Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-40418
MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
| 85-2412613 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
| (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including zip code) |
(646) 493-6558 |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
N/A |
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
| Trading Symbol(s) |
| Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock |
| MCAE |
| The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Rights |
| MCAER |
| The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Units |
| MCAEU |
| The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☐ Large accelerated filer | ☐ Accelerated filer |
| ☒ Non-accelerated filer | ☒ Smaller reporting company |
|
| ☒ Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes ☒ No ☐
As of May 16, 2022, there were 7,051,084 shares of the Company’s common stock, including shares of common stock underlying the units and rights, $0.0001 par value per share issued and outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
| March 31, 2022 |
| December 31, 2021 | |||
(Unaudited) | ||||||
| ||||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current Assets | | | | | | |
Cash | $ | 117,504 | $ | 341,429 | ||
Prepaid expenses |
| 45,250 |
| 28,750 | ||
Marketable securities held in trust account | 54,177,150 | 54,174,163 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 54,339,904 | $ | 54,544,342 | ||
| | |||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT |
|
|
|
| ||
Current liabilities | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 72,580 | $ | 110,932 | ||
Deferred underwriting fee payable | 1,896,018 | 1,896,018 | ||||
Total liabilities |
| 1,968,598 |
| 2,006,950 | ||
|
|
|
| |||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
|
|
|
| ||
Common stock subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value, 5,417,193 shares at redemption value of $10.00 per share at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 | 54,171,930 | 54,171,930 | ||||
|
|
| ||||
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
|
|
| |||
Common Stock; $0.0001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 1,633,891 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 5,417,193 shares subject to possible redemption), as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 |
| 163 |
| 163 | ||
Additional paid-in capital |
| — |
| — | ||
Accumulated deficit |
| (1,800,787) |
| (1,634,701) | ||
Total Stockholders' Deficit |
| (1,800,624) |
| (1,634,538) | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT | $ | 54,339,904 | $ | 54,544,342 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
1
MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
For the period from | ||||||
March 2,2021 | ||||||
| (inception) | |||||
For the three months | through ended | |||||
ended March 31, | March 31, | |||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
OPERATING EXPENSES |
| |||||
General and administrative | $ | 148,341 | $ | 1,000 | ||
Franchise tax | 23,200 | — | ||||
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | (171,541) | (1,000) | ||||
|
| |||||
OTHER INCOME |
|
| ||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | 5,455 | — | ||||
Total other income, net | 5,455 | — | ||||
|
|
| ||||
NET LOSS | $ | (166,086) | $ | (1,000) | ||
| ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding of redeemable common stock |
| 5,417,193 | — | |||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, common stock | (0.02) | $ | — | |||
| | | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding of non-redeemable common stock(1) |
| 1,633,891 |
| 1,250,000 | ||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, non-redeemable common stock | (0.02) | (0.00) |
(1) | Excluded an aggregate of 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture at March 31, 2021 (see Note 5). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
2
MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022
| | | | Additional | | | Total | |||||||
Common stock | paid-in | Accumulated | stockholders’ | |||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| capital |
| deficit |
| deficit | |||||
Balance, January 1, 2022 | | 1,633,891 | | $ | 163 | $ | — | $ | (1,634,701) | $ | (1,634,538) | |||
| ||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | (166,086) | (166,086) | |||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | 1,633,891 | $ | 163 | $ | — | $ | (1,800,787) | $ | (1,800,624) |
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 2, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2021
Additional | Total | |||||||||||||
Common Stock | paid-in | Accumulated | stockholders’ | |||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| capital |
| deficit |
| equity | |||||
Balance, March 2, 2021 (inception) | | — | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||
| ||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock to Sponsor | 1,437,500 | 144 | 24,856 | — | 25,000 | |||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | (1,000) | (1,000) | |||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2021(1) |
| 1,437,500 | $ | 144 | $ | 24,856 | $ | (1,000) | $ | 24,000 |
(1) | Included an aggregate of 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 5). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
3
MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
For the period from | ||||||
Three Months Ended | March 2, 2021 | |||||
March 31, | (inception) through | |||||
| 2022 |
| March 31, 2021 | |||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
| |||
Net loss | $ | (166,086) | $ | (1,000) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
| |
| |||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | (5,455) | — | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Prepaid expenses | (16,500) | 1,000 | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | | (38,352) | | | — |
Net cash flows used in operating activities |
| (226,393) |
| — | ||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account to pay franchise taxes | 2,468 | — | ||||
