following material weakness: the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Original Form 10-K”) contained an unintentional error in its content. It was inadvertently and incorrectly stated in Item 7 of Part II of the Original Form 10-K that there was a going concern issue for the Company but in fact there was no such issue. The Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2022 (the “Original Form 8-K”) also contained a similar unintentional error in its content, where it was inadvertently and incorrectly stated in Item 4.01 of the Original Form 8-K that the audit report on the financial statements of the Company for the period from March 4, 2021 (date of inception) through December 31, 2021 contained an uncertainty about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, but in fact there was no such uncertainty. The Company subsequently filed an amended Form 10-K and amended Form 8-K on January 13, 2023 to rectify the errors.

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K 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.

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

The following table sets forth information about our directors and executive officers as of April 12, 2023.

Cheuk Hang Chow. Mr. Chow has been serving as our Chief Executive Officer since February 17, 2023. He has almost a decade of C-suite leadership and business development experience in several industries including technology, media and entertainment. From January 2022 to November 2022, Mr. Chow was the CEO of MetaOne Limited, a non-fungible token (NFT) asset management platform based in Asia. Prior to that, from August 2015 to December 2021, he served as CEO to China Creative Digital Entertainment Limited (formerly HMV Digital China Group), an investment holding company principally engaged in media and entertainment businesses in East Asia. Concurrently, from December 2016 to September 2021, Mr. Chow was also Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Director to China Food and Beverage Group Limited (HKG:8272), an investment holding company principally engaged in operating restaurant businesses in Hong Kong. Apart from these roles, he has also served as an independent non-executive director to game developer and service provider company ME2ZEN Limited (950190.KQ) from February 2019 to January 2021, and to China Food and Beverage Group Limited (HKG:8272) from December 2016 to December 2021. From September 2010 to December 2013, Mr. Chow worked as a finance manager in AV Concept Holdings Limited, a leading marketing and distribution company for semiconductors and electronic components, and before that, from February 2009 to September 2010, he was with financial and public relations consultancy Wonderful Sky Financial Group (01260.HK) as an Investor Relations associate. He started his career in Risk Advisory at KPMG from December 2007. Mr. Chow earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Hong Kong in August 2007. We believe that Mr. Chow is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive leadership experience and his network in the technology, media and entertainment industries. 

Felix Yun Pun Wong. Mr. Wong has been serving as our Chief Financial Officer since April 9, 2021. He has years of executive experience with multiple leadership positions and a track record in helping private companies enter the public market. He has been the principal of Ascent Partners Advisory Service Limited, a finance advisory firm, since March 2020. From November 2017 to December 2020, Mr. Wong held the position of chief financial officer at Tottenham Acquisition I Limited, a publicly listed special purpose acquisition corporation (NASDAQ: TOTA), which merged with Clene Nanomedicine Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) in December 2020. From August 2015 to September 2017, he has served as chief financial officer at Raytron Technologies Limited, a leading Chinese national high-tech enterprise. His main responsibilities include overseeing the financial functions of the firm, assisting in establishing corporate ventures for investment, and working on deal origination of new businesses in the corporate group. Prior to that, he was chief financial officer and executive director of Tsing Capital from January 2012 to July 2015, where he managed four funds with a total investment amount of US$600 million and focused on environmental and clean technology investments. Mr. Wong also served as senior director and chief financial officer of Spring Capital, a US$250 million fund, from October 2008 until June 2011. Additionally, Mr. Wong was the chief financial officer of Natixis Private Equity Asia from November 2006 till October 2008 and an associate director of JAFCO Asia from March 2002 to October 2006. Mr. Wong was a finance manager for Icon Medialab from July 2000 to December 2001, a senior finance manager of Nielsen from August 1998 to July 2000, Planning-Free Shopper from April 1992 to August 1998 and an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers from August 1989 until March 2000. Mr. Wong earned his Masters of Business degree in 2003 from Curtin University in Australia and a Professional Diploma in Company Secretaryship and Administration from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1989. We believe that Mr. Wong is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in venture capital and with public companies.

