Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 September (Form 10-Q)

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, 2022

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

For the transition period from                  to                  

Commission File No. 001-40743

CENAQ Energy Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

4550 Post Oak Place Dr.,
Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77027

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

(713) 820-6300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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

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 21, 2022, there were 20,927,250 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 825,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, issued and outstanding

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

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

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

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

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

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

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

(UNAUDITED)

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

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations

CENAQ Energy Corp. (the “Company”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 24, 2020. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). On November 10, 2022, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).

As of September 30, 2022, the Company has neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues. All activity for the period from June 24, 2020 (inception) through September 30, 2022 relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“IPO”), described below, and identifying a target company for a Business Combination, in particular, activities in connection with the potential transaction with Bluescape (see Note 6). 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 from the proceeds derived from the IPO. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

The Company’s sponsor is CENAQ Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”).

The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective on August 12, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). On August 17, 2021, the Company consummated its IPO of 15,000,000 units (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A common stock”), and three-quarters of one redeemable warrant of the Company (“Warrant”), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $150,000,000, which is discussed in Note 3.

Certain qualified institutional buyers or institutional accredited investors which are not affiliated with any member of the Company’s management (the “Anchor Investors”) have purchased up to 1,485,000 Units in the IPO at the offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $14,850,000 included in the gross proceeds from units offered to the public of $150,000,000.

In connection with the closing of the IPO, the Sponsor sold membership interest reflecting an allocation of 75,000 founder shares, or an aggregate of 825,000 founder shares, to each anchor investor at their original purchase price of approximately $0.0058 per share.

The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of these founder shares attributable to anchor investors to be $6,270,000, or $7.60 per share.  The Company allocated $6,265,215, the excess of the fair value over the gross proceeds from these anchor investors, among Class A common stock, Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants (defined below).

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company completed the private sale of an aggregate of 6,000,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) to the Sponsor and the Underwriters at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $6,000,000. The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Warrants sold in the IPO, except that the Sponsor and the Underwriters agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Private Placement Warrants (except to certain permitted transferees) until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.

The underwriters had a 45-day option from the date of the Company’s IPO (August 17, 2021) to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 Units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 19, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment in full, at $10.00 per Unit, generating additional gross proceeds of $22,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the over-allotment, the Company consummated the sale of additional 450,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor, and additional 225,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Underwriters, at $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $675,000.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Transaction costs of the IPO and the over-allotment amounted to $17,771,253 consisting of $3,450,000 of underwriting discount, $6,037,500 of deferred underwriting discount, an excess of fair value of the founder shares acquired by the Anchor Investors of $6,265,215, fair value of the 189,750 representative shares of $1,442,100 and $576,438 of other cash offering costs were charged to additional paid in capital.

Following the closing of the IPO on August 17, 2021 and over-allotment on August 19, 2021, $174,225,000 ($10.10 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, was deposited in a trust account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and may only be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay franchise and income tax obligations as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account, the proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (i) the completion of initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of the any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if the Company does not complete initial Business Combination within 12 months (or within 18 months if the Company extends the period of time to consummate its initial Business Combination) from August 17, 2021, or (b) relating to any other provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or permitted pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete its Business Combination within 12 months (or within 18 months if the Company extends the period of time to consummate its initial Business Combination) from August 17, 2021, subject to applicable law. The period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its amended and restated certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 3 months from August 17, 2022 to November 16, 2022 based upon the filing of a proxy statement for an initial business combination on August 12, 2022. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the Company’s public stockholders, according to the investment management trust agreement.

As of the date of the filing of these financial statements, the period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its amended and restated certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 3 months from November 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023. In connection with the Extension, the Sponsor has deposited $1,725,000, representing 1% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, into the Trust Account for its public stockholders (Note 8).

The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into 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 the post-transaction company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully.

The Company will provide its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the initial Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The stockholders will be entitled to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the initial Business Combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the Trust Account was $10.10 per public share. The per-share amount the Company will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters.

The shares of common stock subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the IPO, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Company will have until August 17, 2022, 12 months from the closing of the IPO, to complete the initial Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If the Company anticipates that it may not be able to consummate its initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, it may, but not obligated to, extend the Combination Period two times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 18 months to complete a Business Combination); provided that the Sponsor (or its designees) must deposit into the trust account funds equal to one percent (1%) of the gross proceeds of the offering (including such proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, if exercised) for each 3-month extension of the time period to complete the initial Business Combination, in exchange for a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note. However, if the Company filed a proxy statement, registration statement or similar filing for an initial business combination within the initial 12-month period, we may extend the period of time to consummate a business combination by three months (or up to 15 months to complete a business combination) without depositing the Additional Funds. The period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its amended and restated certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 3 months from August 17, 2022 to November 16, 2022 based upon the filing of a proxy statement for an initial business combination on August 12, 2022. As of the date of the filing of these financial statements, the period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its amended and restated certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 3 months from November 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023. In connection with the Extension, the Sponsor has deposited $1,725,000, representing 1% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, into the Trust Account for its public stockholders (Note 8).

If the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, by February 16, 2023, 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 the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account (less up to $100,000 of interest released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

The Sponsor, officers and directors, as well as the Anchor Investors, have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares held by them in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares held by them if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, by February 16, 2023, and (iii) vote any Founder Shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the IPO in favor of the initial Business Combination.

