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Pontem Corp - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from _________ to _________

 

PONTEM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

 

Cayman Islands   001-39882   98-1562955
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

2170 Buckthorne Place, Suite 320The Woodlands, Texas   77380
(Address Of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(212) 457-9077

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

Title of Each Class:   Trading Symbol:  

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered:

Units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share, $0.0001 par value, and one-third of one warrant   PNTM.U   The New York Stock Exchange
Class A ordinary shares included as part of the units   PNTM   The New York Stock Exchange
Warrants included as part of the units, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   PNTM WS   The New York Stock Exchange

 

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, 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 12, 2023, 25,347,160 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and 17,250,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, were issued and outstanding, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION

Form 10-Q

For the Quarter ended March 31, 2023

Table of Contents

 

      Page 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
       
Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements   1
       
  Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2022   1
       
  Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022   2
       
  Unaudited Condensed Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficit for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022   3
       
  Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022   4
       
  Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements   5
       
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   18
       
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   26
       
Item 4. Controls and Procedures   26
       
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION    
       
Item 1. Legal Proceedings   27
       
Item 1A. Risk Factors   27
       
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities   27
       
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities   27
       
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures   27
       
Item 5. Other Information   27
       
Item 6. Exhibits   27

 

i

 

  

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements

 

PONTEM CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2023     2022  
    (Unaudited)        
Assets            
Current assets:            
Cash   $ 205,457     $ 150,390  
Prepaid expenses     133,268       39,109  
Total current assets     338,725       189,499  
                 
Cash and Investments held in Trust Account     261,625,169       700,029,520  
Total Assets   $ 261,963,894     $ 700,219,019  
                 
Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Redemption and Shareholders’ Deficit                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 6,406     $ 32,383  
Accrued expenses     783,224       726,724  
Extension loan - related party, at fair value     590,088      
-
 
Working capital loans - related party, at fair value     790,720       708,747  
Total current liabilities     2,170,438       1,467,854  
                 
Deferred legal fees     3,423,322       4,136,716  
Deferred underwriting commissions     24,150,000       24,150,000  
Derivative liabilities     6,608,445       3,390,750  
Total Liabilities     36,352,205       33,145,320  
                 
Commitments and Contingencies    
 
     
 
 
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value; 25,347,160 and 69,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, at $10.32 and $10.14 per share at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
    261,525,169       699,929,520  
                 
Shareholders’ Deficit:                
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding    
-
     
-
 
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 750,000,000 shares authorized, no non-redeemable shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022    
-
     
-
 
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 17,250,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022     1,725       1,725  
Accumulated deficit     (35,915,205 )     (32,857,546 )
Total shareholders’ deficit     (35,913,480 )     (32,855,821 )
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption and Shareholders’ Deficit   $ 261,963,894     $ 700,219,019  

 

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

 

1

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2023   2022 
General and administrative expenses  $622,903   $921,469 
General and administrative expenses - related party   45,000    45,000 
Loss from operations   (667,903)   (966,469)
           
Other income (expense)          
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities   (3,017,997)   18,778,670 
Change in fair value of the forward purchase agreement   (199,698)   734,490 
Change in fair value of extension loans   1,909,913    - 
Change in fair value of working capital loans   1,418,027    15,168 
Investment income on Trust Account   2,450,858    65,607 
Total other income, net   2,561,103    19,593,935 
           
Net income  $1,893,200   $18,627,466 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares, basic and diluted
   31,652,570    69,000,000 
           
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares
  $0.04   $0.22 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares, basic and diluted
   17,250,000    17,250,000 
           
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share, Class B ordinary shares
  $0.04   $0.22 

 

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

 

2

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023

 

   Class B
Ordinary Shares
   Additional
Paid-in
   Accumulated   Total
Shareholder’
 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Deficit 
Balance - December 31, 2022   17,250,000   $1,725    
-
   $(32,857,546)  $(32,855,821)
Remeasurement of redemption value of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption   -    -    
        -
    (4,950,859)   (4,950,859)
Net income   -    
-
    
-
    1,893,200    1,893,200 
Balance – March 31, 2023   17,250,000   $1,725    
-
   $(35,915,205)  $(35,913,480)

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022

 

   Class B
Ordinary Shares
   Additional
Paid-in
   Accumulated   Total
Shareholder’
 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Deficit 
Balance - December 31, 2021   17,250,000   $1,725    
-
   $(57,771,401)  $(57,769,676)
Net income   -    
-
    
       -
    18,627,466    18,627,466 
Balance – March 31, 2022   17,250,000   $1,725    
-
   $(39,143,935)  $(39,142,210)

 

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

 

3

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   2023   2022 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:        
Net income  $1,893,200   $18,627,466 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:          
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities   3,017,997    (18,778,670)
Change in fair value of the forward purchase agreement   199,698    (734,490)
Change in fair value of working capital loans   (1,418,027)   (15,168)
Change in fair value of extension loans - related party   (1,909,913)   
-
 
Income from cash and investments held in Trust Account   (2,450,858)   (65,607)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Prepaid expenses   (94,159)   13,808 
Accounts payable   (25,977)   99,777 
Accrued expenses   56,500    517,105 
Deferred legal fees   (713,394)   91,344 
Net cash used in operating activities   (1,444,933)   (244,435)
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:          
Investment of cash into Trust Account   (2,500,001)   
-
 
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account in connection with redemption   443,355,210    
-
 
Net cash provided by investing activities   440,855,209    
-
 
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:          
Proceeds from extension loan - related party   2,500,001    
-
 
Proceeds from working capital note - related party   1,500,000    
-
 
Redemption of Class A ordinary shares   (443,355,210)   
-
 
Net cash used in financing activities   (439,355,209)   
-
 
           
Net change in cash   55,067    (244,435)
Cash - beginning of the period   150,390    266,889 
Cash - end of the period  $205,457   $22,454 
           
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:          
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value  $4,950,859   $
-
 

 

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

 

4

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 - Description of Organization and Business Operations

 

Pontem Corporation (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on October 15, 2020. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (“Business Combination”).

 

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from October 15, 2020 (inception) through March 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation, and since the closing of the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”), the search for a prospective initial business combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income on its investments held in the trust account (the “Trust Account”) from the proceeds of its Initial Public Offering.

 

The Company’s sponsor is Pontem LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on January 12, 2021. On January 15, 2021, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 69,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), which includes 9,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments (the “Over-Allotment Units”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $690.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $38.9 million, of which approximately $24.2 million and approximately $213,000 was for deferred underwriting commissions and deferred legal fees (the “Deferred Legal Fees”), respectively (Notes 2 and 6).