Michael Lawrence Coyne. Mr. Coyne has been serving as our independent director since February 17, 2023. He has 8 years of extensive capitals markets, business development, and deal origination experience. Since January 2023, Mr. Coyne has been serving as a Principal and Head of Capital Markets in the financial advisory firm Benjamin Securities. From February 2018 to January 2023, Mr. Coyne was a partner and Head of Capital Markets at Ingalls & Snyder, LLC, an investment advisory firm. From August 2015 to February 2018, Mr. Coyne served as Vice President and Head of Equity Syndicate of Capital Integration Systems LLC, an online financial services platform based in New York. Prior to that, in March 2015, he began his career in financial services at the Blackstone Group, as a private wealth management intern. Concurrently, from February 2012 to July 2019, Mr. Coyne served as 1^st Lieutenant, executive Officer, task force officer-in-charge and platoon leader and operations officer of the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army. Mr. Coyne passed the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 7, 63, 24, 79 examination and obtained a Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) license in September 2, 2015; January 25, 2016; September 24, 2018; August 22, 2018 and October 1, 2018, respectively. Mr. Coyne obtained a bachelor of arts degree in political science and international affairs from Northeastern University and a master of business administration degree from Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University in 2011 and 2019, respectively. We believe that Mr. Coyne is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in capitals markets, business development, deal origination specializing in TMT sector as well as his SPAC expertise. 

Albert Chang. Mr. Chang has been serving as our independent director since March 4, 2021. He has also been serving as the vice president at Insight Soul Partners, a technology venture fund, since June 2020. Prior to 2020, he served as the vice president at Kenetic Capital, a blockchain venture capital investment firm, from October 2017 to December 2018. He led the seed investment into BlockFi, a leading financial services company in the blockchain space. Prior to this role, Mr. Chang served as an analyst at Pacific Century Group, from March 2014 to October 2017, where he helped manage corporate finance, venture investment and mergers and acquisitions. He executed the series D investment in Tokopedia, one of Indonesia’s leading e-commerce marketplaces on behalf of Pacific Century Group. He was a strategic development analyst at PCCW Solutions, a leading IT services company in Hong Kong and mainland China, during April 2012 to August 2014, before taking on the position as an M&A analyst at PCCW Corporate, a company focused on technology, media & telecommunications (TMT), from August 2012 to March 2014. Mr. Chang graduated from Imperial College Business School with a Master in International Health Management in 2010, and received his Bachelor in Psychology from the University of Warwick in 2009. We believe that Mr. Chang is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his experience in venture capital and TMT industry expertise.

Yan Xu. Ms. Xu has been serving as our independent director since March 1, 2023. Ms. Xu has over 9 years of experience working in the Chinese gaming market and in a variety of industries in the Japanese market. She has also worked closely with top executives in PRC companies. Ms. Xu has been an independent director for Ace Global Business Acquisition Limited since February 2021. Since February 2014, Ms. Xu has served as the head of the Japanese division for Whiz Partners Asia Ltd where she worked closely with Japanese companies to help identify potential Chinese partners to expand their business operations. She has also been the vice president of the China Hero Fund project, one of the first funds created to support game developers in China since 2016. Prior to this role, she worked as the assistant to the chief executive officer for Blue Ridge China, where she was responsible for post-investment tracking. Between 2008 to 2011, she worked at SinoCom Software Group Ltd. as secretary to the Third Division and Team Leader of the Translation Department. Ms. Xu also spent three years working at Neusoft Group Co. Ltd as secretary of business software division and team leader of translation department. She graduated from Dalian University of Foreign Studies with a Bachelors in Japanese in July 2003, and from Jilin University with a minor in law in July 2005. We believe that Ms. Xu is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on her experience with gaming industry expertise. 

Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors

We have five directors upon completion of the IPO. Each member of our board of directors will be elected at our annual meetings. In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq.

Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers (including, without limitation, a Chairman of the Board, Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and a Treasurer) as may be determined by the board of directors.

Director Independence

Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. 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. Our board of directors has determined that each of Michael Lawrence Coyne, Albert Chang and Yan Xu are “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

Officer and Director Compensation

None of our officers has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We have agreed to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. No other compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the trust account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such payments, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination.

After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed initial business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed initial business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.

We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors have three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, 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 subject to certain limited exceptions, Nasdaq rules require that the compensation committee and nominating committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.

Audit Committee

We have established an audit committee of the board of directors. Michael Lawrence Coyne, Albert Chang and Yan Xu serve as members of our audit committee, and Yan Xu chairs the audit committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent. Each of Michael Lawrence Coyne, Albert Chang and Yan Xu meet the independent director standard under Nasdaq listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.

Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Yan Xu qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:

Compensation Committee

We have established a compensation committee of the board of directors. Michael Lawrence Coyne, Albert Chang and Yan Xu serve as members of our compensation committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent. Each of Michael Lawrence Coyne, Albert Chang and Yan Xu are independent, and Albert Chang chairs the compensation committee.

We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, other than the payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of $10,000 per month, for up to 21 months, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid 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, 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 Committee

We have established a nominating committee of the board of directors, which consists of Michael Lawrence Coyne, Albert Chang and Yan Xu, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq listing standards. Michael Lawrence Coyne chairs the nominating committee. The nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of directors. The nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, stockholders, investment bankers and others.

Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees

The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:

The nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by stockholders and other persons.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.

Code of Ethics

Prior to the consummation of the IPO, we have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We have filed a copy of our Code of Ethics and our audit and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement of which the prospectus relating to the IPO is a part. You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. 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.

Conflicts of Interest

Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities 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 directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present the opportunity to such entity, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. 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 our 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.

Investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:

The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.

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:

Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, 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 our 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.

Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligation:

Accordingly, if any of the above executive officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for any of the above entities to which he or she has current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with such a company, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors will be 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.

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.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our shares of common stock and other equity securities. These executive officers, directors, and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed by such reporting persons.

Based solely on our review of such forms furnished to us and written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that all filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were filed in a timely manner.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Employment Agreements

We have not entered into any employment agreements with our executive officers, and have not made any agreements to provide benefits upon termination of employment.

Executive Officers and Director Compensation

We pay $10,000 per month administrative fee to an affiliate of our sponsor until completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation. No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. No compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, including our directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination. However, such individuals 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. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors and audit committee, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our voting securities by (i) each person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) each of our officers and directors, and (iii) all of our officers and directors as a group as of April 12, 2023. As of April 12, 2023, we had 7,114,136 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

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 following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of any shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants or conversion of rights, as the warrants are not exercisable, and the rights are not convertible, within 60 days of the date of this report.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

In March 2021, we issued an aggregate of 2,587,500 founder shares to our Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash, or approximately $0.01 per share. Subsequently, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 220,000 shares to our officers and directors, resulting in an aggregate of 2,587,500 shares of common stock outstanding to our initial stockholders.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) with the Sponsor of an aggregate of 4,721,250  private placement warrants for a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in the IPO, subject to limited exceptions. The private placement warrants (including the common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.

In April 2021, our sponsor agreed to loan us $1,000,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the IPO pursuant to a promissory note. The note is non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable promptly after the earlier of the date on which the Company consummates the IPO or the date on which the Company determines not to conduct the IPO.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. On December 13, 2021, we drew $134,885 against the promissory note and the entire balance was repaid on December 16, 2021.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had a temporary advance of $181,835 and $10,253 from our Sponsor, respectively. The balance is unsecured, interest-free and has no fixed terms of repayment.

We are obligated to pay our Sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for general and administrative services. However, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, we may delay payment of such monthly fee upon a determination by our audit committee that we lack sufficient funds held outside the trust to pay actual or anticipated expenses in connection with the initial business combination. Any such unpaid amount will accrue without interest and be due and payable no later than the date of the consummation of our initial business combination.