Net cash flows provided by financing activities | 2,468 | — | ||||
|
|
| ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
| |||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to the sponsor |
| — |
| 25,000 | ||
Proceeds from promissory note - related party | — | — | ||||
Net cash flows provided by financing activities |
| — |
| 25,000 | ||
|
|
|
| |||
NET CHANGE IN CASH |
| (223,925) |
| 25,000 | ||
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD |
| 341,429 |
| — | ||
CASH, END OF PERIOD | $ | 117,504 | $ | 25,000 | ||
|
|
|
|
| ||
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
| |||
Offering costs paid through promissory note | $ | — | $ | 25,000 | ||
Offering costs paid by notes payable - related party | | $ | — | | $ | 43,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements
4
MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
MARCH 31, 2022
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operation
Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on March 2, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business transaction with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (a “Business Combination”).
The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through March 31, 2022 relates to the Company’s formation and initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination, in particular, activities in connection with the proposed business combination with Etao International Group, a Cayman Islands corporation (Etao) (see Note 6). 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.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on May 18, 2021. On May 20, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 5,000,000 units (the “Units”) and, with respect to the shares of common stock included in the Units sold (the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $50,000,000, which is described in Note 3.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 185,000 units (the “Private Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit in a private placement to Mountain Crest Holdings III LLC (the “Sponsor”) and Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (“Chardan”), generating gross proceeds of $1,850,000, which is described in Note 4.
On June 10, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in part, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional Units occurred on June 14, 2021. The total aggregate issuance by the Company of 417,193 units at a price of $10.00 per unit resulted in total gross proceeds of $4,171,930. On June 14, 2021, simultaneously with the sale of the Over-Allotment Option Units, the Company consummated the private sale of an additional 8,343 Private Units, generating gross proceeds of $83,430.
Transaction costs amounted to $3,931,536 consisting of $1,000,000 and additional $83,439 with over-allotment of underwriting fees, $1,750,000 and additional $146,018 with over-allotment of deferred underwriting fees, $670,809 of representative share fee and $281,270 of other offering costs.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on May 20, 2021, an amount of $50,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), which may be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account as described below.
5
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The Company’s initial Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and net of amounts previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations) at the time of the signing of an agreement to enter into a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The stockholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (initially $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The per-share amount to be distributed to stockholders who redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 6).
The Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 immediately prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor has agreed to (a) vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5), Private Shares (as defined in Note 4) and any Public Shares held by it in favor of a Business Combination and (b) not to redeem any shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a Business Combination or sell any such shares to the Company in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 20% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Sponsor has agreed to (i) waive its redemption rights with respect to Founder Shares, Private Shares and any Public Shares it may acquire during or after the Initial Public Offering in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination and (ii) not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the public stockholders an opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment. However, the Sponsor will be entitled to liquidating distributions with respect to any Public Shares acquired if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination or liquidates within the Combination Period (defined below).
The Company has until November 20, 2022 to consummate a Business Combination.
6
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than
business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.The Sponsor has agreed to waive its liquidation rights with respect to the Private Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor or any of its respective affiliates acquire Public Shares after the Initial Public Offering, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit ($10.00).
In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management is currently evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations, and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements. The condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $117,504 of cash held outside its Trust Account for use as working capital (the “Working Capital”). The Company’s liquidity needs prior to the consummation of the IPO had been satisfied through a payment from the Sponsor of $25,000 (see Note 5) for the founder shares and the loan under an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of $80,264 (see Note 5).
