PROOF Acquisition Corp I - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

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We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, our equity or debt, or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such a company or business.

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

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Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support the combination.

We may choose not to hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination if the business combination would not require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. Except as required by applicable law or stock exchange requirement, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our issued and outstanding Public Shares do not approve of the business combination we complete.

Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your Public Shares from us for cash.

At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of our initial business combination. Because our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek a stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the time period (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.

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The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their Public Shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.

The probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful would decrease if the holders of a large number of Public Shares decide to exercise redemption rights and you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.

If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you need immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market. However, at that time, our stock may be trading at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate, or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.

The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) after the closing of our Public Offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.

Any potential target business with which we enter negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination by June 3, 2023 (or December 3, 2023, if applicable). Consequently, a target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the end of the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.

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Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if concerns relating to COVID-19 continue to restrict travel, limit the ability to conduct due diligence and/or limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or target company personnel, or vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19, the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, and the emergence of new variants such as the Delta Variant, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected. In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity, and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.

The outbreak of COVID-19 may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market for our securities.

Finally, there is no indication that COVID-19 will be the last widespread health crisis. The economy and financial markets will be recovering from the COVID-19 outbreak for the foreseeable future. Another significant outbreak of other infectious diseases could result in additional disruptions to the economy and financial markets at a time when the economy and financial markets are still in recovery. This could adversely affect our ability to complete a business combination, limit our or our target company’s ability to raise any needed addition capital, or adversely affect our target company following a business combination.

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If we do not complete our initial business combination within the 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) after the closing of our Public Offering, we would cease all operations except those necessary for winding up and we would redeem our Public Shares and liquidate, in which case the holders of our Public Shares may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution, and our warrants will expire worthless.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors, and their respective affiliates may elect to purchase shares from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock or warrants.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors, or their respective affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. The price per share paid by these individuals may be different than the amount per share the holder of Public Shares would receive if the holder elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination.

These purchases may include a contractual acknowledgement that the selling stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors, or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from holders of Public Shares who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, the selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of any purchases of shares could be to vote the shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our business combination, where it appears that the requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote the warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. This may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that a stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) from the closing of our Public Offering or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we have not consummated our business combination within 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) from the closing of our Public Offering. In addition, if we have not completed an initial business combination within 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) from the closing of our Public Offering for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) from the closing of our Public Offering before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.

You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.

Upon redemption of our Public Shares, if we have not completed our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.20 per public share initially held in the trust account, or less than the $10.30 or $10.40 per public share held in the trust account in case of one or both extensions periods to complete our initial business combination have been effectuated, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to a letter agreement, our Sponsor has agreed that it will reimburse us if and to the extent a claim by a third party reduces the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per public share (or $10.30 or $10.40 per public share in case we extend the period of time available for us to complete a business combination to 21 months or 24 months, respectively), or (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 $10.20, $10.30 or $10.40 per share, as applicable, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. The reimbursement obligation will only apply to claims for services rendered or products sold to us (other than services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and the underwriter of our Public Offering) or claims by a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality, or other similar agreement, or business combination agreement. The reimbursement obligation 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 the waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of our Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

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Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our Sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per public share (or $10.30 or $10.40 per Public Share in case we extend the period of time available for us to complete a business combination to 21 months or 24 months, respectively), or (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 $10.20, $10.30 or $10.40 per public share, as applicable, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no reimbursement obligation related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our Sponsor to enforce the reimbursement obligation.

While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our Sponsor to enforce the reimbursement obligations, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce this obligation, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.20, $10.30 or $10.40 per public share, as applicable.

We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and executive officers.

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The net proceeds from our Public Offering and the sale of the private placement warrants provided us with $285,156,000 that we may use to complete our initial business combination (before taking into account the $9,660,000 of deferred underwriting commissions being held in the trust account and the estimated expenses of our Public Offering).

We may effectuate our business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis.

Furthermore, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive, and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our business combination.

We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.

We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

In pursuing our business combination strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination based on limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.

In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial public offering. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate an initial business combination.

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Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.

We may structure a business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all the outstanding capital stock of a target business. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to the transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to the transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain control of the post-combination business.

