Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
References to the “Company,” “our,”
“us” or “we” refer to BYTE Acquisition Corp. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial
condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the
notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections
about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that
may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels
of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking
statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,”
“plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of
such terms or other similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, possible business combinations and the financing
thereof, and related matters, as well as all other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q. Factors
that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our other Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) filings.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on January
8, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase,
reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“initial business combination”). Our
sponsor is Byte Holdings LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (our “Sponsor”).
Our registration statement for our initial public
offering was declared effective on March 17, 2021. On March 23, 2021, we consummated our Initial Public Offering of 30,000,000 units (the
“Units” and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”),
at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $300.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $17.2 million, inclusive
of approximately $10.5 million in deferred underwriting commissions. On April 7, 2021, the underwriter exercised the over-allotment option
in part and purchased an additional 2,369,251 Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”), generating additional gross proceeds of
$23,692,510 (such offering, including the exercise of the over-allotment, the “Initial Public Offering”).
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial
Public Offering, we consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) of 1,030,000 Units (the “Private Placement
Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $10.3 million.
Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering,
sale of the Over-Allotment Units, and the Private Placement, $323.7 million ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the sale of the Units
in the Initial Public Offering and certain of proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”)
with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee and invested in United States “government securities”
within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting
certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations,
as determined by us, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of an initial business combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust
Account to the shareholders. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to have been operating as an unregistered investment company
(including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), on February 10, 2023, we instructed Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the Trust Account
and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account until the earlier of consummation
of an initial business combination or liquidation.
If we are unable to complete an initial business
combination by the Extended Date (as defined below), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but no more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding 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 (less taxes payable and
up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will
completely extinguish holders of the Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) rights as shareholders (including the right
to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject
to the approval of the remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to its obligations
under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
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Extension
We initially had until March 23, 2023 to consummate
an initial business combination. On March 16, 2023, we held an extraordinary general meeting (the “March EGM”). In this meeting
the shareholders approved amendments to our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which we
must complete an initial business combination from March 23, 2023 to September 25, 2023 (the “Extension” and such date, the
“Original Extended Date”) and to provide for the right of a holder of our Class A ordinary shares to convert into Class A
ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis prior to the closing of an initial business combination. In connection with the March EGM, shareholders
holding an aggregate of 30,006,034 of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for approximately
$10.20 per share, or an aggregate total of $306,106,987, of the funds held in our Trust Account, leaving approximately $24.1 million in
the Trust Account after such redemption. Subsequently, it was determined that the redemption value per share was approximately $10.22
per share, or an aggregate total of $306,691,945, of the funds held in the Trust Account resulting in a secondary distribution to the
redeeming shareholders of approximately $0.02 per share, or an aggregate total of $584,958.
On September 22, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary
general meeting of shareholders in lieu of annual general meeting (the “September EGM”). At the September EGM, the Company’s
shareholders approved amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to (i) extend the
date by which the Company must complete a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business
combination involving the Company and one or more businesses from September 25, 2023 to December 26, 2023 and to allow the Company, without
another shareholder vote, by resolution of the Company’s board of directors, to elect to further extend by three months, until March
25, 2024, unless the closing of a business combination should have occurred prior thereto (ii) eliminate (a) the limitation that the Company
may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 and (b)
the limitation that the Company shall not consummate an initial business combination unless the Company has net tangible assets of at
least $5,000,001 immediately prior to, or upon consummation of, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained
in the agreement relating to, such initial business combination and (iii) re-elect Louis Lebedin as a Class I director of the Company’s
board of directors until the general meeting of the Company to be held in 2026 or until his successor is appointed and qualified. In connection
with the September EGM, shareholders holding an aggregate of 525,624 of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares exercised their right
to redeem their shares for approximately $10.63 per share of the funds held in the Company’s trust account.
Non-Redemption Agreements
On March 8, 2023, we entered into non-redemption
agreements (collectively, the “Extension Non-Redemption Agreements”) with certain of its existing shareholders (the “Non-Redeeming
Shareholders”) holding Class A ordinary shares. Pursuant to the Extension Non-Redemption Agreements, each of the Non-Redeeming Shareholders
agreed to (a) not redeem 1,000,000 Class A ordinary shares held by them on the date of the Extension Non-Redemption Agreements (the “Shares”)
in connection with the vote to amend our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which we have
to consummate an initial business combination from March 23, 2023 to September 25, 2023 and (b) vote their Shares in favor of the Extension
presented by us for approval by its shareholders. In connection with the foregoing, we agreed to pay to each Non-Redeeming Shareholder
$0.033 per Share in cash per month through the Original Extended Date.