The promissory note from the Sponsor was paid in full at May 20, 2021. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company working capital loans, as defined below (see Note 5). To date, there were no amounts outstanding under any working capital loans.
7
Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will be using the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.
The Company will need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its Sponsor, stockholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. 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.
Going Concern
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that if the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by November 20, 2022, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition and date for liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after November 20, 2022.
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of SEC.
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements as of March 31, 2022 have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) considered for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 is not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022, or any future period.
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
8
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s condensed financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with a maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less. The Company did not have any cash equivalents at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account.
Investments Held in Trust Account
The Company’s portfolio of investments held in the Trust Account is comprised of investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities and generally have a readily determinable fair value, or a combination thereof. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities is included in interest earned on interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account in the accompanying statement of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.
Common stock subject to possible redemption
The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Shares of common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, 5,417,193 common shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value of $10.00 per share as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed balance sheets. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit. The Company allocates gross proceeds between Public Shares and Public Rights based on the relative fair values of Public Shares and Public Rights.
9
At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the common stock reflected in the condensed balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds |
| $ | 54,171,930 |
Less: |
|
| |
Proceeds allocated to public rights |
| (4,604,614) | |
Allocation of offering costs related to redeemable shares |
| (3,597,356) | |
Plus: |
|
| |
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value |
| 8,201,970 | |
Common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | 54,171,930 |
Offering Costs
Offering costs were $3,931,536 consisting principally of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Public Offering and are charged to stockholders’ deficit upon the completion of the Public Offering. The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A - “Expenses of Offering”. The Company allocates offering costs between Public Shares and Public Rights based on the relative fair values of Public Shares and Public Rights. Accordingly, $3,597,356 was allocated to Public Shares and charged to temporary equity, and $334,180 was allocated to Public Rights and charged to stockholders’ deficit.
Net Loss Per Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. In order to determine the net loss attributable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares, the Company first considered the undistributed loss allocable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares and the undistributed loss is calculated using the total net loss less any dividends paid. We then allocated the undistributed loss ratably based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding between the redeemable and non-redeemable shares. Any remeasurement of the accretion to redemption value of the common shares subject to possible redemption was considered to be dividends paid to the public shareholders. As of March 31, 2022, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.
The net loss per share presented in the condensed statement of operations is based on the following:
For the three months ended | For the period from March 2, 2021 | |||||||||||
March 31, | (inception) to March 31, | |||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
Non- | Non- | |||||||||||
Redeemable | Redeemable | Redeemable | Redeemable | |||||||||
| shares |
| shares |
| shares |
| shares | |||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share: Numerators: |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Allocation of net loss |
| $ | (127,600) |
| $ | (38,486) |
| $ | — |
| $ | (1,000) |
Denominators: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Weighted-average shares outstanding(1) |
| 5,417,193 |
| 1,633,891 |
| — |
| 1,250,000 | ||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
| (0.02) |
| (0.02) |
| — |
| (0.00) |
(1) | Excluded an aggregate of 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture at March 31, 2021 (see Note 5). |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities approximate the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying condensed balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
10
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740 Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had a deferred tax asset of approximately $105,000 and $70,000, respectively, which is comprised of net operating losses and startup costs. A full valuation allowance has been recorded at each date.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. The Company’s effective tax rate for three months ended March 31, 2022 and for the period from March 2, 2021 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 2021 was approximately 0%, which differs from the expected income tax rate due to the start-up costs which are not currently deductible.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt -- Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective December 15, 2023 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s condensed financial statements.