Other than the foregoing, no compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

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 our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.

We entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the private warrants, the warrants issuable upon conversion of working capital loans (if any) and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing and upon conversion of the founder shares.

Related Party Policy

Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.

We also require each of our directors and executive officers to annually complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors, or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, we require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

To further minimize potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate a business combination with an entity which is affiliated with any of our initial shareholders unless we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. Furthermore, in no event will any of our existing officers, directors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination.

To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, officers or directors unless we, or a committee of independent directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. Furthermore, no finder’s fees, reimbursements, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, for services rendered to us prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of the IPO held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:

Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.

Director Independence

Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. For a description of the director independence, see above Part III, Item 10 - Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The following is a summary of fees paid or to be paid to Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) and Friedman LLP (“Friedman”), prior to the acquisition of certain assets of Friedman by Marcum effective September 1, 2022, for services rendered..

Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by Friedman and Marcum in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees billed by Friedman and Marcum for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 totaled approximately $90,750 and $63,000, respectively. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.

Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related services consist of fees billed 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 Friedman or Marcum for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards during the year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021.

Tax Fees. We did not pay Friedman or Marcum for tax planning and tax advice for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021.

All Other Fees. We did not pay Friedman or Marcum for other services for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021. 

Pre-Approval of Services

Our audit committee was formed upon the consummation of our IPO. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, 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).

part IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:

We hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Copies of such material can be obtained on the SEC website at sec.report.

EXHIBIT INDEX

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of

Inception Growth Acquisition Limited

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Inception Growth Acquisition Limited (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1, the Company’s business plan is dependent on the completion of a business combination and the Company’s cash and working capital as of December 31, 2022 are not sufficient to complete its planned activities for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Marcum llp

Marcum llp

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021 (such date takes into account the acquisition of certain assets of Friedman LLP by Marcum LLP effective September 1, 2022)

Marlton, NJ

April 14, 2023

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Inception Growth Acquisition Limited

Opinion on the Financial Statement

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Inception Growth Acquisition Limited (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from March 4, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

This financial statement is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Friedman LLP

Friedman LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor from 2021 through 2022.

New York, New York

March 31, 2022

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

BALANCE SHEETS

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

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

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

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

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

INCEPTION GROWTH ACQUISITION LIMITED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND

Inception Growth Acquisition Limited (the “Company”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated on March 4, 2021, under the laws of the State of Delaware for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”).

Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus on businesses that have a connection to the Asian market and shall not undertake an initial business combination with any entity with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

At December 31, 2022, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activities through December 13, 2021 relate to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”). Since the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s activity has been limited to the evaluation of business combination candidates. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering.

Financing

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering became effective on December 8, 2021. On December 13, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 10,350,000 ordinary units (the “Public Units”), which includes the full exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option in the amount of 1,350,000 Public Units, at $10.00 per Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $103,500,000 which is described in Note 3.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 4,721,250 Warrants (the “Private Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in a private placement to Soul Venture Partners LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $4,721,250, which is described in Note 4.

Transaction costs amounted to $4,832,697, consisting of $1,811,250 of underwriting fees, $2,587,500 of deferred underwriting fees and $433,947 of other offering costs. In addition, at December 13, 2021, cash of $1,498,937 were held outside of the Trust Account (as defined below) and is available for the payment of offering costs and for working capital purposes net with $104,535,000 transferred to the Trust Account on December 13, 2021.

Trust Account

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering and exercise of the over-allotment option on December 13, 2021, the aggregate amount of $104,535,000 ($10.10 per Public Unit) held in Trust Account was invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below, except that interest earned on the Trust Account can be released to the Company to pay its tax obligations. As of December 31, 2022, investment securities in the Company’s Trust Account consisted of $106,047,848 in United States Treasury Bills and $4,489 in cash.

Business Combination