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) of 10,533,333 warrants (each, a “Private Placement Warrant” and collectively, the “Private Placement Warrants”), at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant with the Sponsor and HSM-Invest, a Switzerland simple partnership (“HSM-Invest”), generating gross proceeds of $15.8 million (Notes 5 and 7).

 

Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, $690.0 million ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a Trust Account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee and invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.

 

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of its Initial Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, 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 operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time the Company signs a definitive agreement in connection with the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a 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.

 

The Company will provide its holders of the Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $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 Public Shareholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 6). These Public Shares were recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”). In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association which were adopted by the Company upon the consummation of the Initial Public Offering (the “Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, a shareholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or 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. Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the holders of the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) prior to this Initial Public Offering (the “Initial Shareholders”) agreed to vote their Founder Shares and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Shareholders agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination. In addition, the Company agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial Business Combination without the prior consent of the Sponsor.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Class A ordinary shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.

 

5

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company’s Sponsor, executive officers, directors and director nominees agreed not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of its Public Shares in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares in conjunction with any such amendment.

 

On January 13, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) to vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal, and an adjournment proposal, each as described in the definitive proxy statement of the Company relating to the Extraordinary General Meeting, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2022. At the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved a proposal (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”) to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated as of January 12, 2021 (the “IMTA”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination from January 15, 2023 to July 15, 2023 or such earlier date as is determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) to be in the best interests of the Company (the “Extension”). Following such approval by the Company’s shareholders, the Company and CST entered into the Amendment No. 1 to the IMTA on January 13, 2023 (the “IMTA Amendment”).

 

In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, the holders of 43,652,840 Class A ordinary shares of the Company properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.16 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $443,355,210.

 

If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by July 15, 2023, or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors (taking account into the extension described in Note 10), (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 ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.

 

In connection with the redemption of 100% of the Company’s outstanding Public Shares for a portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, each holder will receive a full pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay the Company’s taxes payable (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses).

 

The Initial Shareholders agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Initial Shareholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters 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 in the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Company’s Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). 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 vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), 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.

 

Liquidity and Going Concern

 

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $205,000 in its operating bank account and a working capital deficit of approximately $451,000, excluding the balance of the extension and working capital notes outstanding with a combined fair value of approximately $1,381,000.

 

Prior to the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s liquidity needs were satisfied through a contribution of $25,000 from Sponsor to cover certain expenses in exchange for the issuance of the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5), a loan of up to approximately $300,000 from the Sponsor pursuant to a Note (as defined in Note 5), of which approximately $227,000 was drawn prior to repayment. The Company repaid the Note in full on January 18, 2021.

 

6

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s liquidity needs have been satisfied with the proceeds of $2.0 million from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account, as well as the proceeds from working capital loans (the “Working Capital Loans”). 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 have the ability and intent to provide the Company Working Capital Loans. On April 30, 2021, the Company entered into a Working Capital Loan Agreement with the Sponsor and HSM-Invest, pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to $1.2 million from the Sponsor and HSM-Invest for ongoing expenses reasonably related to the business of the Company and the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Working Capital Promissory Note”). All unpaid principal under the Working Capital Promissory Note will be due and payable in full on the effective date of the Business Combination. On September 30, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated working capital loan agreement (the “Amended and Restated Agreement”) with its Sponsor and HSM-Invest, which increased the amount it may borrow to be up to $4.0 million. See Note 5 for a description the Amended and Restated Agreement and the underlying Working Capital Loans. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the principal amount of approximately $3.35 million and $1.85 million, respectively, was borrowed and outstanding under the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans are presented at fair value on the accompanying balance sheets and were approximately $791,000 and $709,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. At March 31, 2023, there was $0.65 million remaining of borrowing capacity under the Working Capital Loans.

 

Management believes that the Company may need additional loans from the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors to meet its needs through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or the end of the Combination Period. Over this time period, the Company will be using these funds for paying existing accounts payable, identifying and evaluating prospective initial Business Combination candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to merge with or acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.

 

Management intends to complete the Business Combination prior to the liquidation date. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company’s projected cash needs and mandatory 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 the end of the then current Combination Period. The unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustment that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. 

 

Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine and the surrounding region on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that these risks and uncertainties 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 unaudited condensed financial statements. The unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the balances and results for the periods presented. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected through December 31, 2023.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K April 3, 2023.

 

Emerging growth company

 

As an emerging growth company, the Company may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statement 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.

 

7

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s 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 unaudited condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

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

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

Cash and Investments Held in Trust Account 

 

The Company’s portfolio of investments is comprised of cash and 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 investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities and generally have a readily determinable fair value, or a combination thereof. When the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are comprised of U.S. government securities, the investments are classified as trading securities. When the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are comprised of money market funds, the investments are recognized at fair value. Trading securities and investments in money market funds are presented on the balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities is included in investment income on Trust Account in the accompanying statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” equals or approximates their carrying amounts represented in the balance sheets.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

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

 

  Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets;
     
  Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and
     
  Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants and forward purchase agreements, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as assets, liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period.

 

The Company is committed to issue Forward Purchase Units (defined in Note 5), which are recognized as derivative assets or liabilities depending on the fair value in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, the Company recognizes Forward Purchase Agreement (defined below) instruments as assets or liabilities at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The assets or liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations. The fair value of the Units associated with the Forward Purchase Agreement (defined in Note 5) have been estimated utilizing a forward pricing model.

 

8

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering (the “Public Warrants”) and the Private Placement Warrants are recognized as derivative liabilities in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, the Company recognizes the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations. The fair value of Public Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering are measured based on the listed market price of such warrants. As the transfer of Private Placement Warrants to anyone who is not a permitted transferee would result in the Private Placement Warrants having substantially the same terms as the Public Warrants, the Company determined that the fair value of each Private Placement Warrant is equivalent to that of each Public Warrant. As a result, the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants is based on the observable listed prices for the Public Warrants. The determination of the fair value of the warrant liability may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly. Derivative warrant liabilities are classified as non-current liabilities as their liquidation is not reasonably expected to require the use of current assets or require the creation of current liabilities.

 

Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering

 

Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the Initial Public Offering that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs are allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering based on a relative fair value basis, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs associated with warrant liabilities are expensed as incurred, presented as non-operating expenses in the statements of operations. Offering costs associated with the Class A ordinary shares were included in temporary equity along with accretion of the Class A ordinary shares. The Company classified deferred underwriting commissions as non-current liabilities as their liquidation is not reasonably expected to require the use of current assets or require the creation of current liabilities.