The Anchor Investors are not required to vote any of their public shares (as opposed to their Founder Shares) in favor of our initial business combination or for or against any other matter presented for a stockholder vote.

The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Company’s independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per public share and (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

Risks and Uncertainties

Management is continuing to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of this financial statement. The financial statement does not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Further, the impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy are not determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements. The specific impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is also not determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.

Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination.

Going Concern

As of September 30, 2022, the Company had $8,242 in its operating bank account, and a working capital deficit of $3,600,490.

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.

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors committed to provide the Company with Working Capital Loans up to $1,500,000, as defined later (see Note 5). This commitment extends through February 16, 2023. To date, there were no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loans.

If the Company’s estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete its Business Combination or because it becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of its public shares upon consummation of the Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, the Company would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of the Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete its Business Combination because it does not have sufficient funds available to it, the Company will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following the Business Combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, the Company may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet its obligations.

We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which is considered to be one year from the issuance of the financial statements. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.

In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” the Company has until February 16, 2023 to consummate a Business Combination. It is uncertain whether the Company will be able to consummate a Business Combination by this time. If a Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Management has determined that the liquidity condition and the mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur and the deadline to complete a Business Combination not be extended, and potential subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after February 16, 2023. The Company intends to continue to search for and seek to complete a Business Combination before the mandatory liquidation date. The Company is within 12 months of its mandatory liquidation date as of the time of filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by US GAAP. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the balances and results for the period presented. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected through December 31, 2022.

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 30, 2022.

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. The most significant estimates that affected the financial statements as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are the calculations of the fair values of the over-allotment option, fair values of the representative shares and the fair values of the anchor shares. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly 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. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has cash of $8,242 and $505,518, respectively. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Marketable Securities held in Trust Account

As of September 30, 2022, the Company had $174,873,584 in Marketable Securities held in the Trust Account which was invested in US Treasury bills. Upon closing of the IPO, $10.10 per Unit sold in the IPO, including the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, were held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and may be invested only in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. At September 30, 2022, the Company has not experienced losses on this account.

Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering 

Offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the IPO. The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A—“Expenses of Offering”. Offering costs are allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the IPO based on a relative fair value basis compared to total proceeds received.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs consists of legal expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to a proposed financing agreement of a Business Combination. As of September 30, 2022, there were $25,000 of deferred financing costs recorded in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, other than the over-allotment option, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to its short-term nature. The net asset value for the investments held in the trust account as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was $174,873,584 and $174,229,680, respectively.

In determining fair value, the valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and cost approach shall be used to measure fair value. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs, which represent the assumptions used by the buyer and seller in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs are further defined as observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are those that buyer and seller would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that the buyer and seller would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows:

Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not being applied. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Level 2 — Valuations based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities, or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market through correlation or other means.

Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. The fair value of certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet. The fair values of cash, prepaid expenses, and accrued expenses are estimated to approximate the carrying values as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 due to the short maturities of such instruments.

The Company valued the over-allotment option using the Black Scholes model and the over-allotment option liability is recorded as a Level 3 financial instrument due to the unobservable inputs. At August 17, 2021, the Company recorded $157,500 of over-allotment liability. On August 19, 2021, in connection with the fully exercise of over-allotment option by the underwriters, the Company recorded changes of fair value of over-allotment option of $22,500, and reclassified $180,000 of over-allotment liability into equity.

Over-allotment Option Liability

The Company accounted for the over-allotment option (Note 6) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 480. The over-allotment is not considered indexed to the Company’s own common stock, and as such, it does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and is recorded as a liability. The fair value changes of over-allotment option liability between IPO closing date and the option exercise date was recorded in operations.  

Class A common stock Subject to Possible Redemption

The Company accounts for its Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, 17,250,000 Class A common stock subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheets. 

All of the 17,250,000 shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the Units in the IPO contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such public shares if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s certificate of incorporation.

The Class A common stock sold as part of the Units in the IPO is subject to ASC 480-10-S99. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to either 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 to 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 recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur. Immediately upon the closing of the IPO, the Company recognized the subsequent re-measurement under ASC 480-10-S99 from initial carrying amount to redemption value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable common stock resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.

The representative shares and Class B common stock are non-redeemable.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Net Loss Per Common Stock

The Company has two classes of common stock, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. The 19,612,500 potential common stock for outstanding warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 because the warrants are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met and its inclusion would be anti-dilutive. As a result, diluted net loss per common stock is the same as basic net loss per common stock for the periods. The table below presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share for each class of common stock:

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” ASC 740, Income Taxes, requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the unaudited condensed financial statements 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. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s deferred tax asset had a full valuation allowance recorded against it.

ASC 740-270-25-2 requires that an annual effective tax rate be determined and such annual effective rate applied to year to date income in interim periods under ASC 740-270-30-5. The Company’s effective tax rate was 5.61% and 0.00% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and 3.84% and 0.00% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate of 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, due to merger and acquisition expenses and the valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets.

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. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim period, disclosure and transition.

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, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.