Note 3 —Public Offering
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 5,000,000 units at a price of $10 per unit (the “Public Units”) for gross proceeds of $50,000,000. The units consist of one share of common stock and the right to receive
-tenth (1/10) of a share of common stock upon consummation of an initial business combination (See Note 6). The underwriting agreement calls for an over-allotment option equal to 15% of the total number of units initially offered to the public. On May 20, 2021, the Company completed the Initial Public Offering.On June 10, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in part, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional Units occurred on June 14, 2021. The total aggregate issuance by the Company of 417,193 units at a price of $10.00 per unit resulted in total gross proceeds of $4,171,930.
11
Note 4 — Private Placement
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor and Chardan (and/or their designees) purchased an aggregate of 185,000 Private Units, at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,850,000, in a private placement. The Sponsor purchased 110,000 Private Units and Chardan purchased 75,000 Private Units. The Sponsor and Chardan also purchased an additional 8,343 Private Units, at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, or $83,430 in the aggregate in connection with the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option on June 10, 2021. Each Private Unit consists of one share of common stock (“Private Share”) and one right (“Private Right”). Each Private Right entitles the holder to receive
-tenth of one share of common stock at the closing of a Business Combination. The proceeds from the Private Units were added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law), and the Private Units and all underlying securities will expire worthless.Note 5 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On March 2, 2021, the Company issued 1,437,500 shares of common stock (the “Founder Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The Sponsor agreed to forfeit up to 187,500 Founder Shares to the extent that the 45-day over-allotment option was not exercised in full by the underwriters. Since the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in part, the Sponsor forfeited 83,202 Founder Shares on June 14, 2021. The Founder Shares forfeited by the Sponsor were cancelled by the Company.
The Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until, with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination and the date on which the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of a Business Combination and, with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier in each case if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Administrative Support Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on May 20, 2021 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, a total of $30,000 has been incurred and paid under this agreement. For the period from March 2, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2021, the Company did not incur any fees for these services.
Promissory Note — Related Party
On March 3, 2021 the Company issued the Promissory Note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate amount of $500,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The total outstanding balance under the Promissory Note of $80,264 was repaid at the closing of the Initial Public Offering on May 20, 2021.
12
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, an affiliate of the Sponsor, or the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds from time to time or at any time, as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). Each Working Capital Loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The Working Capital Loans would either be paid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the holder’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the Working Capital Loans may be converted into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The private units would be identical to the Private Units. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, no Working Capital Loans were outstanding.
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on March 2, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, the Private Units, and any shares that may be issued in payment of Working Capital Loans (and all underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that the Company register such securities. The holders of the majority of the Founders Shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these shares of common stock are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the Private Units (and underlying securities) and securities issued in payment of Working Capital Loans can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing on the dtwoate that the Company consummates a Business Combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Chardan may not exercise its demand and “piggyback” registration rights after five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, after the effective date of the Initial Public Offering and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion. The registration rights agreement does not contain liquidating damages or other cash settlement provisions resulting from delays in registering the Company’s securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriter’s Agreement
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $1,896,018, based upon the partial exercise of the over-allotment option. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. Of the $0.35 per Unit, $0.30 will be paid in cash and $0.05 will be paid in an equivalent value of shares.
Right of First Refusal
The Company has granted the underwriter, subject to certain conditions for a period of 18 months after the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, a right of first refusal to act as a co-manager or placement agent, with at least 25% of the economics, for any and all future public and private equity and debt offerings. The duration of such right of first refusal is limited not more than three years by certain regulatory rules.
13
Representative Shares
In May 20, 2021, the Company issued to the underwriter and/or its designees 86,250 shares of common stock (the “Representative Shares”). The Company accounted for the Representative Shares as an expense of the Proposed Public Offering, resulting in a charge directly to stockholder’s equity. The Company estimated the fair value of Representative Shares to be $670,809 based upon the valuation of the Representative Shares of $7.78 per Unit. The holders of the Representative Shares have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any such shares until the completion of a Business Combination. In addition, the holders have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.
The Representative Shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA’s NASD Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statements related to the Proposed Public Offering, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statements related to the Proposed Public Offering except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the Proposed Public Offering and their bona fide officers or partners.
