PowerUp Acquisition Corp. - Quarter Report: 2023 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023

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

For the transition period from               to

Commission File No. 001-41293

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

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

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

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

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 November 7, 2023 there were 8,991,229 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and 0 Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share, issued and outstanding.

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

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

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

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

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

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

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

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

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY

PowerUp Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on February 9, 2021. 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 (the “Business Combination”).

The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. Substantially all activity from February 9, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and initial public offering (“IPO”), which is described below and, since the IPO, 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 will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income earned on investments from the proceeds derived from the IPO. The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective on February 17, 2022. On February 23, 2022, the Company consummated the IPO of 25,000,000 units (“Units” and, with respect to Class A ordinary share included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $250,000,000, which is discussed in Note 3. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 9,138,333 private placement warrants (“Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Company’s original sponsor, PowerUp Sponsor LLC (the “Original Sponsor”) generating gross proceeds of $13,707,500 which is described in Note 4.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the closing of the sale of 3,750,000 additional Units upon receiving notice of the underwriter’s election to fully exercise its overallotment option (the “Overallotment Units”), generating additional gross proceeds of $37,500,000. Simultaneously with the exercise of the overallotment, the Company consummated the private placement of an additional 625,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Original Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $937,500.

Offering costs for the IPO amounted to $16,418,580, consisting of $5,000,000 of underwriting fees, $10,812,500 of deferred underwriting fees payable (which are held in the Trust Account (defined below)) and $606,080 of other costs. As described in Note 6, the $10,812,500 of deferred underwriting fee payable is contingent upon the consummation of a Business Combination by May 23, 2024, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. On June 28, 2023, the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering, agreed to waive their entitlements to the deferred underwriting commissions of $10,812,500 pursuant to the underwriting agreement for the Initial Public Offering (the “Underwriting Agreement”). As a result, $10,812,500 was recorded to additional paid-in capital in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriting discount in the accompanying financial statements (see Note 6).

Following the closing of the IPO, $294,687,500 ($10.25 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units, Overallotment Units, and the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time it enters into a definitive agreement for 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. There is no assurance the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.

The Company will provide the holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. 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. 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 $10.25 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest then in the Trust Account, net of taxes payable). There are no redemption rights with respect to the Company’s warrants.

All of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Memorandum and Articles of Association”). In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) Subtopic 10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Given that the Public Shares will be issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., Public Warrants), the initial carrying value of the Public Shares classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20 “Debt with Conversion and other Options”. The Public Shares are subject to ASC 480-10-S99. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately. While redemptions cannot cause the Company’s net tangible assets to fall below $5,000,001, the Public Shares are redeemable and are classified as such on the balance sheet until such date that a redemption event takes place.

Redemptions of the Company’s Public Shares may be subject to the satisfaction of conditions, including minimum cash conditions, pursuant to an agreement relating to an initial Business Combination. If the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business Combination, the Company will proceed with the Business Combination if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination, or such other vote as required by law or stock exchange rule. If a shareholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Memorandum and Articles of Association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Original Sponsor agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the IPO in favor of the Business Combination. The New Sponsor (as defined below) may be deemed to be subject to this same obligation. Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed Business Combination.

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

The Company’s Original Sponsor, and its initial officers and directors (the “Initial Shareholders”) agreed not to propose an amendment to the Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares in conjunction with any such amendment. The New Sponsor and the Company’s current officers and directors may be deemed to be subject to this same obligation.

On May 18, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”). At the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which the Company must consummate its initial Business Combination from May 23, 2023 to May 23, 2024 (the “Extension Amendment”).

In connection with the approval of the Extension Amendment at the Extraordinary General Meeting, holders of 26,946,271 of the Company’s ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem those shares for cash at an approximate price of $10.55 per share, for an aggregate of approximately $284 million.

On August 14, 2023, the Company was notified by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (f/k/a American Stock Transfer & Trust Company) that the per share redemption price for the redemption of public shares effected on May 18, 2023 should have been approximately $10.57, which is approximately $0.02 higher than the approximately $10.55 per share previously paid. The Company made a “true-up” payment in the amount of approximately $0.02 per share to the holders of record as of April 19, 2023 that exercised their right to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account. On August 18, 2023, the Company made the true-up payment to the applicable holders in the aggregate amount of $632,968.