The Company has identified the United States as its only “major” tax jurisdiction. The Company is subject to income taxation by major taxing authorities since inception. These examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with federal and state tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, Debt —debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging —Contracts in Entity’ Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’ Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. The ASU also removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity-linked contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, and it simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. The guidance was adopted starting January 1, 2022. Adoption of the ASU did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This guidance clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting of an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. The amendments in this update are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance was adopted starting January 1, 2022. Adoption of the ASU did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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

Note 3 — Initial Public Offering

On August 17, 2021, Company consummated its IPO of 15,000,000 Units. Each Unit consists of one Class A common stock and three-quarters of one redeemable Warrant, each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $150,000,000. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination or 12 months from the closing of the IPO, and will expire five years after the completion of the initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. 

The underwriters had a 45-day option from the date of the Company’s IPO (August 17, 2021) to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 Units to cover over-allotments. On August 19, 2021, the over-allotments were exercised in full, at $10.00 per Unit, generating additional proceeds of $22,500,000.

Note 4 — Private Placement

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company’s Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 4,500,000 warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of $4,500,000 and the Company’s underwriters purchased an aggregate of 1,500,000 warrants at a price of $1.00 per whole warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000) in a private placement.

On August 19, 2021, simultaneously with the closing of the over-allotments, the Sponsor purchased an additional 450,000 Private Placement Warrants, and the underwriters purchased an additional 225,000 Private Placement Warrants, at $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $675,000.

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the Units in the IPO. The Sponsor and the underwriters have agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, that the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferred, assigned or sold until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and that they will be entitled to certain registration rights.

Note 5 — Related Party Transactions

Founder Shares

On December 31, 2020, the Sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per share, to cover certain offering costs in consideration for 4,312,500 Class B common stocks, par value $0.0001 (the “Founder Shares”). Up to 562,500 Founder Shares were subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. On August 19, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in full. As a result, these 562,500 founder shares are no longer subject to forfeiture. 

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Additionally, upon consummation of the IPO, the Sponsor sold 75,000 Founder Shares to each of the 11 Anchor Investors that purchased at least 9.9% of the units sold in the IPO, at their original purchase price of approximately $0.0058 per share. The aggregate fair value of these founder shares attributable to anchor investors is $6,270,000, or $7.60 per share. The Company allocated $6,265,215, the excess of the fair value over the gross proceeds from these Anchor Investors, among Class A common stock, Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants.

The initial stockholders and the Anchor Investors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares and any Class A common stock issuable upon conversion thereof until the earlier to occur of: (A) six months after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 75 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-up” ). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 75 days after the initial Business Combination, or (2) the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, the Founder Shares will be released from the Lock-up.

Promissory Note — Related Party

On May 31, 2022, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company $125,000 pursuant to a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note bears an interest of 10% per annum, payable on the earlier of (i) February 17, 2023 or (ii) the closing date on which the Company consummates an initial business combination. As of September 30, 2022, there was $125,000 outstanding under the Promissory Note.

Working Capital Loans

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended Business Combination, on November 11, 2021 the Sponsor signed a commitment letter to provide loans of up to an aggregate of $1,500,000 to the Company (“Working Capital Loans”). This commitment extends through August 17, 2022. These loans will be non-interest bearing, unsecured and will be repaid upon the consummation of a Business Combination. If the Company completes the initial Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.

Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, the Class A representative shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed on the IPO closing date of the IPO, requiring the Company to use its best efforts to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Company’s Class A common stock). The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period, which occurs (i) in the case of the Founder Shares, on the earlier of (A) six months after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 75 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property and (ii) in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and the respective Class A common stock underlying such warrants, 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Underwriters Agreement

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of our IPO to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 19, 2021, the over-allotments were exercised in full.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO and the over-allotment, the underwriters were paid an underwriting discount of two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds of the IPO and the over-allotment, or $3,450,000. Additionally, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the IPO and the over-allotment upon the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.

Representative Shares

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company issued to Imperial Capital LLC and/or its designees, 165,000 shares of Class A common stock (the “Representative Shares”). On August 19, 2021, the over-allotments were exercised in full and the Company issued additional 24,750 Representative Shares to Imperial Capital LLC and/or its designees. The aggregate fair value of the Representative shares was $1,442,100, or $7.60 per share and recorded as offering costs, which was treated as transaction cost of offering.

Imperial Capital LLC has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any such shares of common stock until the completion of an initial business combination. In addition, Imperial Capital LLC has agreed (i) to waive its redemption rights with respect to such shares of common stock in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; and (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such shares of common stock if the Company fails to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period, until February 16, 2023.

The representative shares may be deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of the registration statement for the IPO pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s NASD Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), these securities may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of the IPO except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates or as otherwise permitted under Rule 5110(e)(2).

Business Combination Agreement

On August 12, 2022, the Company, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“OpCo”), and, for a limited purpose, the Sponsor, entered into a business combination agreement (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), and Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”). The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “business combination.” In connection with the closing of the business combination (the “Closing”), the Company will change its name to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (“Verde Inc.”).

Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, during the period between the consummation of the business combination and the earlier of the five year anniversary from the consummation of the business combination or the date of the consummation of a sale of the post combination company (the “Earn Out Period”), OpCo may transfer up to 3,500,000 Class C common units of OpCo and a corresponding number of shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class C common stock”), of the post combination company to Holdings within five business days after the occurrence of certain triggering events.