The Merger Agreement
On January 27, 2022, the Company, entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Etao International Group, a Cayman Islands corporation (the “Target”), and Wensheng Liu, in his capacity as Etao’s Shareholders’ Representative (the “Shareholders’ Representative”), pursuant to which, among other things, (1) the Company will merge with and into a to be formed Cayman Islands company (“Purchaser”), with the Purchaser being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Redomestication Merger”) and (2) the Target will merge with and into a to be formed Cayman Islands company named (“Merger Sub”), with the Target as the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Acquisition Merger”), and, after giving effect to the Acquisition Merger, the Target being a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser and the Purchaser will change its name to Etao International Co., Ltd. (collectively, the “Business Combination”). Following the Business Combination, Purchaser expects to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
Based upon the execution of the Merger Agreement, the period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 6 months from May 20, 2022 to November 20, 2022.
PIPE Subscription Agreement
In connection with the proposed Merger, the Company and the Target obtained a commitment from an interested accredited investor (each a “Subscriber”) to purchase ordinary shares of Purchaser in connection with the Closing (the “PIPE Shares”), for an aggregate cash amount of $250,000,000 at a purchase price of $10.00 per share, in a private placement (the “PIPE”). Such commitment was made by way of a Subscription Agreement (the “PIPE Subscription Agreement”), by and among the Subscriber, the Company and the Target. Revere Securities, LLC acted as the placement agent in connection with the PIPE for a fee equal to 1% of the aggregate purchase price paid for the PIPE Shares sold in the PIPE. The purpose of the sale of the PIPE Shares is to raise additional capital for use in connection with the Merger. The PIPE Shares will be identical to the shares that will be issued to the Target at Closing in connection with the Business Combination, except that the PIPE Shares will not be registered with the SEC. The closing of the sale of PIPE Shares (the “PIPE Closing”) will be contingent upon the substantially concurrent consummation of the Merger.
14
Pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreement, Purchaser shall file (at Purchaser’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the ordinary shares of Purchaser to be purchased in the private placement (the “PIPE Resale Registration Statement”) with the SEC no later than forty-five (45) calendar days following the Closing. Purchaser will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the PIPE Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practical but no later than the 5th business day after the date Purchaser is notified by the SEC that the PIPE Resale Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. (The rights set forth above granted to the Subscribers pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements are defined as the “PIPE Registration Rights”).
The PIPE Subscription Agreement will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (ii) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, (iii) any of the conditions to the PIPE Closing are not satisfied or waived on or prior to the PIPE Closing and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement are not consummated at the PIPE Closing or (iv) the Outside Date (as defined in the Transaction Agreement and as it may be extended as described therein).
The foregoing description of the Subscription Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the form of the Subscription Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 31, 2022 and incorporated by reference herein.
Support Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain holders of Target ordinary shares entered into a support agreement (the “Target Stockholder Support Agreement”), pursuant to which such holders agreed to, among other things, approve the Merger Agreement and the proposed Business Combination.
The foregoing description of the Target Stockholder Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 31, 2022 and incorporated by reference herein.
Lock-Up Agreements
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, all holders of Target ordinary shares have agreed to execute lock-up agreements (the “Lock-up Agreements”) at the Closing. Pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreements such holders have agreed, subject to certain customary exceptions, not to (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Parent Common Stock or Purchaser Ordinary Shares held by them (such shares, together with any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the rights to receive Parent Common Stock or Purchaser Ordinary Shares if any, acquired during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below)), the “Lock-up Shares”), provided, however, that such Lock-up Shares shall not include shares of Parent Common Stock or Purchaser Ordinary Shares acquired by such Holder in open market transactions during the Lock-up Period until the date that is six months after the date of the Closing (the “Lock-Up Period”). Certain transfers, subject to certain customary conditions as set forth in the Lock-up Agreements are allowed during the Lock-Up Period.