Following the Extraordinary General Meeting, on May 18, 2023, the Company elected to convert their Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares of the Company on a one-for-one basis (the “Conversion”). As a result, 7,187,500 of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares were cancelled and 7,187,500 of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares were issued to converting Class B shareholders.

On April 13, 2023, the Company engaged J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, acting through its Cohen & Company Markets division (“CCM”) to act as its capital markets advisor in connection with seeking an extension for completing a Business Combination. The Company will pay CCM the sum of (i) $300,000 plus (ii) 50,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company which is payable at the close of business combination.  On July 13, 2023, the Company amended the agreement with CCM. As a result of the amendment, the Company will pay CCM 80,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company, which is payable at the close of a Business Combination.

On August 18, 2023, in connection with the closing of the transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (defined below), (i) Bruce Hack, Jack Tretton, Peter Blacklow, Julie Uhrman, and Kyle Campbell tendered their resignations as members of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), (ii) Jack Tretton, Michael Olson, and Gabriel Schillinger resigned as officers of the Company, (iii) Surendra Ajjarapu, Michael L. Peterson, Donald G. Fell, Mayur Doshi, and Avinash Wadhwani were appointed as members of the Board, (iv) Surendra Ajjarapu was appointed Chairman of the Board, and (v) Surendra Ajjarapu and Howard Doss were appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively.

If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by May 23, 2024, 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 and not previously released to us to pay the Company’s franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the requirements of applicable law.

The Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination by May 23, 2024, or during any additional extension period (the “Combination Period”). However, if the Initial Shareholders acquired Public Shares in or after the IPO, they are 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 have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account. In the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.89 per share held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsors have agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a Business Combination, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsors 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 Sponsors will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all 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 waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

Going Concern

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $280 in its operating bank account, $19,640,501 in securities held in the Trust Account to be used for a Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem its Ordinary Shares in connection therewith and a working capital deficit of $62,954. As of September 30, 2023, $5,552,545 of the amount in the Trust Account is represented as Interest earned on investments held in the Trust Account.

The Company had 15 months from the closing of the IPO to consummate an initial business combination. At the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which the Company must consummate its initial Business Combination from May 23, 2023 to May 23, 2024 (the “Extension Amendment”). The remaining life of the Company as of September 30, 2023 is under 12 months.

Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will be using the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination. The Company may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its New Sponsor, shareholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and New Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing.

If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the unaudited condensed financial statements. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in unaudited condensed financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 21, 2023. The interim results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023, or for any future period.

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an emerging growth company as defined in Section 102 (b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), which 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 an 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 unaudited condensed financial statements with another public company difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly from those significant estimates. 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Investments Held in Trust Account

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held in U.S. Treasury securities. The Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the unaudited condensed balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of investments held in Trust Account are included in interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account in the accompanying unaudited statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in Trust Account are determined using available market information.

Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering

Offering costs consist principally of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs directly related to the IPO. Offering costs amounted to $16,418,580 as a result of the Initial Public Offering consisting of $5,000,000 underwriting fees, $10,812,500 of deferred underwriting fees payable, and $606,080 of other offering costs. This amount was charged to shareholders’ deficit upon the completion of the IPO.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the (“FASB”) ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the unaudited condensed financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of September 30, 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 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.

Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

The Company accounts for its ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption, if any, are classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s Public Shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 1,803,729 and 28,750,000 ordinary shares, respectively, subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s unaudited condensed balance sheets.

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of the redeemable ordinary shares are affected by charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the redeemable ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected in the unaudited condensed balance sheet is reconciled in the following table:

 SCHEDULE OF REDEEMABLE ORDINARY SHARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION

Net (Loss) Income per Ordinary Share

The Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Ordinary Shares”) and Class B Ordinary Shares (the “Founder Shares”). Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Public and private warrants to purchase 24,138,333 Ordinary Shares at $11.50 per share were issued on February 23, 2022. At September 30, 2023, no warrants have been exercised. The 24,138,333 Ordinary Shares underlying the outstanding warrants to purchase the Company’s stock were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, because the warrants are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met. As a result, diluted (loss) income per ordinary share is the same as basic (loss) income per ordinary share for all periods presented. The table below presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net (loss) income per share for each class of ordinary shares.

 SCHEDULE OF RECONCILIATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Accounting for Warrants

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the instruments’ specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the instruments are free standing financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the instruments meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the instruments are indexed to the Company’s own common shares and whether the instrument holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, was conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent period end date while the instruments are outstanding. Management has concluded that the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement qualify for equity accounting treatment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company’s management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statement.

NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Pursuant to the IPO, the Company sold 28,750,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of a redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one whole Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment (see Note 8).

NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS

On February 23, 2022, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full, the Company consummated the issuance and sale of 9,763,333 Private Placement Warrants in a private placement transaction at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $14,645,000. Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants was added to the proceeds from the IPO to be 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 are non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis.

The Original Sponsor and the Company’s initial 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. The New Sponsor and the Company’s current officers and directors may be deemed to be subject to this same obligation.

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On February 16, 2021, the Original Sponsor purchased 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (“Class B ordinary shares”) for an aggregate price of $25,000, and on December 18, 2021, the Original Sponsor surrendered 2,156,250 Class B ordinary shares, so that the Original Sponsor owned an aggregate of 6,468,750 Class B ordinary shares. On February 11, 2022, the Company effected a 1.11111111-for-1.0 share dividend of its Class B ordinary shares, so that the Original Sponsor owned an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares. The share dividend was retroactively restated. Since the underwriters’ exercised their overallotment option in full upon IPO, none of the Founder Shares were forfeited.

The Founder Shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in this Note 5.

The Initial Shareholders agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.

On August 18, 2023, SRIRAMA Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “New Sponsor”) purchased from the Original Sponsor (x) 4,317,500 Class A Ordinary Shares and (y) 6,834,333 private placement warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $1.00, payable at the time of the initial Business Combination.

Related Party Loans

On February 16, 2021, the Original Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). This loan was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of June 30, 2023 or the completion of the IPO. As of December 31, 2021 the amount outstanding was $238,596. The Note was subsequently paid off in February 2022 after the IPO and there was no amount outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the New Sponsor or an affiliate of the New Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors 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. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. 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. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no Working Capital Loans were outstanding.

Administrative Services Fee

The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on the effective date of the IPO through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination and the Company’s liquidation, to pay an affiliate of the Original Sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, secretarial and administrative services. For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company has incurred $30,000 of expenses under this arrangement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company has incurred $90,000 and $70,000, respectively, of expenses under this arrangement.

Due to affiliate

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $211,937 and $122,689, respectively, has been accrued and shown as ‘Due to affiliate’ in the accompanying balance sheet for the administrative services fees described above and a residual balance due from IPO proceeds. The amount is due to New Sponsor and will be repaid as soon as practical from the Company’s operating account.

NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration Rights

The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement dated February 17, 2022. These holders are entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the final prospectus relating to the IPO to purchase up to 3,750,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On February 23, 2022, the underwriters elected to fully exercise the over-allotment option purchasing 3,750,000 Units.

The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $5,000,000 in the aggregate at the closing of the IPO. The underwriters have agreed to defer the cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per share related to the over-allotment to be paid upon the closing of the Business Combination ($750,000 in the aggregate). In addition, the underwriters were originally entitled to a deferred underwriting commissions of $0.35 per unit, or $10,062,500 from the closing of the IPO. The total deferred fee was$10,812,500 consisting of the $10,062,500 deferred portion and the $750,000 cash discount agreed to be deferred until Business Combination. The deferred fee was to become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely if the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

On June 28, 2023, the underwriters agreed to waive their entitlement to the deferred underwriting commissions of $10,812,500 in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. As a result, $10,812,500 was recorded to additional paid-in capital in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriting discount in the accompanying financial statements.

Non-Redemption Agreement

The Original Sponsor entered into Non-Redemption Agreements with various shareholders of the Company (the “Non-Redeeming Shareholders”), pursuant to which these shareholders agreed not to redeem a portion of their shares of Company ordinary shares (the “Non-Redeemed Shares”) solely in connection with the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on May 18, 2023, but such shareholders retained their right to require the Company to redeem such Non-Redeemed Shares in connection with the closing of the Business Combination. The Original Sponsor agreed to transfer to such Non-Redeeming Shareholders an aggregate of 750,000 the Founder Shares held by the Original Sponsor immediately following the consummation of an initial Business Combination. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of such 750,000 Founder Shares transferrable to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreement to be $118,298 or approximately $0.15 per share. The fair value was determined using the probability of a successful Business Combination of 5%, a volatility of 1.6%, a discount for lack or marketability of 4.14%, and the average value per shares as of the valuation date of $10.51 derived from an option pricing model for publicly traded warrants. Each Non-Redeeming Shareholder acquired from the Original Sponsor an indirect economic interest in such Founder Shares. The excess of the fair value of such Founder Shares was determined to be an offering cost in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A. Accordingly, in substance, it was recognized by the Company as a capital contribution by the Original Sponsor to induce these Non-Redeeming Shareholders not to redeem the Non-Redeemed Shares, with a corresponding charge to additional paid-in capital to recognize the fair value of the Founder Shares subject to transfer as an offering cost.