Sponsor Letter

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, the Sponsor entered into a letter agreement with Intermediate, Holdings and the Company, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed to (i) forfeit 2,475,000 of its Private Placement Warrants, (ii) comply with the lock-provisions in the Letter Agreement, dated August 12, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and the Company’s directors and officers, (iii) vote all of its shares of Class A common stock and Founder Shares in favor of the adoption and approval of the Business Combination Agreement and the business combination, (iv) not redeem any of its shares of Class A common stock in connection with such stockholder approval, (v) waive its anti-dilution rights with respect to its Founder Shares in connection with the consummation of the business combination and (vi) subject a portion of the shares of Class A common stock as a result of the conversion of its Founder Shares to forfeiture if certain triggering events do not occur during the Earn Out Period.

Underwriters Letter

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, the Company, Intermediate and Holdings entered into a letter agreement with the underwriters, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Imperial Capital, LLC agreed to forfeit all of its 1,423,125 Private Placement Warrants and all of its 156,543 Representative Shares, (ii) I-Bankers Securities, Inc. agreed to forfeit all of its 301,875 Private Placement Warrants and all of its 33,207 Representative Shares and (iii) the underwriters agreed to reduce their deferred underwriting fees related to the IPO from $6,037,500 to $4,312,500.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Subscription Agreements

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, the Company entered into separate subscription agreements with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”), pursuant to which the PIPE Investors agreed to purchase, and the Company agreed to sell to the PIPE Investors, an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of Class A common stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $80,000,000 in a private placement (the “PIPE Financing”). Of the $80,000,000 of commitments, Holdings has agreed to purchase 800,000 shares to be sold in the PIPE Financing for an aggregate commitment of $8,000,000. Arb Clean Fuels Management LLC (“Arb Clean Fuels”), an entity affiliated with a member of the Sponsor, has agreed to purchase 7,000,000 shares to be sold in the PIPE Financing for an aggregate commitment of $70,000,000; provided, that, to the extent funds in the Trust Account immediately prior to the consummation of the business combination, after giving effect to the Company stockholders’ redemption rights, exceed $17,420,000, each $10.00 increment of such excess funds shall reduce Arb Clean Fuels’ commitment by $10.00 up to a maximum reduction of $20,000,000. Additionally, an entity unaffiliated with the Sponsor has agreed to purchase 200,000 shares for an aggregate commitment of $2,000,000.

Lock-Up Agreement

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, Holdings entered into a Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which Holdings agreed to subject its shares of common stock received in connection with the business combination to the lock-up provisions therein.

Agreements to be Executed at Closing

The Business Combination Agreement also contemplates the execution by the parties of various agreements at the Closing, including, among others, those below.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the business combination, the Company will enter into the tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with Holdings (together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,” and each a “TRA Holder”) and the Agent (as defined therein), which will generally provide for the payment by Verde Inc. to each TRA Holder of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax and franchise tax (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) that Verde Inc. realizes (or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances) in periods after the business combination as a result of (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of Verde Inc.’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s Class C OpCo Units pursuant to an OpCo Holder Exchange set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement, and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by Verde Inc. as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments Verde Inc. makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Verde Inc. will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these net cash savings.

Payments generally will be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement as Verde Inc. realizes actual cash tax savings in periods after the consummation of the business combination from the tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, if the Tax Receivable Agreement terminates early (at Verde Inc.’s election or due to other circumstances, including Verde Inc.’s breach of a material obligation thereunder or upon certain changes of control described in the Tax Receivable Agreement), Verde Inc. would be required to make an immediate payment to each TRA Holder equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made by it under the Tax Receivable Agreement (based upon certain valuation assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement), such payments not to exceed $50 million, in the aggregate, in the case of certain changes of control.

Verde Inc. will depend on OpCo to make distributions to Verde Inc. in an amount sufficient to cover Verde Inc.’s obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

A&R LLC Agreement

Following the Closing, Verde Inc. will operate its business through OpCo. On the Closing Date, Verde Inc. and Holdings will enter into an amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo (the “A&R LLC Agreement”). The A&R LLC Agreement will provide, among other things, that each Class C OpCo Unit will be exchangeable, subject to certain conditions, for one share of Class A common stock, and a corresponding share of Class C common stock will be cancelled in connection with such exchange, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the A&R LLC Agreement.

A&R Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Closing, that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated August 17, 2021 (the “IPO Registration Rights Agreement”) will be amended and restated and Verde Inc., certain stockholders of CENAQ prior to the Closing (the “Initial Holders”) and certain stockholders receiving Class A common stock and Class C common stock pursuant to the business combination (the “New Holders” and together with the Initial Holders, the “Reg Rights Holders”) will enter into an amended and restated IPO Registration Rights Agreement (the “A&R Registration Rights Agreement”).

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Pursuant to the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, Verde Inc. will agree that, within thirty (30) days after the Closing, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC (at Verde Inc.’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the Reg Rights Holders (the “Resale Registration Statement”), and Verde Inc. will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. In certain circumstances, the Reg Rights Holders can demand Verde Inc.’s assistance with underwritten offerings and block trades, and the Reg Rights Holders will be entitled to certain piggyback registration rights.