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In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws where there is no exemption available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of the warrant will not be entitled to exercise the warrant and, as a result, the warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of our Class A common stock included in the units. There may be a circumstance where an exemption from registration exists for holders of our private placement warrants to exercise their warrants while a corresponding exemption does not exist for holders of the public warrants included as part of units sold in our Public Offering. In such an instance, the holders of our private placement warrants and their permitted transferees (which may include our directors and officers) would be able to sell the common stock underlying their warrants while holders of our public warrants would not be able to exercise their warrants and sell the underlying common stock. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth in the warrant agreement even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise their warrants.

The grant of registration rights to Sponsor and Blackrock and their respective permitted transferees may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of registration rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.

Our Sponsor and Blackrock and their respective permitted transferees can demand that we register the Class A common stock into which Founder Shares are convertible, and the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants. The holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans or extension promissory notes may also demand that we register those warrants or the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of those warrants. The registration and availability of a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our initial stockholders, holders of working capital loans and extension promissory notes, or their respective permitted transferees are registered.

We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. These issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 70,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 12,500,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 undesignated shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

There are 42,400,000 and 5,600,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, which amount does not take into account Class A common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants or shares issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock. Our Class B common stock is convertible into Class A common stock initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment, including in certain circumstances in which we issue Class A common stock or equity-linked securities related to our initial business combination (other than Class A common stock or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in our initial business combination). Shares of Class B common stock are also convertible at the option of the holder at any time. Immediately after the consummation of our Public Offering, there will be no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

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could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock 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;

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

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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants; and

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may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.

We may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.

Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in the prospectus for our Public Offering, or defective provision, or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants. The approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then-outstanding public warrants is required to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. With respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, 65% of the number of the then-outstanding private placement warrants must approve any change that adversely affects the interests of the holders of private placement warrants. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of possible amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, shorten the exercise period, or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.

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Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding, or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to that jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any action, proceeding, or claim. We will waive any objection to exclusive jurisdiction or that these courts represent an inconvenient forum.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement.

This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the matter in another jurisdiction, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.

We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and provided certain other conditions are met. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise the warrants. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you (i) to exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) to sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants, or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.

In addition, we may redeem your warrants after they become exercisable for $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption for a number of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A common stock. Any such redemption may have similar consequences to a cash redemption described above. In addition, such redemptions may occur at a time when the warrants are “out of the money,” in which case you would lose any potential embedded value from a subsequent increase in the value of the Class A common stock had your warrants remained outstanding. The value received upon exercise of the warrants (i) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised their warrants at a later time where the underlying share price is higher and (ii) may not compensate the holders for the value of the warrants.

None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us as so long as they are held by the initial purchasers of the private placement warrants or their permitted transferees subject to limited exceptions.

A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination.

If (i) we issue additional Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock, (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from the issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the completion of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 and $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% and 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, respectively. This may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target business.

Risks Relating to our Management

We are dependent upon our officers and directors, and their loss could adversely affect our ability to operate.

Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.

When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the management of a target business may be limited due to a lack of time, resources, or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the management of the target business, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and the management may lack the skills, qualifications, or abilities we anticipated. Should the management of the target business not possess the skills, qualifications, or abilities necessary to manage a public company and comply with applicable rules and regulations, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. These stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for any reduction in value.

Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.

Until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our Sponsor and officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties, including the special purpose acquisition companies noted below and any other special purpose acquisition companies they may become involved with.

Certain of our directors and officers are affiliated with other special purpose acquisition companies and our Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from sponsoring, investing in, or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless the opportunity is expressly offered to the person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and the opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.

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We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders, or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, members of our Sponsor, or our directors or officers. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits these persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, these persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours. The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions, and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest.

We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, members of our sponsor, officers, directors, members of our VC Advisory Board or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.

In light of the involvement of our Sponsor, executive officers, members of our VC Advisory Board and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, members of our Sponsor, or our executive officers, or directors. Our directors and members of our VC Advisory Board also serve as officers and board members for other entities. Our sponsor, officers, members of our VC Advisory Board, and directors may sponsor, form, or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. These entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that the affiliated entity met our criteria and guidelines for a business combination and the transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, members of our Sponsor, or our executive officers, or directors, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.

Because our Sponsor, officers, and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.

On May 4, 2021, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration of 5,750,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001.  We declared a 1.2 for 1 stock split with respect to the Class B common stock prior to our Public Offering and a portion of the Class B common stock repurchased from our Sponsor at cost and reissued to BlackRock. Prior to the initial investment in the Company of $25,000 by the Sponsor, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The per share price of the Founder Shares was determined by dividing the amount contributed to the company by the number of Founder Shares issued. We effected the stock split with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of our Public Offering so as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of our Public Offering. The Founder Shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our Sponsor and BlackRock purchased an aggregate of 15,226,000 private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the closing of our Public Offering. If we do not consummate an initial business within 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) from the closing of our Public Offering, the private placement warrants will expire worthless.

