UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarter ended March 31, 2023

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

For the transition period from _______to _______

Commission file number: 001-41104

PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
  
86-2707040
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 1080
Reston, VA
  
20190
(Address of principal executive offices)
  
(Zip Code)

(571) 310-4949
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Title of each class
  
Trading Symbol(s)
  
Name of each exchange on
which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant
  
PACI.U
  
The New York Stock Exchange
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (included as part of the Units)
  
PACI
  
The New York Stock Exchange
Redeemable Warrants (included as part of the Units)
  
PACI.WS
  
The New York Stock Exchange

Check whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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 (1) submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit 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 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 (check one).

Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☒
Smaller reporting company
☒
 
Emerging growth company
☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☒ No ☐

As of May 9, 2023, the Registrant had 27,600,000 shares of its Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 6,900,000 shares of its Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.

PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
Page
PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  
     
Item 1.
 1
     
 
1
 
 
  2
 
 
  
 
3
 
 
  
 
4
 
 
  
 
5
     
Item 2.
18
     
Item 3.
 21
     
Item 4.
21
     
21
     
Item 1.
21
     
Item 1A.
21
     
Item 2.
21
     
Item 3.
22
     
Item 4.
22
     
Item 5.
22
     
Item 6.
22
     
24

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

   
March 31, 2023
(unaudited)
    
December 31,
2022
(audited)
  
             
ASSETS
            
Current assets:
            
Cash
  
$
1,186,147
    
$
1,342,435
  
Prepaid expenses
    
407,646
      
467,021
  
Total current assets
    
1,593,793
      
1,809,456
  
Investments held in Trust
    
288,249,255
      
285,581,779
  
Total Assets
  
$
289,843,048
    
$
287,391,235
  
                 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                
Current Liabilities:
                
Accrued expenses
    
79,391
      
132,417
  
Income tax payable
     1,169,253
       455,833
  
Total current liabilities
    
1,248,644
      
588,250
  
Deferred income taxes
    229,584       317,426  
Total Liabilities
    
1,478,228
      
905,676
  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
                
                 
Temporary Equity:
                
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; $0.0001 par value; 27,600,000 shares at redemption value of $10.39 and $10.31 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
    
286,802,382
      
284,449,019
  
                 
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):
                
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
    
-
      
-
  
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 70,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding (excluding 27,600,000 shares subject to possible redemption)
    
-
      
-
  
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 12,500,000 shares authorized; 6,900,000 shares issued and outstanding
    
690
      
690
  
Retained earnings
    
1,561,748
      
2,035,850
  
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    
1,562,438
      
2,036,540
  
Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Equity
  
$
289,843,048
    
$
287,391,235
  

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

1
PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

   
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2023
    
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2022
  
             
Formation and operating expenses
  
$
524,102
    
$
493,675
  
Operating loss
    
(524,102
)
    
(493,675
)
                 
Interest income - investments held in Trust Account
    
3,028,941
      
26,765
  
Other income
    
3,028,941
      
26,765
  
Income (loss) before income tax     2,504,839       (466,910 )
Income tax expense     (625,578 )     -  
Net income (loss)
   $
1,879,261
    
$
(466,910
)
Class A common stock - weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
    
27,600,000
      
27,600,000
 
Class A common stock - basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
   $ 0.05     $ (0.01 )
Class B common stock - weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
    
6,900,000
     
6,900,000
 
Class B common stock - basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
  
$
0.05
    
$
(0.01
)

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

2
PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022


  
Class B Common Stock
    
Additional
Paid-in
    
Retained
Earnings
    
Total
Stockholders’
  
   
Shares
    
Amount
    
Capital
    

   
Equity
  
Balance, December 31, 2022
    
6,900,000
    
$
690
    
$
-
    
$
2,035,850
    
$
2,036,540
  
Remeasurement of Class A Common Stock to redemption value
     -
       -
       -       (2,353,363 )     (2,353,363 )
Net income
    
-
      
-
      
-
      
1,879,261
      
1,879,261
  
Balance, March 31, 2023
    
6,900,000
    
$
690
    
$
-
    
$
1,561,748
    
$
1,562,438
  

   
Class B Common Stock
    
Additional
Paid-in
    
Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
    
Total
Stockholders’
  