On September 14, 2023, we entered into an amendment
to the Non-Redemption Agreement previously entered into on March 8, 2023 with the Non-Redeeming Shareholder holding 1,000,000 Class A
ordinary shares. Pursuant to the amendment to the Non-Redemption Agreement, the Non-Redeeming Shareholder agreed to (a) not redeem any
Class A ordinary shares held by them on the date of the Non-Redemption Agreement in connection with the vote to amend the Company’s
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to further extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial
business combination from September 25, 2023 to December 26, 2023 (the “Extended Date”) and to allow the Company, without
another shareholder vote, by resolution of the Company’s board of directors, to elect to further extend such date by three months
until March 26, 2024 (the “Extension” and such additional extended date, the “Additional Extended Date”) and (b)
vote all of their Shares in favor of the Extension presented by the Company for approval by its shareholders. In connection with the foregoing,
the Company agreed to extend its obligation to pay to the Non-Redeeming Shareholder $0.033 per share in cash per month through the Extended
Date and Additional Extended Date, if applicable.
On August 1, 2023, we entered into a Non-Redemption
Agreement with one of the Non-Redeeming Shareholders holding Public Shares, pursuant to which the Non-Redeeming Shareholder agreed not
to redeem $1 million in aggregate value of Public Shares held by it on the date of the Non-Redemption Agreement in connection with the
Merger Agreement.
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Non-Redemption Agreement – Related Party
On August 1, 2023, we entered into a non-redemption
agreement (“Non-Redemption Agreement”) with our Sponsor. Pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreement, our Sponsor agreed to acquire
from our shareholders $6 million in aggregate value of our Public Shares, either in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions,
at a price no higher than the redemption price per share payable to Public Shareholders who exercise redemption rights with respect to
their Public Shares, prior to the closing date of the Business Combination (as defined below), to waive its redemption rights and hold
the Public Shares through the closing date of the Business Combination, and to abstain from voting and not vote the Public Shares in favor
of or against the Business Combination. As consideration for the Non-Redemption Agreement, we agreed to pay the Sponsor $0.033 per Public
Share per month, which will begin accruing on the date that is three days after the date of the Non-Redemption Agreement and terminate
on the earlier of the closing date of the Business Combination, the termination of the Merger Agreement, or the Outside Closing Date (as
defined in the Merger Agreement).
Merger Agreement
On June 27, 2023, we entered into a merger agreement,
by and among us, BYTE Merger Sub Inc, (“Merger Sub”), and Airship AI Holdings, Inc., a Washington corporation (“Airship
AI”), for the purpose to consummate a business combination (the “Business Combination”) (as it may be amended and/or
restated from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”).
On September 22, 2023, we entered into an
amendment to the Merger Agreement (the “Amendment”), by and among s, Airship AI, and Merger Sub. The Amendment amends the
Merger Agreement to extend the last date for the Company to consummate the Business Combination (the “Outside Closing Date”)
from December 26, 2023 to the latest of (a) September 25, 2023, (b) if the Extension Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) is
approved, March 26, 2024 and (C) if one or more extensions to a date following March 26, 2024 with Airship AI Holdings, Inc.’s approval
is obtained at the election of the Company, with the Company’s shareholder vote, in accordance with the Company’s Amended
and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the last date for the Company to consummate the Business Combination pursuant to
such extensions.
Parent Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger
Agreement, we entered into a support agreement (the “Parent Support Agreement”) with the Sponsor and Airship AI, pursuant
to which the Sponsor agreed to, among other things, vote all of its shares in favor of the various proposals related to the Business Combination
and the Merger Agreement and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by us for consummation of the Business Combination. The
Sponsor has also agreed (a) to forfeit 1,000,000 of our Class A ordinary shares owned by the Sponsor on the Closing Date and (b) to contribute
2,600,000 of our Class A ordinary shares owned by the Sponsor to secure the Non-Redemption Agreements and/or the PIPE financing. The Parent
Support Agreement also provides that the Sponsor Shares will be subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days following the Closing.
Company Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger
Agreement, we entered into a support agreement (the “Company Support Agreement”) with Airship AI and certain shareholders
of Airship AI (the “Company Supporting Shareholders”), pursuant to which the Company Supporting Shareholders agreed to, among
other things, (i) vote to adopt and approve, or to execute a written consent with respect to the approval, within five business days following
the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4, the Merger Agreement and all other documents and transactions
contemplated thereby, (ii) vote against any alternative proposal or alternative transaction or any proposal relating to an alternative
proposal or alternative transaction, (iii) vote against any merger agreement or merger, consolidation, or combination sale of substantial
assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company (other than the Merger Agreement
and the transactions relating to the Business Combination), (iv) vote against any change in the business (to the extent in violation of
the Merger Agreement), management or board of directors of the Company (other than in connection with the Business Combination), and (v)
vote against any proposal that would impede the Business Combination or that would result in a breach with respect to any obligation or
agreement of the Company or the Company Supporting Shareholders under the Merger Agreement or the Company Support Agreement, in each case,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Company Support Agreement.
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Class B Conversion
Effective as of March 27, 2023, pursuant to the
terms of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association after the March EGM, the Sponsor elected to convert each outstanding
Class B ordinary share held by it on a one-for-one basis into Class A ordinary shares of the Company, with immediate effect.
Class B Issuance
On June 26, 2023, the Company issued one Class
B ordinary share for no consideration to assist with administrative function.