 

Extension Loans - Related Party

 

The Company has elected the fair value option to account for its Extension Loans - related party with its Sponsor and HSM-Invest as defined and more fully described in Note 5. As a result of applying the fair value option, the Company records each draw at fair value with a gain or loss recognized at issuance, and subsequent changes in fair value are recorded as change in the fair value of its Extension Loans - related party on the statements of operations. The fair value is based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s and, if applicable, an independent third-party valuation firm’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

Working Capital Loans - Related Party

 

The Company has elected the fair value option to account for its Working Capital Loans - related party with its Sponsor and HSM-Invest as defined and more fully described in Note 5. As a result of applying the fair value option, the Company records each draw at fair value with a gain or loss recognized at issuance, and subsequent changes in fair value are recorded as change in the fair value of its Working Capital Loans - related party on the statements of operations. The fair value is based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s and, if applicable, an independent third-party valuation firm’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

 

The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 25,347,160 and 69,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, respectively, are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheets.

 

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of the Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Effective with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount, which resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” which prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

 

The Company is considered an exempted Cayman Islands company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the periods presented.

 

9

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Shares

 

The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” The Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average shares of ordinary shares outstanding for the respective period.

 

The calculation of diluted net income per ordinary share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement to purchase an aggregate of 33,533,333 shares of ordinary shares in the calculation of diluted income per ordinary share, because their exercise is contingent upon future events. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares is excluded from earnings per ordinary share as the redemption value approximates fair value.

 

The following table reflects presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net income per ordinary share for each class of ordinary shares:

 

   For the three Months Ended March 31, 
   2023   2022 
   Class A   Class B   Class A   Class B 
Numerator:                
Allocation of net income  $1,225,388   $667,812   $14,901,972   $3,725,494 
Denominator:                    
Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding   31,652,570    17,250,000    69,000,000    17,250,000 
                     
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share  $0.04   $0.04   $0.22   $0.22 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, ASC Subtopic 820 “Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions”. The ASU amends ASC 820 to clarify that a contractual sales restriction is not considered in measuring an equity security at fair value and to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value. The ASU applies to both holders and issuers of equity and equity-linked securities measured at fair value. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is considering the impact of this pronouncement on the unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

The Company’s management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards updates, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

Note 3 – Initial Public Offering

 

On January 15, 2021, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 69,000,000 Units, which includes 9,000,000 Over-Allotment Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $690.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $38.9 million, of which approximately $24.2 million and approximately $213,000 was for deferred underwriting commissions and Deferred Legal Fees, respectively.

 

Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 7).

 

Note 4 - Private Placement

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the Private Placement of 10,533,333 Private Placement Warrants, at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant with the Sponsor and HSM-Invest, generating gross proceeds of $15.8 million.

 

Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole share of Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was 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 Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. The Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable for cash and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor, HSM-Invest or their permitted transferees.

 

The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Warrants until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination.

 

10

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 5 - Related Party Transactions

 

Founder Shares

 

On October 19, 2020, the Company issued 14,375,000 Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor (the “Founder Shares”) in exchange for the payment of $25,000 from the Sponsor to cover certain expenses on behalf of the Company. Shares and the associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the shares capitalizations on December 23, 2020, January 8, 2021 and January 15, 2021, resulting in an aggregate of 17,250,000 Class B ordinary shares outstanding. The holders of the Founder Shares agreed to surrender and cancel up to an aggregate of 2,250,000 Founder Shares, on a pro rata basis, to the extent that the option to purchase additional Units was not exercised in full by the underwriters, so that the Founder Shares would represent approximately 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering. On January 15, 2021, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option; thus, these 2,250,000 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.

 

The Initial Shareholders agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (i) three years after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (ii) the date following the completion of the initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least one year after the initial Business Combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the lockup.

 

Working Capital Related Party Loans

 

On October 16, 2020, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). The Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and due upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Company borrowed approximately $227,000 prior to the Initial Public Offering under the Note. The Company repaid the Note in full on January 18, 2021.

 

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, members of the Company’s founding team or any of their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

 

On April 30, 2021, the Company entered a Working Capital Loan Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Sponsor and HSM-Invest, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $1.2 million from the Sponsor and HSM-Invest for ongoing expenses reasonably related to the business of the Company and the consummation of the Business Combination. On April 30, 2021, pursuant to the Agreement, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Working Capital Promissory Note”) for the principal amount of $600,000 to the Sponsor and HSM-Invest. On September 30, 2021, the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Agreement with its Sponsor and HSM-Invest, which increased the amount it may borrow to be up to $4.0 million.

 

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement, the Company issued promissory notes (the “Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes”) for the principal amount of $2.0 million to each to the Sponsor and HSM-Invest. The Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes do not bear any interest. All unpaid principal under the Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes will be due and payable in full on the effective date of the Business Combination (the “Maturity Date”). The Sponsor and HSM-Invest will have the option, at any time on or prior to the Maturity Date, to convert up to $1.5 million under the Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes into warrants to purchase the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, at a conversion price of $1.50 per warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to the same adjustments applicable to the Private Placement Warrants sold concurrently with the Company’s Initial Public Offering.

 

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $3.35 million and $1.85 million in principal balance, respectively, was drawn under the Working Capital Loans, presented at the estimated fair value of approximately $791,000 and $709,000, respectively, on the accompanying balance sheets. At March 31, 2023, there was $0.65 million remaining of borrowing capacity under these Working Capital Loans.

 

Extension Related Party Loans

 

In connection with the shareholders’ approval of the Extension, Pontem LLC, the Sponsor, and HSM-Invest will deposit into the Trust Account of $833,333 monthly (up to $5.0 million for six months) as loans to the Company on or prior to the 15th of each month during the Extension, unless the Board otherwise determines to liquidate the Company earlier. On January 13, 2023, the Company issued unsecured promissory notes (the “Notes”) each in the principal amount of up to $2.5 million to the Sponsor and HSM-Invest. The Notes are repayable in full upon the date of the Company’s initial Business Combination. If the Company does not complete an initial business combination, the Notes will not be repaid, and all amounts owed under them will be forgiven except to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of its Trust Account. The Notes are subject to customary events of default, including cross-default of each Note, the occurrence of which automatically triggers the unpaid principal balance of the Notes and all other sums payable with regard to the Notes becoming immediately due and payable. The Notes were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $2.5 million and $0 in principal balance, respectively, was drawn under the Notes, presented at the estimated fair value of approximately $590,000 and $0, respectively, on the accompanying balance sheets. At March 31, 2023, there was $2.5 million remaining of borrowing capacity under these Notes.