The personal and financial interests of our executive officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination, and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the 18-month anniversary (or up to 24-month anniversary) of the closing of our Public Offering nears, which is the deadline for our consummation of an initial business combination.

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Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Business in Foreign Countries

If we pursue a target business with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such initial business combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.

If we pursue a target company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to, and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign jurisdiction, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators, or agencies, and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

If we effect our initial business combination with a company in a foreign country, we would be subject to many special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:

•

higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with different commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;

•

rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;

•

imposition of withholding taxes;

•

laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;

•

exchange listing and/or delisting requirements;

•

tariffs and trade barriers;

•

regulations related to customs and import/export matters;

•

local or regional economic policies and market conditions;

•

longer payment cycles;

•

tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;

•

currency fluctuations and exchange controls;

•

rates of inflation;

•

challenges in collecting accounts receivable;

•

cultural and language differences;

•

employment regulations;

•

underdeveloped or unpredictable legal or regulatory systems;

•

corruption;

•

protection of intellectual property;

•

social unrest, crime, strikes, riots and civil disturbances;

•

regime changes and political upheaval;

•

terrorist attacks and wars; and

•

deterioration of political relations with the United States.

We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete the initial business combination, or, if we complete the transaction, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

General Risk Factors

We are a newly formed company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.

We are a newly formed company with no operating results. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a business combination and may be unable to complete our business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, we will never generate any operating revenues.

Past performance by PROOF.VC, our management team, and members of our VC Advisory Board is not indicative of future performance of an investment in us.

Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, PROOF.VC or our management team or our VC Advisory Board members , is presented for informational purposes only. Any past experience and performance of PROOF.VC or our management team or our VC Advisory Board Members is not a guarantee either: (i) that we will be able to successfully identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination; or (ii) of any results with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of PROOF.VC or our management team as being indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. Information regarding the financial performance of funds managed by PROOF.VC or of specific PROOF.VC portfolio company investments, is provided for informational purposes only. Past performance of PROOF.VC is not indicative of PROOF.VC’s future results, and you should not rely on the information relating to the performance of funds managed by PROOF.VC (which are investment funds that have invested in multiple portfolio companies), or of specific PROOF.VC portfolio company investments, as indicative of the future performance of PROOF Acquisition Corp I (which is a blank check company whose strategy is as described elsewhere herein), or of an investment in PROOF Acquisition Corp I. In addition, our management team, members of our VC Advisory Board, and their respective affiliates have been involved with a large number of public and private companies not all of which have achieved successful performance levels.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.

We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional, and local governments as well as rules and regulations of the NYSE. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws, rules, and regulations may be difficult, time consuming, and costly. Those laws, rules, and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments, and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws, rules, or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.

We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders do not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any September 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities, and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock, and the fact that prior to the completion of our initial business combination only holders of our shares of Class B common stock, which is held by the Sponsor and BlackRock, voting together as a single class, are entitled to vote on the election of the directors, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers, or other employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim for aiding and abetting any such alleged breach, (iii) action asserting a claim against our company or any director, officer, or employee of our company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or (iv) action asserting a claim against us or any director, officer, or employee of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim (a) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (b) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (c) arising under the Federal securities laws, including the Securities Act, as to which the Court of Chancery and the Federal district court for the District of Delaware shall concurrently be the sole and exclusive forums.

ITEM IB.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION.

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

Name		Age		Position
John C. Backus, Jr.		63		Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board
Steven P. Mullins		55		Chief Financial Officer
Michael W. Zarlenga		54		General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Peter C. Harrison		59		Chairman of the Board
Coleman Andrews		67		Member of the Board (Lead Independent Director)
Mark Lerdal		63		Member of the Board
Lisa Suennen		56		Member of the Board

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

ITEM 12.

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

(1)	Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of our officers and directors is 11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 1080 Reston, VA 20190.

(2)	Interests shown consist solely of Founder Shares, classified as shares of Class B common stock. Such shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the election of the holder.