Note 7 — Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 and with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Class A common stock — The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 189,750 shares of Class A common stock issued or outstanding excluding 17,250,000 shares of Class A common stock subject to redemption.

Class B common stock — The Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders are entitled to one vote for each share of Class B common stock. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. Of the 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock, an aggregate of up to 562,500 shares were subject to forfeiture to the Company for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stocks after the IPO. On August 19, 2021, the over-allotments were exercised in full, hence the 562,500 Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture.

Holders of Class A common stock and holders of Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders except as required by law. Unless specified in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or as required by applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by its stockholders.

The Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in our IPO and related to the closing of the Business Combination, including pursuant to a specified future issuance, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance, including a specified future issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of the IPO plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the Business Combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Business Combination). Holders of Founder Shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time.

Warrants — There are 19,612,500 warrants currently outstanding, including 12,937,500 public warrants and 6,675,000 Private Placement Warrants. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. However, no warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of Class A common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we 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. In the event of such cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the shares of Class A common stock for the 5 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. The warrants will expire on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

CENAQ ENERGY CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

We may call the warrants for redemption, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:

If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

The Private Placement Warrants, as well as any warrants the Company issues to the Sponsor, officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates in payment of Working Capital Loans made to the Company, will be identical to the public warrants underlying the Units being offered in the IPO.

Note 8 — Subsequent Events

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

On October 26, 2022, in accordance with the third amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, the Sponsor elected to convert 3,487,500 of its shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

Proxy Statement

On November 10, 2022, the Company filed a Definitive Proxy Statement seeking to obtain stockholder approval to consider and vote upon certain proposals, including proposals to (a) approve and adopt the Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of August 12, 2022, and (b) approve and adopt, the fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which, if approved, would take effect upon Closing.

Extension

On November 15, 2022, the Company’s board of directors has elected to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination from November 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023 (the “Extension”), as permitted under the Company’s third amended and restated certificate of incorporation.  The Extension is the second of two three-month extensions permitted under the Charter. In connection with the Extension, the Sponsor has deposited $1,725,000, representing 1% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, into the Trust Account for its public stockholders.

Promissory Notes — Related Party

On November 15, 2022, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Extension Note”) in the principal amount of $1,725,000 to the Sponsor in connection with the Extension. The Extension Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which CENAQ’s initial business combination is consummated and (ii) the liquidation of the Company on or before February 16, 2023 or such later liquidation date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders. If the Business Combination is consummated, the amount repayable under the Extension Note will be reduced by a percentage equal to the aggregate amount of cash proceeds required to satisfy any exercise by the Company’s eligible stockholders of their redemption rights provided for in the Company’s third amended and restated certificate of incorporation divided by the total amount required if all eligible holders of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company elected to exercise their redemption rights with respect to all eligible shares of Class A common stock held by such holders in accordance with Section 8.03 of the Business Combination Agreement.

On November 15, 2022, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Sponsor Note”) in the principal amount of $467,500 to the Sponsor. The Sponsor Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which CENAQ’s initial business combination is consummated and (ii) the liquidation of the Company on or before February 16, 2023 or such later liquidation date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders.

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

References to “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company” are to CENAQ Energy Corp., except where the context requires otherwise. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our other Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings.

Overview

We are a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 24, 2020, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

Our sponsor is CENAQ Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The registration statement for the initial public offering was declared effective on August 12, 2021. On August 17, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (“Public Offering” or “IPO”) of 15,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000. The underwriter was granted a 45-day option from the date of the final prospectus relating to the IPO to purchase up to 2,250,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any, at $10.00 per unit. On August 19, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment in full, generating additional gross proceeds of $22,500,000. Transaction costs of our IPO and the over-allotment amounted to $17,771,253 consisting of $3,450,000 of underwriting discount, $6,037,500 of deferred underwriting discount, an excess of fair value of the founder shares acquired by the Anchor Investors of $6,265,215, fair value of the 189,750 representative shares of $1,442,100 and $576,438 of other cash offering costs were charged to additional paid in capital.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) of 6,000,000 warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds to us of $6 million. On August 19, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment in full and consummated the private placement of additional 675,000 warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds to us of $675,000.

Upon the closing of the IPO and the Private Placement, $174,225,000 ($10.10 per share) of the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the Private Placement were placed in the Trust Account.

If we are unable to complete an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, until February 16, 2023, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay its franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account (less up to $100,000 of interest released to us to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

Proposed Business Combination

Business Combination Agreement

On August 12, 2022, the Company, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“OpCo”), and, for a limited purpose, the Sponsor, entered into a business combination agreement (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), and Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”). The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “business combination.” In connection with the closing of the business combination (the “Closing”), the Company will change its name to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (“Verde Inc.”).

Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, during the period between the consummation of the business combination and the earlier of the five year anniversary from the consummation of the business combination or the date of the consummation of a sale of the post combination company (the “Earn Out Period”), OpCo may transfer up to 3,500,000 Class C common units of OpCo and a corresponding number of shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class C common stock”), of the post combination company to Holdings within five business days after the occurrence of certain triggering events.