 

11

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Administrative Services Agreement

 

Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on NYSE through the earlier of consummation of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation, the Company agreed to pay the Sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. The Company incurred $30,000 in such fees included as general and administrative expenses to related party on the accompanying statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there was no balance due.

 

In addition, the Sponsor, officers and directors, or their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by the Company to the Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account.

 

Consulting Agreement

 

On October 15, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to obtain consulting services from an affiliate of its Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay such affiliate of its Chief Financial Officer $5,000 per month. Consulting expenses resulting from such agreement were included within general and administrative expenses to related party in the accompanying statement of operations. During the period ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred $15,000 in consulting expenses. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $5,000 in prepaid expenses for such services reflected on the accompanying balance sheets.

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

 

On January 12, 2021, the Company entered into a forward purchase agreement with QVIDTVM Management LLC (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) providing for the purchase of up to 15,000,000 forward purchase units (the “Forward Purchase Units”), with each Forward Purchase Unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share (the “Forward Purchase Shares”) and one-third of one redeemable warrant to purchase one Class A ordinary share at $11.50 per share (the “Forward Purchase Warrants”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per Forward Purchase Unit, in a Private Placement to occur concurrently with the closing of the initial Business Combination. The number of Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by QVIDTVM Management LLC will be subject to the sole discretion of Mr. Alici, who has investment control over the capital committed to such entity, but in no event will be less than 5,000,000 Forward Purchase Units. The obligations under the Forward Purchase Agreement do not depend on whether any Class A ordinary shares held by Public Shareholders are redeemed by the Company. The obligation to purchase the Forward Purchase Units is subject to customary closing conditions, including that the initial Business Combination must be consummated substantially concurrently with, and immediately following, the purchase of Forward Purchase Units. The Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants will be issued only in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination. The proceeds from the sale of forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial Business Combination, expenses in connection with the initial Business Combination or for working capital in the post-transaction company. The Forward Purchase Agreement is accounted for as an asset or liability measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported each period in earnings.

 

Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies 

 

Registration and Shareholder Rights

 

The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) were entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement signed upon the effective date of the Initial Public Offering. The holders of these securities were entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registered such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

 

Pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to use its reasonable best efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of a Business Combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the Forward Purchase Shares and the Forward Purchase Warrants (and underlying Class A ordinary shares), (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the initial filing, (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earliest of (A) the date on which the Sponsor or its assignees cease to hold the securities covered thereby and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (iv) after such registration statement is declared effective, cause us to conduct firm commitment underwritten offerings, subject to certain limitations. In addition, the Forward Purchase Agreement provides that these holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights to include their securities in other registration statements filed by the Company.

 

12

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of our final prospectus to purchase up to 9,000,000 additional Units at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On January 15, 2021, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option.

 

The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $13.8 million in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per Unit, or approximately $24.2 million in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. 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.

 

Deferred Legal Fees

 

The Company engaged a legal counsel firm for legal advisory services, and the legal counsel agreed to defer their fees in excess of $350,000. The deferred fee will become payable in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has outstanding deferred fees of approximately $3.4 million and $4.1 million in connection with such services, reflected as Deferred Legal Fees on the accompanying balance sheets, respectively.

 

Note 7 - Derivative Warrant Liabilities

 

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had 23,000,000 Public Warrants and 10,533,333 Private Warrants outstanding.

 

Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional Public Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Public Warrants will trade. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination and (b) 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder (or the Company permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under certain circumstances). The Company agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC and have an effective registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

The warrants have an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments, and will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities, other than the forward purchase securities, for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the initial shareholders or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted-average trading price of the Class A ordinary shares during the 10 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described under “Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00” and “Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price described under “Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

 

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or such purchasers’ permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the Initial Shareholders or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.

 

13

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00:

 

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

 

  in whole and not in part;
     
  at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
     
  upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
     
  if, and only if, the last reported sale price (the “closing price”) of Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

The Company will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period.

 

Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00:

 

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

 

  in whole and not in part;
     
  at a price of $0.10 per warrant;
     
  upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption;
     
  if, and only if, the closing price of Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $10.00 per Public Share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within the 30 trading-day period ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders;
     
  if the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted), the Private Placement Warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants, as described above;
     
  provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to an agreed table based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of Class A ordinary shares

 

The “fair market value” of Class A ordinary shares for the above purpose shall mean the volume weighted-average price of Class A ordinary shares during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 Class A ordinary shares per warrant (subject to adjustment).

 

If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

 

Note 8 - Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

 

The Company’s Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. The Company is authorized to issue 750,000,000 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 25,347,160 and 69,000,000 Class A ordinary shares outstanding, all of which were subject to possible redemption, respectively.

 

The Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected on the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table: 

 

Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2021  $690,000,000 
Plus:     
Remeasurement of redemption value of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption   9,929,520 
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2022  $699,929,520 
Less:     
Redemptions   (443,355,210)
Plus:     
Remeasurement of redemption value of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption   4,950,859 
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2023  $261,525,169 

 

14

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 9 - Shareholders’ Deficit

 

Preference Shares - The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 preference shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.

 

Class B Ordinary Shares - The Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. On October 19, 2020, the Company issued 14,375,000 Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor. Shares and the associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the shares capitalizations on December 23, 2020, January 8, 2021, and January 15, 2021, resulting in an aggregate of 17,250,000 Class B ordinary shares outstanding. The holders of the Founder Shares agreed to surrender and cancel up to an aggregate of 2,250,000 Class B ordinary shares for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part, so that the Initial Shareholders would collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares after the Initial Public Offering. On January 15, 2021, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option; thus, these 2,250,000 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.

 

Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders except as required by law.

 

The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion, including the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination, any Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor, officers or directors upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants; provided that such conversion of Founder Shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.