(3)	Our Sponsor is the record holder of such shares. Our sponsor is controlled by its manager, PROOF Sponsor Management, LLC

(4)

Messrs. Backus, Mullins and Zarlenga are managing members of PROOF Sponsor Management, LLC, the manager of our sponsor and no person individually has the power to vote or control the interests of our sponsor. Each individual disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein..

(5)	This individual does not beneficially own any founder shares or private placement warrants. However, this individual has a pecuniary interest in these securities through his or her ownership of membership interests of our sponsor.

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

Audited Financial Statements of PROOF Acquisition Corp I:		Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB Firm ID# 688)		F-2
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021		F-3
Statement of Operations for the period from March 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021		F-4
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the period from March 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021		F-5
Statement of Cash Flows for the period from March 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021		F-6
Notes to Financial Statements		F-7

		December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	2,579,658
Prepaid expenses			993,608
Total current assets			3,573,266
Investments held in Trust			281,521,183
Total Assets		$	285,094,449
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Accrued expenses		$	159,622
Total current liabilities			159,622
Deferred underwriting commission			9,660,000
Total Liabilities			9,819,622
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Temporary Equity:
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; 27,600,000 shares at redemption value ($10.20 per share)			281,520,000
Stockholders’ Deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding			—
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 70,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding (excluding 27,600,000 shares subject to possible redemption)			—
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 12,500,000 shares authorized; 6,900,000 shares issued and outstanding			690
Accumulated deficit			(6,245,863	)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit			(6,245,173	)
Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Deficit		$	285,094,449

		For the Period From March 16, 2021 (inception) Through December 31, 2021
Formation and operating costs		$	383,077
Operating loss			(383,077	)
Interest income – investments held in the Trust Account			1,183
Other income			1,183
Net loss		$	(381,894	)
Class A common stock - weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted			2,810,182
Class A common stock - basic and diluted net loss per share		$	(0.04	)
Class B common stock - weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (1)			6,091,636
Class B common stock - basic and diluted net loss per share		$	(0.04	)

		Class B Common Stock								Additional Paid-in Capital				Accumulated Deficit				Total Stockholders’ Deficit
		Shares				Amount
Balance, March 16, 2021 (inception)			—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
Issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor(1)			6,900,000				690				24,310				—				25,000
Private placement warrants proceeds in excess of fair value			—				—								5,411,275				5,411,275
Re-measurement of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption to redemption value			—				—				(24,310	)			(11,275,244	)			(11,299,554	)
Net loss			—				—				—				(381,894	)			(380,997	)
Balance, December 31, 2021			6,900,000			$	690			$	—			$	(6,245,863	)		$	(6,245,173	)

		For The Period From March 16, 2021 (inception) Through December 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(381,894	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Income earned on Trust assets			(1,183	)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Changes in prepaid expenses			(993,608	)
Changes in accrued expenses			159,622
Net cash used in operating activities			(1,217,063	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Funds deposited into Trust account			(281,520,000	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(281,520,000	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor			25,000
Proceeds from sale of units			276,000,000
Proceeds from sale of warrants			15,226,000
Offering costs			(5,934,279	)
Proceeds from sponsor note			110,000
Repayment of sponsor note			(110,000	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			285,316,721
Net change in cash			2,579,658
Cash at beginning of period			—
Cash at end of period		$​2,579,658
Non-cash financing activities:
Deferred underwriting fee		$	9,660,000
Re-measurement of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption		$	(11,299,554	)
Initial value of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption		$​281,520,000

		For the period from March 16, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021
		Class A Common Stock				Class B Common Stock
Basic and diluted net loss per common share
Numerator:
Allocation of net loss		$	(120,559	)		$	(261,335	)
Denominator:
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding			2,810,182				6,091,636
Basic and diluted net loss per common share		$	(0.04	)		$	(0.04	)

●

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.

Gross proceeds		$	276,000,000
Less:
Offering costs allocated to Class A common stock subject to possible redemption			(368,276	)
Private placement warrants proceeds in excess of fair value			(5,411,275	)
Plus:
Re-measurement of carrying value to redemption value			11,299,544
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption		$	281,520,000

Description		Level				December 31, 2021
Assets:
Marketable securities held in the Trust Account			1			$	281,521,183

		For the Period From March 16, 2021 (Inception) Through December 31, 2021
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses		$	127,274
Start-up costs			47,076
Total deferred tax assets			174,350
Valuation Allowance			(174,350	)
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance		$	-

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date these financial statements were issued. Based upon this review the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

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