Results of Operations
Our entire activity since inception through September
30, 2023 related to our formation, the preparation for the Initial Public Offering, and since the closing of the Initial Public Offering,
the search for a prospective initial business combination. We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date.
We will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating
income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents. We expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public
company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the three months ended September 30, 2023,
we had net loss of approximately $1.5 million, which primarily consisted of approximately $800,000 of losses from operations and a noncash
loss of approximately $1.0 million resulting from changes in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities, offset by interest earned from
investments held in the Trust Account of approximately $307,000 and interest income from the bank account of approximately $2,000.
For the three months ended September 30, 2022,
we had net income of approximately $1.5 million, which primarily consisted of a noncash gain of approximately $0.3 million resulting from
changes in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities and income from investments held in the Trust Account of approximately $1.4 million,
partially offset by approximately $268,000 of general and administrative expenses, including $30,000 of general and administrative expenses
to related parties.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023,
we had net loss of approximately $2.1 million, which primarily consisted of approximately $3.4 million of losses from operations and a
noncash loss of approximately $2.5 million resulting from changes in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities, offset by of interest
earned from investments held in the Trust Account of approximately $3.7 million and interest income from the bank account of approximately
$17,000.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022,
we had net income of approximately $8.7 million, which primarily consisted of a noncash gain of approximately $7.7 million resulting from
changes in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities and income from investments held in the Trust Account of approximately $1.9 million,
partially offset by approximately $905,000 of general and administrative expenses, including $90,000 of general and administrative expenses
to related parties.
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Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
Consideration
As of September 30, 2023, we had cash of $18,752.
Our liquidity needs prior to the consummation
of the Initial Public Offering were satisfied through a payment of $25,000 from the Sponsor to cover certain expenses on our behalf in
exchange for the issuance of the Founder Shares (as defined below), a loan under a note agreement from our Sponsor of approximately $149,000
(the “Note”), and the net proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. We fully
repaid the Note on March 25, 2021. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination,
our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide us working
capital loans. To date, there were no amounts outstanding under any working capital loans.
In connection with the Company’s assessment
of going concern considerations in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern,” management has
determined that the liquidity condition and mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern. Management continues to seek to complete an initial business combination within the Combination
Period. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after
the Extended Date. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue
as a going concern.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease
obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than, an agreement to pay Sagara Group, LLC, which is a company
controlled by Mr. Gloor, a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, utilities and secretarial, and administrative and support services.
We began incurring these fees on March 23, 2021 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of an
initial business combination and our liquidation.
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred
fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $11,329,238 in the aggregate. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts
held in the Trust Account solely in the event that we complete an initial business combination, subject to the terms of the
underwriting agreement. On May 30, 2023, the underwriters waived their entitlement to receive payment of the deferred underwriting
commissions of $11,329,238, that was to be paid under the terms of the underwriting agreement, only in the event of closing of a
business combination with Airship AI.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related
disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
We have identified the following critical accounting policy:
Derivative Warrant Liabilities
We do not use derivative instruments to hedge
exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including issued stock purchase
warrants and forward purchase agreements, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded
derivatives, pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) and FASB ASC
Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). The classification of derivative instruments, including whether
such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period.
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The warrants issued in connection with the Initial
Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants are recognized as derivative liabilities in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, we
recognize the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The
liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the
Company’s statements of operations. The initial estimated fair value of the warrants was measured using a Monte Carlo simulation.
The subsequent estimated fair value of the Public Warrants is based on the listed price in an active market for such warrants while the
fair value of the Private Placement Warrants continues to be measured using a Monte Carlo simulation.
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible
redemption
We account for our Class A ordinary shares subject
to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480. Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are
classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class
ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence
of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary
shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s Public Shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered
to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of September 30,
2023 and December 31, 2022, 1,837,593 and 32,369,251 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption
value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of our balance sheet.
Effective with the closing of the Public Offering
(including sale of the Over-Allotment Units), we recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount, which resulted
in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit.
Net (Loss) Income per ordinary share
We have two classes of shares, which are referred
to as Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption and non-redeemable Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income
and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net (loss) income per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the net
(loss) income by the weighted average of ordinary shares outstanding for the respective period.
The calculation of diluted net (loss) income per
ordinary shares does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the Public Offering (including sale of the Over-Allotment
Units) and the Private Placement to purchase an aggregate of 16,699,626 ordinary shares in the calculation of diluted (loss) income per
share, because their exercise is contingent upon future events and their inclusion would be anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.
As a result, diluted net (loss) income per share is the same as basic net (loss) income per share for the period ended September 30, 2023
and December 31, 2022. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares is excluded from net (loss) income per share as
the redemption value approximates fair value.
Recent Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards
Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial
Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). This update requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the
net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including
historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.
Since June 2016, the FASB issued clarifying updates to the new standard including changing the effective date for smaller reporting companies.
The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early
adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have an impact on its financial
statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently
issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual
Obligations
As of September 30, 2023, we did not have any
off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations.
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JOBS Act
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 are in the process of evaluating
the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth
in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among
other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to
Section 404 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.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined
by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.
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