Note 7 — Stockholders’ Deficit
Common Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 30,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 1,633,891 shares issued and outstanding, and after giving effect to the forfeiture of 83,202 shares to the Company by the Sponsor for no consideration since the underwriters’ 45-day over-allotment option was not exercised in full, so that the Initial Stockholders collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock after the Initial Public Offering.
15
Common stock subject to possible redemption
As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 5,417,193 common shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value of $10.00 per share as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed balance sheets (see Note 2).
Public Rights
Except in cases where the Company is not the surviving Company in a business combination, the holders of the rights will automatically receive
of a share of common stock upon consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. In the event the Company will not be the surviving company upon completion of the initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the 1/10 of a share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. The Company will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, no rights had been issued.Note 8— Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
Level 2: | Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. |
Level 3: | Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
The Company classifies its securities in the Trust Account that are invested in funds, such as Mutual Funds or Money Market Funds, that primarily invest in U.S. Treasury and equivalent securities as Trading Securities in accordance with ASC Topic 320 “Investments - Debt and Equity Securities. Trading Securities are recorded at fair market value on the accompanying condensed balance sheet.
At March 31, 2022, assets held in the Trust Account were comprised of $54,177,150 in a mutual fund that is invested primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities. Through March 31, 2022, the Company withdrew $2,468 of the interest earned on the Trust Account to pay franchise and income taxes.
At December 31, 2021, assets held in the Trust Account were comprised of $54,174,163 in a mutual fund that is invested primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities. Through December 31, 2021, the Company did not withdraw any of the interest earned on the Trust Account.
16
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.
|
|
| Quoted |
|
| ||||||||
Prices in | |||||||||||||
Active | Significant Other | Significant Other | |||||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | Markets | Observable | Unobservable Inputs | |||||||||
2022 | 2021 | (Level 1) | Inputs (Level 2) | (Level 3) | |||||||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Trust Account | $ | 54,177,150 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 54,177,150 |
| — |
| — | |
Trust Account |
| $ | — |
| $ | 54,174,163 |
| $ | 54,174,163 |
| — |
| — |
Note 9 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements were issued and determined that there were no significant unrecognized events through that date.
17
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
References in this report (the “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Mountain Crest Holdings III LLC. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the completion of the Proposed Business Combination (as defined below), the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including that the conditions of the Proposed Business Combination are not satisfied. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 7, 2022. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on March 2, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business transaction with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (a “Business Combination”).
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.
Recent Developments
As previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 31, 2022, on January 27, 2022, the Company, entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Etao International Group, a Cayman Islands corporation (the “Target”), and Wensheng Liu, in his capacity as Etao’s Shareholders’ Representative (the “Shareholders’ Representative”), pursuant to which, among other things, (1) the Parent will merge with and into a to be formed Cayman Islands company (“Purchaser”), with the Purchaser being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Redomestication Merger”) and (2) the Target will merge with and into a to be formed Cayman Islands company named (“Merger Sub”), with the Target as the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Acquisition Merger”), and, after giving effect to the Acquisition Merger, the Target being a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser and the Purchaser will change its name to Etao International Co., Ltd. (collectively, the “Business Combination”). Following the Business Combination, Purchaser expects to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
18
Based upon the execution of the Merger Agreement, the period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 6 months from May 20, 2022 to November 20, 2022.
Results of Operations
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through March 31, 2022 relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”). 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.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had a net loss of $166,086, which consists of General and administrative of $171,541, offset by interest income on investments held in the Trust Account of $5,455.
For the period March 2, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2021, we had a net loss of $1,000, which consists of General and administrative .
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on May 18, 2021. On May 20, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 5,000,000 units (the “Units”) “and, with respect to the shares of common stock included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $50,000,000, which is described in Note 3.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 185,000 units (the “Private Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit in a private placement to Mountain Crest Holdings III LLC (the “Sponsor”) and Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (“Chardan”), generating gross proceeds of $1,850,000.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on May 20, 2021, an amount of $50,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”).