 

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurements 

 

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

   Fair Value Measured as of March 31, 2023 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                
Investments held in Trust Account - cash  $261,625,169   $
-
   $
-
   $261,625,169 
Liabilities:                    
Derivative liabilities:                    
Derivative liabilities - Public Warrants  $3,910,000   $
-
   $
-
   $3,910,000 
Derivative liabilities - Private Placement Warrants  $
-
   $1,790,667   $
-
   $1,790,667 
Derivative liabilities - Forward Purchase Agreement  $
-
   $
-
   $907,778   $907,778 
Total derivative liabilities:  $3,910,000   $1,790,667   $907,778   $6,608,445 
Extension loans – related party  $
-
   $
-
   $590,088   $590,088 
Working capital loans - related party  $
-
   $
-
   $790,720   $790,720 

 

   Fair Value Measured as of December 31, 2022 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                
Investments held in Trust Account - money market funds  $700,029,520   $
-
   $
-
   $700,029,520 
Liabilities:                    
Derivative liabilities:                    
Derivative liabilities - Public Warrants  $1,840,000   $
-
   $
-
   $1,840,000 
Derivative liabilities - Private Placement Warrants  $
-
   $842,670   $
-
   $842,670 
Derivative liabilities - Forward Purchase Agreement  $
-
   $
-
   $708,080   $708,080 
Total derivative liabilities:  $1,840,000   $842,670   $708,080   $3,390,750 
Working capital loans - related party  $
-
   $
-
   $708,747   $708,747 

 

Transfers to/from Levels 1, 2, and 3 are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period. The estimated fair value of the Public Warrants transferred from an initial Level 3 measurement to a Level 1 fair value measurement as the Public Warrants were separately listed and traded in March 2021. The estimated fair value of the Private Placement Warrants was transferred from a Level 3 measurement to a Level 2 fair value measurement in July 2021, as the transfer of Private Placement Warrants to anyone who is not a permitted transferee would result in the Private Placement Warrants having substantially the same terms as the Public Warrants.

 

Level 1 assets include investments in cash and money market funds that invest solely in U.S. Treasury securities. The Company uses inputs such as actual trade data, benchmark yields, quoted market prices from dealers or brokers, and other similar sources to determine the fair value of its investments.

 

15

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Level 3 Valuations

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

 

The fair value of the Units associated with the Forward Purchase Agreement have been estimated utilizing a forward pricing model with Level 3 inputs. The Company determined that the initial fair value of the Units (including shares and warrants) associated with the Forward Purchase Agreement as of January 15, 2021, was insignificant.

 

Inherent in a forward pricing model are assumptions related to expected life and risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the grant date for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the Units associated with the Forward Purchase Agreement. The expected life of the Units associated with the Forward Purchase Agreement is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term.

 

The following table provides quantitative information regarding Level 3 fair value measurements inputs for Forward Purchase Agreement as their measurement dates:

 

   As of 
December 31,
2022
   As of 
March 31,
2023
 
Forward Purchase Agreement:        
Expected term   0.53    0.75 
Risk-free interest rate   4.65%   4.68%
Probability of Business Combination   40.00%   25.00%

 

Warrants

 

The fair value of the Public Warrants issued in connection with the Public Offering and Private Placement Warrants were initially measured at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model and subsequently, the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants have been estimated using a Modified Black-Scholes model. 

 

Inherent in a Monte Carlo simulation model, Modified Black-Scholes Model, and a forward pricing model are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock warrants based on implied volatility from the Company’s traded warrants and from historical volatility of select peer company’s common stock that matches the expected remaining life of the warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the grant date for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the warrants. The expected life of the warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates remaining at zero.

 

Change in Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities – Level 3 inputs

 

The change in the fair value of the derivative liabilities, measured using Level 3 inputs, for the period ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, is summarized as follows:

 

Derivative liabilities at December 31, 2021 - Level 3 measurement  $401,860 
Change in fair value of forward purchase agreement - Level 3 measurement   (734,490)
Derivative (asset) at March 31, 2022 - Level 3 measurement   (332,630)
Change in fair value of forward purchase agreement - Level 3 measurement   1,040,710 
Derivative liabilities at December 31, 2022 - Level 3 measurement   708,080 
Change in fair value of forward purchase agreement - Level 3 measurement   199,698 
Derivative liabilities at March 31, 2023 - Level 3 measurement  $907,778 

 

Working Capital Loan - Related Party

 

The estimated fair value of the Working Capital Loan - Related Party was estimated utilizing a Black-Scholes model with Level 3 inputs.

 

The following table provides quantitative information regarding the inputs for the fair value measurement of the Working Capital Loan - Related Party as of their measurement dates:

 

Working capital loans  As of
December 31,
2022
   As of
March 31,
2023
 
Exercise price  $1.50   $1.50 
Volatility   12.60%   6.1%
Expected term   0.53    0.75 
Risk-free interest rate   4.65%   4.68%
Probability of Business Combination   40.00%   25.00%

 

16

 

 

PONTEM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The change in the fair value of the working capital loans - related party, measured utilizing Level 3 measurements for the period ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, is summarized as follows:

 

Working capital loans – related party at December 31, 2021 - Level 3 measurement  $592,388 
Change in fair value of working capital loans - Level 3 measurement   (15,168)
Working capital loans – related party at March 31, 2022 - Level 3 measurement   577,220 
Proceeds from working capital loan - related party   1,250,025 
Change in fair value of working capital loans - Level 3 measurement   (1,118,498)
Working capital loans – related party at December 31, 2022 - Level 3 measurement   708,747 
Proceeds from working capital loan - related party   1,500,000 
Change in fair value of working capital loans - Level 3 measurement   (1,418,027)
Working capital loans – related party at March 31, 2023 - Level 3 measurement  $790,720 

 

Extension Loan - Related Party

 

The estimated fair value of the Extension Loan - Related Party was estimated utilizing a discounted cash flow model with Level 3 inputs.

 

The following table provides quantitative information regarding the inputs for the fair value measurement of the Extension Loan - Related Party as of their measurement dates:

 

Extension loans  As of
March 31,
2023
 
Spread   3.25%
Expected term   0.75 
Risk-free interest rate   4.68%
Probability of Business Combination   25.00%

 

The change in the fair value of the Extension loans - related party, measured utilizing Level 3 measurements for the period ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, is summarized as follows:

 

Extension loans – related party at December 31, 2022 - Level 3 measurement  $
-
 
Proceeds from extension loan - related party   2,500,001 
Change in fair value of extension loans - Level 3 measurement   (1,909,913)
Extension loans – related party at March 31, 2023 - Level 3 measurement  $590,088 

 

Note 11 - Subsequent Events 

 

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred up to the date the condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than the below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed financial statements.

 

As of the date of the filing, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $3,333,336 under the Notes as described in Note 5. The Company deposited an additional $833,335 to the Trust Account on April 17, 2023.