   
Shares
    
Amount
    
Capital
    
Deficit)
    
Equity (Deficit)
  
Balance, December 31, 2021
    
6,900,000
    
$
690
    
$
-
    
$
(6,245,863
)
  
$
(6,245,173
)
Net loss
    
-
      
-
      
-
      
(466,910
)
    
(466,910
)
Balance, March 31, 2022
    
6,900,000
    
$
690
    
$
-
    
$
(6,712,773
)
  
$
(6,712,083
)

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

3
PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

   
For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2023
    

For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022
  
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
            
Net income (loss)
  
$
1,879,261
    
$
(466,910
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
                
Income earned on Trust assets
    
(3,028,941
)
    
(26,765
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                
Prepaid expenses
    
59,374
      
99,275
  
Income taxes payable
     713,420       -  
Deferred income taxes
     (87,842 )     -  
Accrued expenses
    
(53,026
)
    
32,844
  
Net cash used in operating activities
    
(517,754
)
    
(361,556
)
                 
Cash flows from investment activities:                
Withdrawal from Trust Account for tax
     361,466       -  
Net cash used in  investing activities     361,466       -  
                 
                 
Net change in cash
    
(156,288
)
    
(361,556
)
Cash at beginning of period
    
1,342,435
      
2,579,658
  
Cash at end of period
  
$
1,186,147
    
$
2,218,102
  
                 
Non-cash financing activities:
                
Remeasurement of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption
   $ 2,353,363     $ -  

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

4
PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN

PROOF Acquisition Corp I (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on March 16, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (collectively, the “Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had limited operations and no operating revenues. All activity for the period from March 16, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and, since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, a search for a Business Combination candidate. 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 Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering (the “Registration Statement”) was declared effective on November 30, 2021. On December 3, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 27,600,000 units (“Units” and, with respect to the ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), generating gross proceeds of $276,000,000, which is described in Note 3.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 15,226,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement transaction to PROOF Acquisition Sponsor I, LLC (the “Sponsor”) and certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”).

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on December 3, 2021, an amount of $281,520,000 ($10.20 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement (as defined in Note 4) was placed in the Trust Account. The funds held in the Trust Account may be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.

Transaction costs related to the IPO amounted to $15,623,739 consisting of $5,520,000 of underwriting fees, $9,660,000 of deferred underwriting fees payable (which was originally held in a Trust Account with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee (the “Trust Account”)) and $443,739 of other offering costs. These costs were charged to additional paid-in capital upon completion of the Initial Public Offering. The deferred underwriting commission liability was reduced to $0 in 2022 as the underwriter resigned and withdrew its right to the deferred underwriting fees (see Note 7).

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account). 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 business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, management agreed to place an amount equal to $10.20 per Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering, including proceeds of the Private Placement Warrants (or $10.30 or $10.40 per Unit sold in case we extend the period of time available for us to complete a Business Combination to September 3, 2023 or December 3, 2023, respectively), in a trust account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States and invested only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the funds held in the Trust Account, as described below.

5
The Company will provide the holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer in connection with the Business Combination. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account, plus any pro rata interest then in the Trust Account, net of taxes payable. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.

All of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a stockholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s Business Combination, and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). In accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and its guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require common stock subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Given that the Public Shares were issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., public warrants), the initial carrying value of common stock classified as temporary equity was the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20. The common stock 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 (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately. The re-measurement will be treated as an adjustment to adjust the temporary equity to the redemption amount. While redemptions cannot cause the Company’s net tangible assets to fall below $5,000,001, the Public Shares are redeemable and will be classified as such on the balance sheet until such date that a redemption event takes place.

If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the Business Combination, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination, or such other vote as required by law or stock exchange rule. If a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Certificate of Incorporation will provide that a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.

6
The holders of the Founder Shares have agreed (a) to waive their redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares (and Public Shares with respect to our Sponsor and officers and directors of the Company) held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (b) not to propose an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.

If the Company has not completed a Business Combination within 18 months (or up to 24 months, if applicable) from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (the “Combination Period”), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, 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. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

The holders of the Founders Shares have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the holders of Founder Shares acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriter agreed to waive its rights to the deferred underwriting commission (see Note 7) held in the Trust Account and, as a result, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of a distribution in liquidation, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit of $10.00.