Purchase Agreement

On July 14, 2023, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with SRIRAMA Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “New Sponsor”) and PowerUp Sponsor LLC (the “Original Sponsor”), pursuant to which the New Sponsor purchased from the Original Sponsor (x) 4,317,500 Class A Ordinary Shares and (y) 6,834,333 private placement warrants, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (other than those contained in the Letter Agreement, dated February 22, 2022, by and among the Company, its officers, directors and the Original Sponsor, and the Underwriting Agreement, dated February 17, 2022, by and between SPAC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representative of the several underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”)), for an aggregate purchase price of $1.00 (the “Purchase Price”) payable at the time of the initial Business Combination. On August 18, 2023, the parties to the Purchase Agreement closed the transactions contemplated thereby.

Contingent Agreement 

On April 13, 2023, the Company engaged J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, acting through its Cohen & Company Markets division (“CCM”) to act as its capital markets advisor in connection with seeking an extension for completing a Business Combination. The Company will pay CCM the sum of (i) $300,000 plus (ii) 50,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company which is payable at the close of Business Combination.  On July 13, 2023, the Company amended the agreement with CCM. As a result of the amendment, the Company will pay CCM 80,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company, which is payable at the close of a Business Combination. The fair value of the equity shares at the grant date which will be determined upon the consummation of a Business Combination.

NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Preference Shares—The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 preference shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.

Class A ordinary shares—The Company is authorized to issue 300,000,000 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 7,187,500 and no Class A ordinary shares, respectively, issued and outstanding (excluding 1,803,729 and 28,750,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, respectively).

Class B ordinary shares—The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each Class B ordinary share. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 0 and 7,187,500 Class B ordinary shares outstanding, none of which were subject to forfeiture at the time.

If there are any Class B ordinary shares outstanding at the time of the initial Business Combination, such shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares shall convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of the IPO (irrespective of whether or not such ordinary shares are redeemed in connection with the initial Business Combination) plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in our initial Business Combination, and any ordinary shares issued upon exercise of private placement warrants issued to the Sponsors or their affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us).

NOTE 8. WARRANTS

Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) the completion of a Business Combination and (b) 12 months from the closing of the IPO. The Public Warrants will expire five years from the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the ordinary shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption is available.

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of a Business Combination, it will use its best efforts to file, and within 60 business days following a Business Combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the offer and sale of the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. No warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the offer and sale of the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the offer and sale of the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of a Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.

Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the warrants:

If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise its redemption right if the issuance of shares upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.

If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger, or consolidation. However, except as described below, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Public Share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsors or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsors or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Company’s initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of such initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the greater of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the IPO, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants are not transferable, assignable, or saleable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.

The Company has determined that warrants issued in connection with its IPO in February 2022 are subject to treatment as equity. In order to account for the fair value of the Public Warrants issued in the IPO, the Company used Black Scholes Model to allocate cost to the Public Warrants on IPO. The key assumptions in the option pricing model utilized are assumptions related to expected share-price volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The expected volatility as of the IPO closing date was derived from observable public warrant pricing on comparable ‘blank check’ companies that recently went public in 2020 and 2021. The risk-free interest rate is based on the interpolated U.S. Constant Maturity Treasury yield. The expected term of the warrants is assumed to be six months until the close of a Business Combination, and the contractual five-year term subsequently. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates to remain at zero.

The following table provides quantitative information regarding fair value measurements at issuance on February 23, 2022:

 SCHEDULE OF QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION REGARDING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS INPUTS

The fair value of the Public Warrants as of February 23, 2022 was $0.39. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had 14,375,000 Public Warrants and 9,763,333 Private Warrants outstanding, respectively.

NOTE 9. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in treasury funds. All of the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities.

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.