 

On April 10, 2023, a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company notified the Board of his decision to resign as a director of the Company effective immediately. Effective as of April 10, 2023, the Board appointed David Hagen to serve on the Board. Mr. Hagen will serve as a Class III director of the Company. In connection with Mr. Hagen’s appointment as a director, on April 10, 2023, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Hagen (the “Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Mr. Hagen has agreed (i) to vote any Class A ordinary shares held by him in favor of the Company’s initial business combination; (ii) to facilitate the liquidation and winding up of the Company if an initial business combination is not consummated; and (iii) to certain transfer restrictions with respect to the Company’s securities. The Letter Agreement contains substantially similar provisions to the letter agreement entered into by the Company with its other insiders at the time of the Company’s initial public offering. The Company also entered into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Hagen in connection with his appointment to the Board.

 

17

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

References to the “Company,” “Pontem Corporation” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Pontem Corporation. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated 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.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our other SEC filings.

 

Overview

 

We are a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on October 15, 2020 for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry, we intend to focus our search on global and regional consumer brands businesses.

 

We intend to effectuate our Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of our Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement of the Private Placement Warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, equity and debt.

 

The issuance of additional shares in a business combination:

 

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

 

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

 

  could cause a change in control if a substantial number of our Class A ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;

 

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

 

  may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A ordinary shares and/or warrants.

 

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

 

  default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
     
  acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

 

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

 

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

 

  our inability to pay dividends on our Class A ordinary shares;

 

18

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Our Sponsor is Pontem LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The registration statement for our Initial Public Offering became effective on January 12, 2021. On January 15, 2021, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 69,000,000 units, which includes 9,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $690.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $38.9 million, of which approximately $24.2 million and approximately $213,000 was for deferred underwriting commissions and deferred legal fees, respectively.

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the Private Placement of 10,533,333 Private Placement Warrants, at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant with our Sponsor and HSM-Invest, a Switzerland simple partnership, generating gross proceeds of $15.8 million.

 

Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, $690.0 million ($10.00 per unit) of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a Trust Account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee and invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by us, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.

 

If we are unable to complete a Business Combination by July 15, 2023, or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (taking account into the extension described below), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.

 

Extension, Redemptions, Trust Deposits and Promissory Notes

 

On January 13, 2023, our Company held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) to vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal, and an adjournment proposal, each as described in the definitive proxy statement of our Company relating to the Extraordinary General Meeting, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2022. At the Extraordinary General Meeting, our shareholders approved a proposal (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”) to amend the our investment management trust agreement, dated as of January 12, 2021 (the “IMTA”), by and between our Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”), to extend the date by which we have to consummate a business combination from January 15, 2023 to July 15, 2023 or such earlier date as is determined by the our board of directors (the “Board”) to be in the best interests of our Company (the “Extension”). Following such approval by our Company’s shareholders, our Company and CST entered into the Amendment No. 1 to the IMTA on January 13, 2023 (the “IMTA Amendment”).

 

In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, the holders of 43,652,840 Class A ordinary shares of our Company properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.16 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $443,355,210.

 

In connection with the shareholders’ approval of the Extension, Pontem LLC, our Sponsor, and HSM-Invest have notified us of their intention to effect a monthly deposit into the Trust Account of $833,333 (up to $5.0 million for six months) as loans to us (each, a “Contribution”) on or prior to the 15th of each month during the Extension, unless the Board otherwise determines to liquidate our Company earlier.

 

On January 13, 2023, we issued unsecured promissory notes (the “Notes”) each in the principal amount of up to $2.5 million to our Sponsor and HSM-Invest. The Notes are repayable in full upon the date of our initial Business Combination. If we do not complete an initial business combination, the Notes will not be repaid, and all amounts owed under them will be forgiven except to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of its Trust Account. The Notes are subject to customary events of default, including cross-default of each Note, the occurrence of which automatically triggers the unpaid principal balance of the Notes and all other sums payable with regard to the Notes becoming immediately due and payable. The Notes were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

19

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Our entire activity since inception up March 31, 2023, was in preparation for our formation and the Initial Public Offering and after the IPO, searching for a target. We will not be generating any operating revenues until the closing and completion of our initial Business Combination.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we had net income of approximately $1.9 million, which consisted of change in fair value of extension loans of approximately $2.0 million, investment income on the Trust Account of approximately $2.5 million, and change in fair value of Working Capital Loans of approximately $1.4 million, partially offset by change in fair value of derivative liabilities of approximately $3.0 million, general and administrative expenses of approximately $638,000, general and administrative expenses to related party of approximately $30,000, and change in fair value of the Forward Purchase Agreement of approximately $200,000.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had net income of approximately $18.6 million, which consisted of change in fair value of derivative liabilities of approximately $18.8 million, investment income on the Trust Account of approximately $66,000, change in fair value of the Forward Purchase Agreement of approximately $734,000, change in fair value of Working Capital Loans of approximately $15,000 partially offset by general and administrative expenses of approximately $921,000 and general and administrative expenses to related party of approximately $45,000.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $205,000 in its operating bank account and a working capital deficit of approximately $451,000, excluding the balance of the working capital note outstanding with a fair value of approximately $1,381,000.

 

Prior to the Initial Public Offering, our liquidity needs to date have been satisfied through a contribution of $25,000 from our Sponsor to cover certain expenses in exchange for our issuance of the Founder Shares, a loan of up to approximately $300,000 from our Sponsor pursuant to a promissory note, of which approximately $227,000 was outstanding just prior to repayment. We repaid the promissory note in full on January 18, 2021.

 

Subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s liquidity needs have been satisfied with the proceeds of $2.0 million from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account, as well as the proceeds from the Working Capital Loans. In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors have the ability and intent to provide us Working Capital Loans.

 

As more fully described in the Notes to our financial statements included herein as Item 1, on April 30, 2021, we entered into a working capital loan agreement with our Sponsor and HSM-Invest, pursuant to which we may borrow up to $1.2 million from our Sponsor and HSM-Invest for ongoing expenses reasonably related to our business and the consummation of the Business Combination. All unpaid principal under the working capital promissory note will be due and payable in full on the effective date of the Business Combination. On September 30, 2021, we entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement with our Sponsor and HSM-Invest, that amended the amount we can borrow to be up to $4.0 million. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the principal amount of approximately $3.35 million and $1.85 million, respectively, was borrowed and outstanding under the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans are presented at fair value on the accompanying balance sheets and were approximately $791,000 and $709,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. At March 31, 2023, there was $0.65 million remaining of borrowing capacity under the Working Capital Loans. We believe we may need additional loans from our Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors to meet our needs through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or the end of the Combination Period.

 

Over this time period, we would be using the funds for paying existing accounts payable, identifying and evaluating prospective initial Business Combination candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to merge with or acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.