In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party 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 (i) $10.00 per Public Share following the closing of this offering, or (ii) such lesser amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, 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 underwriter of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except for the Company’s independent registered accounting firm), prospective target businesses and 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.

7
Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $1.2 million in its operating bank account and working capital of approximately $100,000.

The Company’s liquidity needs up to March 31, 2023 had been satisfied through a payment of $25,000 from the Sponsor to cover certain expenses on behalf of the Company in exchange for the issuance of the Founder Shares, the loan under the promissory note from the Sponsor of approximately $110,000 (the “Note”) (see Note 5) to the Company, and the net proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. The Note from the Sponsor was repaid in full on December 6, 2021.

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 June 3, 2023 to complete a Business Combination. It is uncertain that the Company will be able to consummate an initial Business Combination by this time. If an initial Business Combination is not consummated by this date and the Company has not exercised its option to extend the deadline in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Incorporation, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the Company’s inability to continue as a going concern.

Risks and Uncertainties

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


Additionally, as a result of the military action commenced in February 2022 by the Russian Federation and Belarus in the country of Ukraine and related economic sanctions, the Company’s ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which the Company ultimately consummates a Business Combination, may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by these events, including as a result of increased market volatility, or decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. The impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy and the specific impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or ability to consummate a Business Combination are not yet determinable. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.


In the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited financial statements as of March 31, 2023 and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include all adjustments, which are only of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2023 and its results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 or any future interim period.

8
Emerging Growth Company

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, as amended (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 independent registered public accounting firm 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 financial statements in conformity with US 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of 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. 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. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Cash was $1,186,147 and $1,342,435 as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Investments held in Trust Account

The Company’s portfolio of investments is comprised of U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities and generally have a readily determinable fair value, or a combination thereof. When the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are comprised of U.S. government securities, the investments are classified as trading securities. When the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are comprised of money market funds, the investments are recognized at fair value. Trading securities and investments in money market funds are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities is included in net gain on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying statement of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $288,249,255 and $285,581,779, respectively, in investments held in the Trust Account.

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Offering Costs associated with a Public Offering

The Company complies with the requirements of FASB ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A - “Expenses of Offering.” Offering costs of $15,623,739 consist principally of $5,520,000 of underwriting fees, $9,660,000 of deferred underwriting fees payable and $443,739 of other offering costs. The deferred underwriting commission liability was reduced to $0 in 2022 as the underwriter resigned and withdrew its right to the deferred underwriting fees (see Note 6).

Income Taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Our effective tax rate was 25.0% and 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.  The effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate of 21.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, due to changes in the valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets.

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.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

While ASC 740 identifies usage of the effective annual tax rate for purposes of an interim provision, it does allow for estimating individual elements in the current period if they are significant unusual or infrequent. Computing the ETR for the Company is complicated due to the potential impact of the Company’s change in fair value of warrants for any other change in fair value of a complex financial instrument), the timing of any potential Business Combination expenses and the actual interest income that will be recognized during the year. The Company has taken a position as to the calculation of income tax expenses in the current period based on 740-270-25-3 which states, “if an entity is unable to estimate a part of its ordinary income (or loss) or the related tax (or benefit) but is otherwise able to make a reliable estimate, the tax (or benefit) applicable to the item that cannot be estimated shall be reported in the interim period in which the item is reported.” The Company believes its calculation to be a reliable estimate and allows it to properly take into account the unusual elements that can impact its annualized book income and its impact on ETR. As such, the Company is computing its taxable income (loss) and associated income tax provision based on actual results through March 31, 2023.

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 enumerated in ASC 480. Common stock subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is 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’ deficit. The Company’s Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered by the Company to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, the shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in the amount of $286,802,382 and $284,449,019 are presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity (deficit) section of the Company’s balance sheets at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The increase of $2,353,363 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 in the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption is a remeasurement adjustment to the redemption value. There was no change in temporary equity during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the re-measurement from initial book value to redemption amount, which approximates fair value. The change in the carrying value of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available), accumulated deficit and Class A common stock.

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Warrants

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own Common Stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent reporting period end date while the warrants are outstanding. All of the Company’s warrants have met the criteria for equity treatment.