Sponsor Letter

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, the Sponsor entered into a letter agreement with Intermediate, Holdings and the Company, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed to (i) forfeit 2,475,000 of its Private Placement Warrants, (ii) comply with the lock-provisions in the Letter Agreement, dated August 12, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and the Company’s directors and officers, (iii) vote all of its shares of Class A common stock and Founder Shares in favor of the adoption and approval of the Business Combination Agreement and the business combination, (iv) not redeem any of its shares of Class A common stock in connection with such stockholder approval, (v) waive its anti-dilution rights with respect to its Founder Shares in connection with the consummation of the business combination and (vi) subject a portion of the shares of Class A common stock as a result of the conversion of its Founder Shares to forfeiture if certain triggering events do not occur during the Earn Out Period.

Underwriters Letter

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, the Company, Intermediate and Holdings entered into a letter agreement with the underwriters, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Imperial Capital, LLC agreed to forfeit all of its 1,423,125 Private Placement Warrants and all of its 156,543 Representative Shares, (ii) I-Bankers Securities, Inc. agreed to forfeit all of its 301,875 Private Placement Warrants and all of its 33,207 Representative Shares and (iii) the underwriters agreed to reduce their deferred underwriting fees related to the IPO from $6,037,500 to $4,312,500.

Subscription Agreements

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, the Company entered into separate subscription agreements with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”), pursuant to which the PIPE Investors agreed to purchase, and the Company agreed to sell to the PIPE Investors, an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of Class A common stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $80,000,000 in a private placement (the “PIPE Financing”). Of the $80,000,000 of commitments, Holdings has agreed to purchase 800,000 shares to be sold in the PIPE Financing for an aggregate commitment of $8,000,000. Arb Clean Fuels Management LLC (“Arb Clean Fuels”), an entity affiliated with a member of the Sponsor, has agreed to purchase 7,000,000 shares to be sold in the PIPE Financing for an aggregate commitment of $70,000,000; provided, that, to the extent funds in the Trust Account immediately prior to the consummation of the business combination, after giving effect to the Company stockholders’ redemption rights, exceed $17,420,000, each $10.00 increment of such excess funds shall reduce Arb Clean Fuels’ commitment by $10.00 up to a maximum reduction of $20,000,000. Additionally, an entity unaffiliated with the Sponsor has agreed to purchase 200,000 shares for an aggregate commitment of $2,000,000.

Lock-Up Agreement

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on August 12, 2022, Holdings entered into a Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which Holdings agreed to subject its shares of common stock received in connection with the business combination to the lock-up provisions therein.

Agreements to be Executed at Closing

The Business Combination Agreement also contemplates the execution by the parties of various agreements at the Closing, including, among others, the below.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the business combination, the Company will enter into the tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with Holdings (together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,” and each a “TRA Holder”) and the Agent (as defined therein), which will generally provide for the payment by Verde Inc. to each TRA Holder of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax and franchise tax (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) that Verde Inc. realizes (or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances) in periods after the business combination as a result of (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of Verde Inc.’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s Class C OpCo Units pursuant to an OpCo Holder Exchange set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement, and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by Verde Inc. as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments Verde Inc. makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Verde Inc. will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these net cash savings.

Payments generally will be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement as Verde Inc. realizes actual cash tax savings in periods after the consummation of the business combination from the tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, if the Tax Receivable Agreement terminates early (at Verde Inc.’s election or due to other circumstances, including Verde Inc.’s breach of a material obligation thereunder or upon certain changes of control described in the Tax Receivable Agreement), Verde Inc. would be required to make an immediate payment to each TRA Holder equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made by it under the Tax Receivable Agreement (based upon certain valuation assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement), such payments not to exceed $50 million, in the aggregate, in the case of certain changes of control.

Verde Inc. will depend on OpCo to make distributions to Verde Inc. in an amount sufficient to cover Verde Inc.’s obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

A&R LLC Agreement

Following the Closing, Verde Inc. will operate its business through OpCo. On the Closing Date, Verde Inc. and Holdings will enter into an amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo (the “A&R LLC Agreement”). The A&R LLC Agreement will provide, among other things, that each Class C OpCo Unit will be exchangeable, subject to certain conditions, for one share of Class A common stock, and a corresponding share of Class C common stock will be cancelled in connection with such exchange, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the A&R LLC Agreement.

A&R Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Closing, that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated August 17, 2021 (the “IPO Registration Rights Agreement”) will be amended and restated and Verde Inc., certain stockholders of CENAQ prior to the Closing (the “Initial Holders”) and certain stockholders receiving Class A common stock and Class C common stock pursuant to the business combination (the “New Holders” and together with the Initial Holders, the “Reg Rights Holders”) will enter into an amended and restated IPO Registration Rights Agreement (the “A&R Registration Rights Agreement”).

Pursuant to the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, Verde Inc. will agree that, within thirty (30) days after the Closing, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC (at Verde Inc.’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the Reg Rights Holders (the “Resale Registration Statement”), and Verde Inc. will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. In certain circumstances, the Reg Rights Holders can demand Verde Inc.’s assistance with underwritten offerings and block trades, and the Reg Rights Holders will be entitled to certain piggyback registration rights.