 

Management intends to complete the Business Combination prior to the liquidation date. In connection with management’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company’s projected cash needs and mandatory 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 the end of the then current Combination Period. The unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustment that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. 

 

Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine and the surrounding region on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that these risks and uncertainties 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 unaudited condensed financial statements. The unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

20

 

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Founder Shares

 

On October 19, 2020, we issued 14,375,000 Class B ordinary shares to our Sponsor in exchange for the payment of $25,000 from our Sponsor to cover certain expenses on our behalf. Shares and the associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the shares capitalizations on December 23, 2020, January 8, 2021 and January 15, 2021, resulting in an aggregate of 17,250,000 Class B ordinary shares outstanding. The holders of the Founder Shares agreed to surrender and cancel up to an aggregate of 2,250,000 Founder Shares, on a pro rata basis, to the extent that the option to purchase additional units was not exercised in full by the underwriters, so that the Founder Shares would represent approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering. On January 15, 2021, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option; thus, these 2,250,000 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.

 

The Initial Shareholders agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (i) three years after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (ii) the date following the completion of the initial Business Combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least one year after the initial Business Combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the lockup.

 

Related Party Loans

 

On October 16, 2020, our Sponsor agreed to loan us up to $300,000 pursuant to a promissory note. The promissory note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and due upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. We borrowed approximately $181,000 through December 31, 2020 and approximately $227,000 prior to the Initial Public Offering under the Note. We repaid the Note in full on January 18, 2021.

 

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor, members of our founding team or any of our affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we will repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

 

On April 30, 2021, we entered into the Agreement with our Sponsor and HSM-Invest, pursuant to which we may borrow up to $1.2 million from the Sponsor and HSM-Invest for ongoing expenses reasonably related to the business of us and the consummation of the Business Combination. On April 30, 2021, pursuant to the Agreement, we issued a Working Capital Promissory Note for the principal amount of $600,000 to the Sponsor and HSM-Invest, respectively. The Working Capital Promissory Note does not bear any interest. All unpaid principal under the Working Capital Promissory Note will be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, we were not required to repay the Working Capital Promissory Note if it fails to complete the Business Combination. The Sponsor and HSM-Invest would have the option, at any time on or prior to the Maturity Date, to convert up to $1.5 million under the Working Capital Promissory Note into warrants to purchase our Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, at a conversion price of $1.50 per warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to the same adjustments applicable to the Private Placement Warrants sold concurrently with our Initial Public Offering.

 

On September 30, 2021, we entered into the Amended and Restated Agreement with our Sponsor and HSM-Invest, pursuant to increase the amount we may borrow up to $4.0 million in the aggregate from the Sponsor and HSM-Invest for ongoing expenses reasonably related to the business of us and the consummation of any business combination by us. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement, we issued restated promissory notes (the “Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes”) in the principal amount of $2.0 million to each of the Sponsor and HSM-Invest. The promissory notes do not bear any interest. All unpaid principal under the Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes will be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement, we are not required to repay the Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes if we fail to complete the Business Combination. The Sponsor and HSM-Invest will have the option, at any time on or prior to the Maturity Date, to convert up to $1.5 million under the Amended and Restated Working Capital Promissory Notes into warrants to purchase our Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, at a conversion price of $1.50 per warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to the same adjustments applicable to the Private Placement Warrants sold concurrently with our Initial Public Offering.

 

In the year ended December 31, 2022, we borrowed an additional $1.25 million under the Working Capital Loans. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $3.35 million and $1.85 million in principal balance, respectively, was drawn under the Working Capital Loans, presented at the estimated fair value of approximately $791,000 and $592,000, respectively, on the accompanying balance sheets. At March 31, 2023, there was $0.65 million remaining of borrowing capacity under these Working Capital Loans.

 

21

 

 

Extension Related Party Loans

 

In connection with the shareholders’ approval of the Extension, our Sponsor and HSM-Invest will deposit into the Trust Account of $833,333 monthly (up to $5.0 million for six months) as loans to the Company on or prior to the 15th of each month during the Extension, unless the Board otherwise determines to liquidate the Company earlier. On January 13, 2023, we issued unsecured promissory notes (the “Notes”) each in the principal amount of up to $2.5 million to our Sponsor and HSM-Invest. The Notes are repayable in full upon the date of the Company’s initial Business Combination. If the Company does not complete an initial business combination, the Notes will not be repaid, and all amounts owed under them will be forgiven except to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of its Trust Account. The Notes are subject to customary events of default, including cross-default of each Note, the occurrence of which automatically triggers the unpaid principal balance of the Notes and all other sums payable with regard to the Notes becoming immediately due and payable. The Notes were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $2.5 million and $0 in principal balance, respectively, was drawn under the Notes, presented at the estimated fair value of approximately $590,000 and $0, respectively, on the accompanying balance sheets. At March 31, 2023, there was $2.5 million remaining of borrowing capacity under these Notes.

 

Administrative Services Agreement

 

Commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on NYSE through the earlier of consummation of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation, we agreed to pay our Sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. The Company incurred $30,000 in such fees included as general and administrative expenses to related party on the accompanying unaudited condensed statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there was no balance due.

 

In addition, our Sponsor, officers and directors, or our respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or our affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account.

 

Consulting Agreement

 

On October 15, 2020, we entered into an agreement to obtain consulting services from an affiliate of our Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to which we agreed to pay such affiliate of our Chief Financial Officer $5,000 per month. Consulting expenses resulting from such agreement were included within general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we incurred $15,000 in consulting expenses. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we have prepaid expenses of $5,000 in connection with such services on the accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheets, respectively.

 

22

 

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

 

On January 12, 2021, we entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with QVIDTVM Management LLC providing for the purchase of up to 15,000,000 Forward Purchase Units, with each unit consisting of one Forward Purchase Share and one Forward Purchase Warrant, in a Private Placement to occur concurrently with the closing of the initial Business Combination. The number of Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by QVIDTVM Management LLC will be subject to the sole discretion of Mr. Alici, who has investment control over the capital committed to such entity, but in no event will be less than 5,000,000 Forward Purchase Units. The obligations under the Forward Purchase Agreement do not depend on whether any Class A ordinary shares held by Public Shareholders are redeemed by us. The obligation to purchase the Forward Purchase Units is subject to customary closing conditions, including that the initial Business Combination must be consummated substantially concurrently with, and immediately following, the purchase of Forward Purchase Units. The Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants will be issued only in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination. The proceeds from the sale of forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial Business Combination, expenses in connection with the initial Business Combination or for working capital in the post-transaction company. The Forward Purchase Agreement is accounted for as an asset or liability measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported each period in earnings.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Registration and Shareholder Rights

 

The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans) were entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement signed upon the effective date of the Initial Public Offering. The holders of these securities were entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we registered such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

 

Pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, we agreed to use our reasonable best efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of a Business Combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the Forward Purchase Shares and the Forward Purchase Warrants (and underlying Class A ordinary shares), (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the initial filing, (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earliest of (A) the date on which our Sponsor or our assignees cease to hold the securities covered thereby and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (iv) after such registration statement is declared effective, cause us to conduct firm commitment underwritten offerings, subject to certain limitations. In addition, the Forward Purchase Agreement provides that these holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us.