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share

The Company has two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The calculation of diluted income (loss) per share of common stock does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the (i) Initial Public Offering, and (ii) the private placement since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As of March 31, 2023, the Company did not have any dilutive securities or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted net income (loss) per common share is the same as basic net income (loss) per common share for the period presented. Re-measurement associated with the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in dollars, except per share amounts):

    For the Three Months
Ended March 31, 2023
    
For the Three Months
Ended March 31, 2022
  
   
Class A
    
Class B
      Class A      Class B  
Basic and diluted net income per share
                        
Numerator:
                        
Allocation of net income (loss)
  
$
1,503,409
    
$
375,852
     $ (373,528 )   $ (93,382 )
Denominator:
                                
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    
27,600,000
      
6,900,000
       27,600,000
       6,900,000
  
                                 
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
  
$
0.05
    
$
0.05
     $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has not experienced losses on this account.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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

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●
Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets;

●
Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and

●
Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

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

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

Recent Accounting Standards

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

NOTE 3 - INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 27,600,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 7).

NOTE 4 - PRIVATE PLACEMENTS

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the private sale (the “Private Placement”) to the Sponsor and BlackRock of an aggregate of 15,226,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant resulting in cash proceeds of $15,226,000. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.

A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants was added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Warrants will be worthless.

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

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NOTE 5 - RELATED PARTIES

Founder Shares

On March 31, 2021, the Sponsor received 5,750,000 of the Company’s Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”) for a May 4, 2021 payment of $25,000. Subsequently, on November 30, 2021, the Company effected a 1.2:1 stock split for each outstanding share of Class B common stock, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate number of 6,900,000 Founder Shares on that date. In connection with the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the Company cancelled 460,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor and reissued the shares to parties unaffiliated with the Sponsor. All share amounts retroactively restated to account for the share split.

The holders of the Founder Shares have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign, or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the 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 150 days after a 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 the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.

Promissory Note - Related Party

On March 31, 2021, the Sponsor issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) March 31, 2022 or (ii) the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. In 2021, the Company borrowed $110,000 on this note, which was repaid in full on December 6, 2021.

General and Administrative Services

Commencing on the date the Units are first listed on the NYSE, the Company has agreed to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support for up to 24 months. Upon completion of the initial Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees. Fees related to this arrangement were $30,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Related Party Loans

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. If we complete a Business Combination, we may repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans could be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The notes may be repaid upon completion of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted upon completion of a Business Combination into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 there was no amount outstanding under the Working Capital Loans.

Consulting Agreement

A member of the Board of Directors had a written consulting agreement with the Company to provide consulting services related to the Company’s business combination efforts which terminated on December 3, 2022. This agreement was approved by the Board of Directors. Expenses incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $0 and $18,755, respectively.

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NOTE 6 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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 common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the 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 Initial Public Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to shares of Class A common stock). The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to completion of a 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 be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company granted the underwriter a 45-day option from the date of Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 3,600,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The over-allotment was exercised in full as part of the Initial Public Offering.

The underwriter received a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $5,520,000 in the aggregate, payable upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering.

In addition, the underwriter was entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $9,660,000 in the aggregate.The deferred fee would have become payable to the underwriter from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement and the trust agreement, but due to proposed SEC regulations imposing potential liability on the underwriter of an initial public offering for a blank check company upon its subsequent initial Business Combination, the underwriter has ended its relationships with most special purpose acquisition companies it helped take public, including the Company, and has waived its deferred underwriting fees.

NOTE 7 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Preferred Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

Class A Common Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 70,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no shares of Class A common stock issued or outstanding (excluding 27,600,000 recorded as temporary equity).

Class B Common Stock - The Company is authorized to issue 12,500,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class B common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. On November 30, 2021, the Company effected a 1.2:1 stock split for each outstanding share of Class B common stock, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate number of 6,900,000 Founder Shares on that date. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding, of which the Sponsor held 6,440.000 shares.

Only holders of the Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to the Business Combination. 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 our shareholders except as otherwise required by law. In connection with our initial Business Combination, we may enter into a stockholders agreement or other arrangements with the stockholders of the target or other investors to provide for voting or other corporate governance arrangements that differ from those in effect upon completion of this offering.