Results of Operations

As of September 30, 2022, we have not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from June 24, 2020 (inception) through September 30, 2022 relates to our formation and Public Offering, and, since the completion of the IPO, searching for a target to consummate a Business Combination. We will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Public Offering and placed in the Trust Account (defined below).

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net loss of $2,387,015. We incurred $3,013,729 of general and administrative expenses, which includes $2,501,501 in costs related to identifying a target business. We also incurred $3,150 of interest expense on promissory note from related party and $126,744 of provision for income taxes. We earned interest income of $757,106 and $498 of unrealized loss on marketable securities held in Trust Account.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net loss of $3,566,151. We incurred $4,408,361 of general and administrative expenses, which includes $3,410,564 in costs related to identifying a target business. We also incurred $4,212 of interest expense on promissory note from related party and $131,832 of provision for income taxes. We earned interest income of $978,254 on marketable securities held in Trust Account.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we had a net loss of $67,295, which consists of formation and operating costs of $68,294 and interest income of $999.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we had a net loss of $72,647, which consists of formation and operating costs of $73,646 and interest income of $999.

Liquidity and Going Concern

As of September 30, 2022, we had $8,242 in our operating bank account, and working capital deficit of $3,600,490.

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.

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors committed to provide the Company with Working Capital Loans up to $1,500,000, as defined later (see Note 5). As of the date of the filing of these financial statements, the period of time for the Company to complete a business combination under its amended and restated certificate of incorporation is extended for a period of 3 months from November 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023. In connection with the Extension, the Sponsor has deposited $1,725,000, representing 1% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, into the Trust Account for its public stockholders. This commitment extends through February 16, 2023. To date, there were no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loans.

If the Company’s estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete its Business Combination or because it becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of its public shares upon consummation of the Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, the Company would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of the Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete its Business Combination because it does not have sufficient funds available to it, the Company will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following the Business Combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, the Company may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet its obligations.

We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which is considered to be one year from the issuance of the financial statements. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.

In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that if the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by February 16, 2023, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after February 16, 2023.

Underwriters agreement

We granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of our Public Offering to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 19, 2021, the over-allotments were exercised in full.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering and the over-allotment, the underwriters were paid an underwriting discount of 2% of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and the over-allotment, or $3,450,000. Additionally, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and the over-allotment upon the completion of our initial Business Combination.

Contractual Obligations

As of September 30, 2022, we did not have any long-term debt, capital or operating lease obligations.

Critical Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is possible that the estimates management considered could possibly change due to one or more future events. The most significant estimates that affected the financial statements as of September 30, 2022 are the calculations of the fair values of the over-allotment option, fair values of the representative shares and the fair values of the anchor shares. These estimates are uncertain due to the assumptions used in the stock valuations. These estimates and assumptions have not changed significantly during the year. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following as our critical accounting policies:

Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering

Offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the IPO. We comply with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A “Expenses of Offering”. Offering costs are allocated to the separable financial instruments, if any, issued in the IPO based on a relative fair value basis compared to total proceeds received.

Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

We account for the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity.

We recognize changes in redemption value immediately as they occur. Immediately upon the closing of the IPO, we recognized the subsequent re-measurement under ASC 480-10-S99 from initial carrying amount to redemption value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable common stock resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.

Net Loss Per Common stock

We have two classes of common stock, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Income and losses are allocated on pro rata basis between redeemable and non-redeemable common stock. The 19,612,500 potential common shares for outstanding warrants to purchase our stock were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 because the warrants are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met. As a result, diluted net loss per common share is the same as basic net loss per common share for the periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, Debt —debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging —Contracts in Entity’ Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’ Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. The ASU also removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity-linked contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, and it simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. The guidance was adopted starting January 1, 2022. Adoption of the ASU did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This guidance clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting of an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. The amendments in this update are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. The guidance was adopted starting January 1, 2022. Adoption of the ASU did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Public Offering, requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to our Class A common stock). The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period, which occurs (i) in the case of the Founder Shares, on the earlier of (A) six months after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 75 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property and (ii) in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and the respective Class A common stock underlying such warrants, 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Underwriters Agreement

We granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the Public Offering to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 19, 2021, the over-allotments were exercised in full.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering and the over-allotment, the underwriters were paid an underwriting discount of 2% of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and the over-allotment, or $3,450,000. Additionally, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and the over-allotment upon the completion of our initial Business Combination.

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 under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We have elected to irrevocably 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, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time public companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another emerging growth company that has not opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.

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

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2022. 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 not effective, due to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting for complex financial instruments, specifically common stock subject to redemption and the improper recording of accrued liabilities. As a result, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Form 10-Q present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented. 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.

Management identified material weaknesses in internal control related to the Company’s accounting for complex financial instruments and improper recording of accrued liabilities. As of September 30, 2021, management identified a material weakness in internal control relating to the classification of common stock subject to redemption and additionally as of March 31, 2022 a material weakness relating to the improper recording of accrued liabilities. While we have processes to identify and appropriately apply applicable accounting requirements, we plan to enhance our system of evaluating and implementing the accounting standards that apply to our financial statements, including through enhanced analyses by our personnel and third-party professionals with whom we consult regarding complex accounting applications. The elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time, and we can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Other than changes that have resulted from the material weakness remediation activities noted above, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting, during the most recently completed fiscal quarter, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Other than the risks discussed in this Item 1A, as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2022.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results, and we may face litigation as a result.