 SCHEDULE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES THAT ARE MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS

NOTE 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the condensed balance sheet date up to the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements were available to be issued and determined that there have been no events that have occurred that would require adjustments to the disclosures of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

References in this report (this “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to PowerUp Acquisition Corp. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, references to the “Original Sponsor” refer to PowerUp Sponsor LLC, and references to the “New Sponsor” refer to SRIRAMA Associates, LLC. The Original Sponsor and the New Sponsor are collectively referred to as the “Sponsors.” The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and otherwise identified in reports we file with the SEC. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview

We are a blank check company incorporated on February 9, 2021 as a Cayman Islands corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar transaction (“Business Combination”) with one or more businesses or entities that we have not yet selected. While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business, industry, sector, or geographical location, we intend to focus on industries that complement our management’s background and to capitalize on the ability of our management team to identify and acquire a business. We may pursue a transaction in which our shareholders immediately, prior to completion of our initial Business Combination, would collectively own a minority interest in the combined post-Business Combination company. We intend to effectuate our initial Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering (the “IPO”) and the sale of the private placement warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, equity and debt.

We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.

Results of Operations

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. From February 9, 2021 (inception) until the Company’s initial public offering on February 23, 2022, the Company’s entire activity was in preparation for an initial public offering, and following the Company’s IPO through September 30, 2023, the Company’s entire activity has been limited to the search for a prospective initial Business Combination. We will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial Business Combination at the earliest. We incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well a expenses for due diligence efforts. Our operating expenses consist of general and administrative expenses necessary to operate and maintain the Company as we pursue one or more Business Combinations.

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $69,258, which consisted of operating expenses of $324,742, offset by interest income of $255,484.

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net income of $1,077,216, which consisted of operating expenses of $255,257, offset by interest income of $1,332,473.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net income of $4,614,992, which consisted of operating expenses of $937,553, offset by interest income of $5,552,545.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net income of $1,110,084, which consisted of operating expenses of $662,315 offset by interest income of $1,772,399.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Until the consummation of the IPO, our only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of Founder Shares by the Original Sponsor and loans from the Original Sponsor.

On February 23, 2022, the Company consummated the IPO of 25,000,000 units (“Units”) with respect to the ordinary shares included in the Units being offered (the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit generating gross proceeds of $250,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 9,138,333 private placement warrants (“Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Original Sponsor generating gross proceeds of $13,707,500. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the closing of the sale of 3,750,000 additional Units upon receiving notice of the underwriter’s election to fully exercise its overallotment option (the “Overallotment Units”), generating additional gross proceeds of $37,500,000. Simultaneously with the exercise of the overallotment, the Company consummated the private placement of an additional 625,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Original Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $937,500.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $496,979, net cash provided by investing activities was $284,916,127 and net cash used in financing activities was $284,916,127.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $1,372,916, net cash used in investing activities was $294,687,500 and net cash provided by financing activities was $296,593,545 mainly reflecting the proceeds of the IPO and subsequent deposit into the Trust Account.

We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less taxes payable and deferred underwriting commissions), to complete our initial Business Combination. We may withdraw interest income (if any) to pay taxes, if any. Our annual tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account. We expect the interest income earned on the amount in the Trust Account (if any) will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that our equity or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $280 in its operating bank account, $19,640,501 in securities held in the Trust Account to be used for a Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem its Ordinary Shares in connection therewith and working capital deficit of $62,954. As of September 30, 2023, $5,552,545 of the amount in the Trust Account is represented as Interest earned on investments held in the Trust Account.

The Company has until May 23, 2024 to consummate an initial Business Combination. However, if the Company anticipates that it may not be able to consummate an initial Business Combination prior to May 23, 2024, its shareholders may vote by special resolution to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the period of time that the Company has to consummate the initial Business Combination (any such extended period of time, an “Extension Period”).

Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will be using the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination. The Company may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from New Sponsor, shareholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and New Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. Unless the shareholders vote for an additional extension, the remaining life of the Company as of September 30, 2023 is under 12 months.

If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Related Party Transactions

Founder Shares

On February 16, 2021, the Original Sponsor purchased 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (“Class B ordinary shares”) for an aggregate price of $25,000, and on December 18, 2021, the Original Sponsor surrendered 2,156,250 Class B ordinary shares, so that the Original Sponsor owned an aggregate of 6,468,750 Class B ordinary shares. On February 11, 2022, the Company effected a 1.11111111-for-1.0 share dividend of its Class B ordinary shares, so that the Original Sponsor owned an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares. The share dividend was retroactively restated. Since the underwriters’ exercised their overallotment option in full upon IPO, none of the Founder Shares were forfeited.