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The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of a Business Combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. 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 issued in the Initial Public Offering and related to the closing of a Business Combination, 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 then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed 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 the completion of Initial Public Offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination (net of the number of shares of Class A common stock redeemed in connection with a Business Combination), excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued or issuable to any seller of an interest in the target to us in a Business Combination.

Warrants - As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 13,800,000 Public Warrants and 13,800,000 Private Placement Warrants outstanding.

Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole warrants will trade. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination and (b) 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

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

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file, and within 60 business days following a Business Combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00 - Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:

•
in whole and not in part;

•
at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant;

•
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, or the 30-day redemption period to each warrant holder; and

•
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganization, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to warrant holders.

Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00 - Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants:

•
in whole and not in part;

•
at a price of $0.10 per warrant provided that the holder will be able to exercise their warrants on cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the Class A common stock;

•
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption;

•
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per public share (as adjusted per stock subdivisions, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and

•
if, and only if, the private placement warrants are also concurrently exchanged at the same price (equal to a number of Class A common stock) as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.

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.

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

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units being sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants are not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.


NOTE 8 - CLASS A COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION



The Company’s Class A common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of future events. The Company is authorized to issue 70,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Company’s Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 27,600,000 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, all of which were subject to possible redemption.


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As of March 31, 2023, Class A common stock subject to possible redemption reflected on the balance sheet is reconciled on the following table:


Class A common stock subject to possible redemption at December 31, 2022
  
$
284,449,019
  
Re-measurement of carrying value to redemption value
    
2,353,363
  
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption at March 31, 2023
  
$
286,802,382
  


There were no changes to Class A common stock subject to redemption during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

NOTE 9 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

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

Description
  
Level
    
March 31,
2023
    
December 31,
2022
  
Assets:
                  
Marketable securities held in the Trust Account
    
1
    
$
288,249,255
    
$
285,581,779
  

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

NOTE 10 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

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

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ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

References in this report (“Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to PROOF Acquisition Corp I. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to PROOF Acquisition Sponsor I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our 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, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings and elsewhere in this report.

Overview

We are a blank check company incorporated on March 16, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a Business Combination. We have not selected any Business Combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of our Initial Public Offering and Private Placement, our capital stock, debt, or a combination of the foregoing.

Results of Operations

We have engaged in limited operations and have not generated any operating revenues to date. All activity for the period from March 16, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and the Initial Public Offering, which is described below, and, since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, a search for a Business Combination candidate. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until the completion of our initial Business Combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the amount deposited in the Trust Account. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. Until the completion of our initial Business Combination, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company, including legal, financial reporting, accounting, and auditing compliance expenses, as well as for due diligence and other expenses related to locating an initial Business Combination target and consummating the initial Business Combination.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we had net income of approximately $1,879,261 which consisted of approximately $3,028,941 of interest income on investments held in the Trust Account, partially offset by operating costs of $524,102 and income tax expense of $625,578.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had net loss of approximately $466,910 which consisted primarily of formation and operational costs.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2023, we had approximately $288,249,255 in cash currently held in the Trust Account and $1,186,147 in cash that can be used for working capital.

Prior to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, our liquidity needs were satisfied through the receipt of $25,000 from our Sponsor in exchange for the issuance of the Founder Shares, and the loan proceeds of $110,000 from the Note from our Sponsor. We fully repaid the Note on December 6, 2021. Subsequent to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement, our liquidity needs have been satisfied with the proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account.

Based on the foregoing, our management believes that we will have sufficient working capital to meet our needs through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from this filing. We will be using these funds to pay existing accounts payable, identify and evaluate prospective initial Business Combination candidates, perform due diligence on prospective Business Combination candidates, pay travel expenditures, select the target business to merge with or acquire, and structure, negotiate, and consummate the Business Combination.

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 June 3, 2023 to complete a Business Combination. It is uncertain that the Company will be able to consummate an initial Business Combination by this time. If an initial Business Combination is not consummated by this date and the Company has not exercised its option to extend the deadline in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Incorporation, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the Company’s inability to continue as a going concern.