In connection with the preparation of our financial statements as of September 30, 2021, we reevaluated the classification of the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption. This revaluation was due to a recent notification from the SEC that SPAC’s must not report possible redemption of stock as permanent equity. After consultation with the chairman of our audit committee, our management concluded that the previously issued audited balance sheet dated as of August 17, 2021 related to the consummation of our IPO, which should be restated to report all Class A common stock subject to possible redemption as temporary equity. As part of such process, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the lack of ability to account for complex financial instruments. During the quarter ended December 31, 2021, management identified a material weakness in internal control relating to the over-allotment option. During the quarter ended June 30, 2022, management identified a material weakness for improper recording of accrued liabilities which affected the quarter ended March 31, 2022. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud, and material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such a case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting, our securities price may decline and we may face litigation as a result. We continue to evaluate steps to remediate the material weaknesses. These remediation measures may be time consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. However, we cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.

We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application also may 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 or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.

On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules that would, among other items, impose additional disclosure requirements in business combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; amend the financial statement requirements applicable to business combination transactions involving such companies; update and expand guidance regarding the general use of projections in SEC filings, as well as when projections are disclosed in connection with proposed business combination transactions; increase the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and impact the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. These rules, if adopted, whether in the form proposed or in revised form, may materially adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.

The ongoing military action between Russia and Ukraine could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In February of 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, and sustained conflict and disruption in the region is likely. Although the length, impact and outcome of the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine is highly unpredictable, this conflict could lead to significant market and other disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices and supply of energy resources, instability in financial markets, higher inflation, supply chain interruptions, political and social instability, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences as well as increase in cyberattacks and espionage. As a result of the invasion and ongoing military conflict, governments in the European Union, the United States, Canada and other countries have implemented and may implement additional sanctions, export controls or other measures against Russia, Belarus and other countries, regions, officials, individuals or industries in the respective territories. Such sanctions, and other measures, as well as the existing and potential further responses from Russia or other countries to such sanctions, supply chain disruptions, tensions and military actions, could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and could also aggravate the other risk factors that we identify herein.

The new 1% U.S. federal excise tax on repurchases of corporate stock included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) could cause a reduction in the value of our Class A Common Stock or reduce the amount received by our stockholders if we are unable to complete this or another business combination and are required to redeem all existing shares after December 31, 2022.

On August 16, 2022, the IR Act was signed into law. The IR Act provides for, among other changes, a new 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not on its shareholders from whom the shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of any positive difference between the fair market value of any shares repurchased by the repurchasing corporation during a taxable year and the fair market value of certain new stock issuances by the repurchasing corporation during the same taxable year.

In addition, a number of exceptions will apply to this excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, this excise tax.

Although the application of this excise tax is not entirely clear, any redemption or other repurchase effected by us that occurs after December 31, 2022, whether in connection with the business combination or otherwise, may be subject to this excise tax. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax in connection with the business combination would depend on a number of factors, including (i) whether the business combination closes after December 31, 2022, (ii) the fair market value of any stock redeemed or repurchased in connection with the business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of the PIPE Financing (or any other equity issuances within the same taxable year as that of the business combination) and (iv) the content of any regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder, it could cause a reduction in the value of our Class A Common Stock.

Further, the application of the excise tax in the event of a complete liquidation of a publicly traded U.S. corporation is uncertain and has not been addressed by the Treasury in regulations or other guidance. If we are unable to complete this or another business combination and are required to redeem all of our existing shares after December 31, 2022, whether such redemptions are subject to this excise tax may depend on how such redemptions are structured and whether we are liquidated. If this excise tax were to apply to such redemptions, it is possible that the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be used to pay any excise tax owed by us, in which case the amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation would be reduced.

The excise tax would not apply to the extent that the business combination and any related redemptions occur before December 31, 2022.

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

On August 17, 2021, we consummated our IPO of 15,000,000 Units. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and three-quarters of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one whole share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000.

The securities sold in the offering were registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-253695). The SEC declared the registration statement effective on August 12, 2021.

On August 17, 2021, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we completed the private sale of 6,000,000 warrants at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, to our sponsor, CENAQ Sponsor, LLC, and the Underwriters, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $6,000,000.

A total of $ 151,500,000 of the proceeds from the IPO and the Private Placement were placed in a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee.

On August 19, 2021, we consummated the sale of additional 2,250,000 Units that were subject to the underwriters’ over-allotment option at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $22,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the sale of additional units, we consummated the sale of an additional 675,000 private Warrants, generating total proceeds of $675,000. Following the closing of the over-allotment option and sale of additional private Warrants, an aggregate amount of $174,225,000 has been placed in the trust account established in connection with the IPO.

The net proceeds of the IPO (including the over-allotment) and certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants may be invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less and in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.

The proceeds are after deducting $3,450,000 in underwriting discounts and commissions and an aggregate amount of $1,500,000 to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of the IPO and for working capital following the closing of the IPO.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not Applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

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

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.

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