On June 10, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in part, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional Units occurred on June 14, 2021. The total aggregate issuance by the Company of 417,193 units at a price of $10.00 per unit resulted in total gross proceeds of $4,171,930. On June 14, 2021, simultaneously with the sale of the Over-Allotment Option Units, the Company consummated the private sale of an additional 8,343 Private Units, generating gross proceeds of $83,430.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $226,393. Net loss of $166,086 was affected by interest earned on investments held in the Trust Account of $5,455 and changes in operating assets and liabilities, which used $54,852 of cash from operating activities.
For the period March 2, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2021, there was no cash used in operating activities.
At March 31, 2022, we had investments held in the Trust Account of $54,177,150. We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less income taxes payable), to complete our Business Combination. Interest earned on the balance in the Trust Account may be used by us to pay taxes. Through March 31, 2022, we have withdrawn an amount of $2,468 to pay franchise and income taxes on interest earned from the Trust Account. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of March 31, 2022, we had cash of $117,504. We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
19
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of the Working Capital Loans may be converted into Private Units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The Private Units would be identical to the Private Units. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had no Working Capital Loans outstanding.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our Business Combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our Business Combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our Public Shares upon consummation of our Business Combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination.
Going Concern
We have until November 20, 2022 to consummate a Business Combination. It is uncertain that we will be able to consummate a Business Combination by this time. If a Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution. Management has determined that the mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should we be required to liquidate after November 20, 2022.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 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
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of up to $0.35 per Unit, or $1,896,018 based upon the partial exercise of the over-allotment option
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
20
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of executive compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our initial public offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of condensed financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
Common stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that features redemption rights that is either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock are classified as stockholders’ equity. Our common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, common stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our condensed balance sheets.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
Offering Costs
Offering costs were consisting principally of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Public Offering and are charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the Public Offering. The Company allocates offering costs between public shares and public rights based on the relative fair values of public shares and public rights.
Net Loss per Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. In order to determine the net loss attributable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares, the Company first considered the undistributed loss allocable to both the redeemable shares and non-redeemable shares and the undistributed loss is calculated using the total net loss less any dividends paid. We then allocated the undistributed loss ratably based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding between the redeemable and non-redeemable shares. Any remeasurement of the accretion to redemption value of the common shares subject to possible redemption was considered to be dividends paid to the public shareholders.
21
Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt -- Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective December 15, 2023 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our condensed financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As of March 31, 2022, we were not subject to any market or interest rate risk. The net proceeds held in the Trust Account have been invested in U.S. government treasury bills, notes or bonds with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in certain money market funds that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2022. Based upon the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer had concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were ineffective due to the follows:
1) Our personnel’s technical knowledge is insufficient to ensure that the financial reporting is in compliance with US GAAP.
2) Our policies and procedures associated with the valuation process for financial instruments and the financial closing process are insufficient to identify misstatements or errors contained in the financial reporting.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies; however, in light of management’s conclusion, our internal control over financial reporting did not result in sufficient risk assessment of the underlying accounting for certain financial instruments which we determined to be a material weakness.
22
We plan to further improve this process by enhancing access to accounting literature, identification of third-party professionals with whom to consult regarding complex accounting applications and consideration of additional staff with the requisite experience and training to supplement existing accounting professionals. We can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this Quarterly Report are any of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2022. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, other than as described below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2022.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
There were no sales of equity securities during the period covered by this Quarterly Report that were not registered under the Securities Act and were not previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the company.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
23
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
No. |
| Description of Exhibit |
2.1 | ||
10.1 | ||
10.2 | ||
10.3 | ||
10.4 | ||
31.1* | ||
31.2* | ||
32.1** | ||
32.2** | ||
101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document | |
101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
101.LAB* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document | |
101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
* | Filed herewith. |
**Furnished.
24
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. III | ||
|
|
| |
Date: | May 16, 2022 | By: | /s/ Suying Liu |
| Name: | Suying Liu | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |
|
| (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
25