The Founder Shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described below.

The Initial Shareholders have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.

On August 18, 2023, the New Sponsor purchased from the Original Sponsor (x) 4,317,500 Class A Ordinary Shares and (y) 6,834,333 private placement warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $1.00, payable at the time of the initial Business Combination.

Private Placement

On February 23, 2022, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full, the Company consummated the issuance and sale of 9,763,333 Private Placement Warrants in a private placement transaction at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $14,645,000. Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants was added to the proceeds from the IPO to be 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 are non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis.

Related Party Loans

On February 16, 2021, the Original Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). This loan was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of September 30, 2022 or the completion of the IPO. The Note was paid off in January 2022 after the IPO.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the New Sponsor or an affiliate of the New Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors 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. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. 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. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no Working Capital Loans were outstanding.

Administrative Services Fee

We agreed, commencing on the effective date of the IPO through the earlier of our consummation of a Business Combination or our liquidation, to pay an affiliate of the Original Sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, secretarial and administrative services. For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company has incurred $30,000 of expenses under this arrangement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company has incurred $90,000 and $70,000, respectively, of expenses under this arrangement.

Deferred Underwriting Fees

The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $5,000,000 in the aggregate at the closing of the IPO. The underwriters agreed to defer the cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per share related to the over-allotment to be paid at Business Combination ($750,000 in the aggregate). In addition, the underwriters were entitled to a deferred underwriting commissions of $0.35 per unit, or $10,062,500 from the closing of the IPO. The total deferred fee was $10,812,500 consisting of the $10,062,500 deferred portion and the $750,000 cash discount agreed to be deferred until Business Combination. The deferred fee was to become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely if the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

On June 28, 2023, the underwriters agreed to waive their entitlements to the deferred underwriting commissions of $10,812,500 pursuant to the underwriting agreement for the IPO (the “Underwriting Agreement”). As a result, $10,812,500 was recorded to additional paid-in capital in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriting discount in the accompanying financial statements (see Note 6 to the financial statements contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report).

Due to affiliate

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $211,937 and $122,689, respectively, has been accrued and shown as ‘Due to affiliate’ in the accompanying balance sheet for the administrative services fees described above and a residual balance due from IPO proceeds. The amount is due to New Sponsor and will be repaid as soon as practical from the Company’s operating account.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2023. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of unaudited condensed financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:

Warrant Instruments

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the instruments’ specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the instruments are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the instruments meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the instruments are indexed to the Company’s own ordinary shares and whether the instrument holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the instruments are outstanding. The Company determined, upon further review of the warrant agreement, that the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement qualify for equity accounting treatment.

Ordinary shares Subject to Possible Redemption

We account for our ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that features redemption rights that is either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. Our ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, ordinary shares subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of our unaudited condensed balance sheets.

Net (Loss) Income Per Share of Ordinary shares

We apply the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. Net (loss) income per share of the Class A shares, basic and diluted is calculated by dividing the interest income earned on the Trust Account by the weighted average number of shares of Class A ordinary shares outstanding since original issuance. Net (loss) income per share of ordinary shares, basic and diluted, for Class B ordinary shares is calculated by dividing the net (loss) income, less income attributable to shares of Class A ordinary shares, by the weighted average number of shares of Class B ordinary shares outstanding for the periods presented.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recent Accounting Standards

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements.

Contractual Obligations

We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an affiliate of the Original Sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, utilities and secretarial, and administrative support services provided to the Company. We began incurring these fees on February 23, 2022 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation.

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

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of executive compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions apply for a period of five years following the completion of the IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

As a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), we are not required to provide disclosure under this Item 3.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

As a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), we are not required to provide disclosure under this Item 1A.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

None.

Use of Proceeds

On February 23, 2022, we consummated our IPO of 28,750,000 Units. Each Unit consisted of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share for $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $287,500,000.

Additionally, on February 23, 2022, we consummated the closing of the sale of 3,750,000 additional Units upon receiving notice of the underwriter’s election to fully exercise its overallotment option (the “Overallotment Units”), generating additional gross proceeds of $37,500,000. Simultaneously with the exercise of the overallotment, we consummated the private placement of an additional 625,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Original Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $937,500.

A total of $294,687,500 ($10.25 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units, Overallotment Units, and the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the Trust Account and was invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

*Filed herewith.

**Furnished herewith.

SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.