 

Non-binding Letter of Intent

 

We have entered into a non-binding letter of intent that sets forth the preliminary terms and conditions of a potential business combination with a Target operating a multinational industrial technology business that serves diversified end markets. The Target, which has been in operation for almost forty years, has a blue-chip customer base and is supported by strong shareholders. The Target had approximately $1 billion in revenues in 2021. In addition, the Company has teamed up with an affiliate of a premier alternative asset manager to support the transaction, which the Company expects will increase transaction certainty. The initial exclusivity period contemplated by the non-binding letter of intent expired and the parties are no longer actively engaged in discussions regarding the potential initial business combination.

 

Completion of the transaction is subject to, among other things, the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement providing for the transaction, satisfaction of the closing conditions included therein and approval of the transaction by the Company’s shareholders. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be entered into or that the proposed transaction will be consummated.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

We granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 9,000,000 additional units at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On January 15, 2021, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option.

 

The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $13.8 million in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or approximately $24.2 million in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that we complete a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

 

Deferred Legal Fees

 

We engaged a legal counsel firm for legal advisory services, and the legal counsel agreed to defer their fees in excess of $350,000. The deferred fee will become payable in the event that we complete a Business Combination. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had Deferred Legal Fees of approximately $3.4 million and $4.1 million in connection with such services on the accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheet, respectively.

 

23

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of unaudited condensed financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. A summary of our significant accounting policies is included in Note 2 to our condensed financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report. Certain of our accounting policies are considered critical, as these policies are the most important to the depiction of our unaudited condensed financial statements and require significant, difficult or complex judgments, often employing the use of estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. We believe that our critical accounting policies and estimates have a higher degree of inherent uncertainty and require our most significant judgments. In addition, had we used to estimate different from any of these, our unaudited condensed financial statements could have been materially different from those presented. Such policies are summarized below:

 

Derivative instruments

 

We do not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants and forward purchase agreements, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as assets, liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period.

 

We are committed to issue forward purchase units, which are recognized as derivative assets or liabilities in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, we recognize forward purchase agreement instruments as assets or liabilities at fair value and adjust the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The assets or liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statement of operations. The fair value of the units associated with the forward purchase agreement have been estimated utilizing a forward pricing model.

 

The public warrants issued in connection with the initial public offering and the private placement warrants are recognized as derivative liabilities in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, we recognize the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjust the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our statement of operations. The fair value of the public warrants issued in connection with the Public Offering and private placement warrants were initially measured at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model and subsequently, the fair value of the private placement warrants has been estimated using a Modified Black-Scholes model each measurement date. The fair value of public warrants issued in connection with the initial public offering have subsequently been measured based on the listed market price of such warrants. As the transfer of private placement warrants to anyone who is not a permitted transferee would result in the private placement warrants having substantially the same terms as the public warrants, we determined that the fair value of each private placement warrant is equivalent to that of each Public Warrant. The fair value of the Warrants as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 is based on observable listed prices for such warrants. The determination of the fair value of the warrant liability may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly. Derivative warrant liabilities are classified as non-current liabilities as their liquidation is not reasonably expected to require the use of current assets or require the creation of current liabilities.

 

Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering

 

Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the initial public offering that were directly related to the initial public offering. Offering costs are allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the initial public offering based on a relative fair value basis, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs associated with warrant liabilities are expensed as incurred, presented as non-operating expenses in the statement of operations. Offering costs associated with the Class A ordinary shares were included in temporary equity along with accretion of the Class A ordinary shares. Of the total offering costs of the initial public offering, approximately $1.8 million is included in financing cost - derivative warrant liabilities in the statements of operations. The Company classified deferred underwriting commissions as non-current liabilities as their liquidation is not reasonably expected to require the use of current assets or require the creation of current liabilities.

 

Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

 

We account for our Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares 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, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. Our Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 25,347,160 and 69,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, respectively, are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of the balance sheet.

 

We recognize changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Effective with the closing of the initial public offering, we recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount, which resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit.

 

24

 

 

Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Shares

 

We comply with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” We have two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average shares of ordinary shares outstanding for the respective period.

 

The calculation of diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the initial public offering and the private placement to purchase an aggregate of 33,533,333 shares of ordinary shares in the calculation of diluted income (loss) per ordinary share, because their exercise is contingent upon future events. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares is excluded from earnings per ordinary share as the redemption value approximates fair value.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, ASC Subtopic 820 “Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions”. The ASU amends ASC 820 to clarify that a contractual sales restriction is not considered in measuring an equity security at fair value and to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value. The ASU applies to both holders and issuers of equity and equity-linked securities measured at fair value. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is considering the impact of this pronouncement on the financial statements.

 

Our management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards updates, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of March 31, 2023, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

 

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 qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act and are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our unaudited condensed financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

 

As an “emerging growth company”, we are not 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, (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 the CEO’s 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.

 

25

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.

 

The net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, including amounts in the Trust Account, will be invested in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds that meet certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

 

We have not engaged in any hedging activities since our inception, and we do not expect to engage in any hedging activities with respect to the market risk to which we are exposed.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure 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 company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our management evaluated, with the participation of our current chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our certifying officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2023.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 3, 2023. We may disclose changes to such factors or disclose additional factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
3.1   Amendment to Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.*
10.1   Amendment No. 1 to Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2023, by and between the Company and CST.*
10.2   Promissory Note in favor of the Sponsor, dated as of January 13, 2023.*
10.3   Promissory Note in favor of HSM-Invest, dated as of January 13, 2023.*
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**   Certification of Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**   Certification of Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS   Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

  

*Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 13, 2023.

 

**These certifications are furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

  

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: May 12, 2023 PONTEM CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Hubertus Muehlhaeuser
  Name:  Hubertus Muehlhaeuser
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Dated: May 12, 2023 By: /s/ Nina Murphy
  Name: Nina Murphy
  Title:

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

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