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

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Additionally, as a result of the military action commenced in February 2022 by the Russian Federation and Belarus in the country of Ukraine and related economic sanctions, the Company’s ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which the Company ultimately consummates a Business Combination, may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by these events, including as a result of increased market volatility, or decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. The impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy and the specific impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or ability to consummate a Business Combination are not yet determinable. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Contractual Obligations

Deferred Underwriting Fee

The underwriter was entitled to a deferred fee of $9,660,000. The deferred fee would have become payable to the underwriter solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement and the trust agreement, but due to proposed SEC regulations imposing potential liability on the underwriter of an initial public offering for a blank check company upon its subsequent initial Business Combination, the underwriter has ended its relationships with most special purpose acquisition companies it helped take public, including the Company, and has waived its deferred underwriting fees.

Registration Rights

The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, if any (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares), were entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed upon the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. These holders will be entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Administrative Services Agreement

We entered into an agreement to pay an affiliate of our Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, and secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team. Upon completion of the Business Combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. We incurred $30,000 of such fees for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 the reported amounts of income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following as our critical accounting policies:

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Class A common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

We account for 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) is classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our outstanding Class A common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 27,600,000 shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock

The Company has two classes of common stock, Class A and Class B common stock. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The Company has not considered the effect of the warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement to purchase an aggregate of 29,026,000, of the Company’s Class A common stock in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share, since their inclusion would be anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method. As a result, diluted net income (loss) per share is the same as basic net income (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. Re-measurement associated with the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.

JOBS Act

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (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 are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

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

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Our management does not believe there are any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, that would have a material effect on our financial statements.

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ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable for smaller reporting companies.

ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

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

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, due solely to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting for agreements and management reporting controls. As a result, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented.

Management intends to implement remediation steps to improve our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we plan to enhance these processes to better evaluate our application of the complex accounting standards that apply to our financial statements, particularly with respect to vendor contracts. As part of this enhanced process, we plan to implement an updated internal control policy providing for increased clarity regarding roles, responsibilities and verification procedures and increased communication among 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

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023 covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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.

As of March 31, 2023, to the knowledge of our management, there was no material litigation, arbitration, or governmental proceeding pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding.

ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS.

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this Quarterly Report are any of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report, other than the below, there have been no other material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2023. However, we may disclose changes to such factors or disclose additional factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.

A 1% U.S. federal excise tax may be imposed on us in connection with our redemptions of shares, in connection with a Business Combination or other shareholder vote pursuant to which shareholders would have a right to submit their shares for redemption.

The Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) was enacted on August 16, 2022. The IRA includes provisions imposing a 1% excise tax on share repurchases that occur after December 31, 2022 and introduces a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on adjusted financial statement income. The CAMT will be effective for us beginning in 2023. We currently are not expecting the IRA to have a material adverse impact to our financial statements.

ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our Initial Public Offering, see Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q. There has been no material change in the planned use of the proceeds from our Initial Public Offering and private placement as is described in the Company’s final prospectus related to the Initial Public Offering.

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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.

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No.
Description of Exhibit
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Specimen Unit Certificate (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-l (File No. 333-261015), filed with the SEC on November 12, 2021).
Specimen Class A common stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-l (File No. 333-261015), filed with the SEC on November 12, 2021).
Specimen Warrant Certificate (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-l (File No. 333-261015), filed with the SEC on November 12, 2021).
Warrant Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of November 30, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated November 30, 2021, by and among the Company and PROOF Acquisition Sponsor I, LLC (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated November 30, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 30, 2021, by and among the Company, PROOF Acquisition Sponsor I, LLC, and the other holders party thereto (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Letter Agreement, dated November 30, 2021, by and among the Company, PROOF Acquisition Sponsor I, LLC and Officers and Directors of the Company (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Administrative Services Agreement between PROOF Acquisition Sponsor I, LLC and the Company, dated November 30, 2021. (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41104), filed with the SEC on December 6, 2021).
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
   
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
PROOF ACQUISITION CORP I
     
 
May 9, 2023
By:
/s/ John C. Backus, Jr.
   
Name:
John C. Backus, Jr.
   
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
     
(Principal Executive Officer)

 
May 9, 2023
By:
/s/ Steven P. Mullins
   
Name:
Steven P. Mullins
   
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
     
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


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