Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion a nd Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
References to “ANSC,” “our,” “us,” “we” or the “Company” refer to Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation. References to our “management” refer to our officers and directors. References to the “Sponsor” refer to Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Sponsor LLC and references to the “Warrant Holdings Sponsor” refer to Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Warrant Holdings LLC. The following discussion and analysis of ANSC’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed financial statements and the notes thereto contained in Item 1. of this report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors.
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 as a Cayman Islands exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “initial business combination”). Our Sponsor is Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company and an affiliate of Riverstone Investment Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its affiliates (“Riverstone”) and Impact Ag Partners LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company, and its affiliates (“Impact Ag,” and, together with Riverstone, the “Sponsor Entities”). Although we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business or industry, we intend to capitalize on the Sponsor Entities’ platforms to identify, acquire and build a company whose principal effort is developing and advancing a platform that decarbonizes the traditional agriculture sector and enhances natural capital at scale. We believe these areas of focus represent a favorable and highly fragmented market opportunity to consummate a business combination.
The Registration Statement for our initial public offering was declared effective on November 8, 2023 (“Public Offering”). On November 13, 2023, we consummated the Public Offering of 34,500,000 units (the “Units”), including 4,500,000 Units that were issued pursuant to the underwriters’ full exercise of their overallotment option, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $345.0 million, and incurring transaction costs of approximately $20.4 million, consisting of approximately $6.9 million of underwriting fees, approximately $12.1 million of deferred underwriting fees and approximately $1.4 million of other offering costs. The underwriters were granted a 45-day over-allotment option to up to 4,500,000 Over-Allotment Units at the Public Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in full and purchased an additional 4,500,000 Over-Allotment Units at the closing of the Public Offering.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 9,400,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to our Warrant Holdings Sponsor and our independent directors, generating gross proceeds of $9,400,000. This amount includes the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 900,000 warrants to cover over-allotments.
Approximately $345.0 million ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the Public Offering (including the Over-Allotment Units and approximately $12.1 million of the underwriters’ deferred discount) and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) located in the United States with the Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), and invested only in U.S. “government securities,” within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as otherwise permitted under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
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If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or November 13, 2025, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Proposed Business Combination
Business Combination Agreement
On August 28, 2024, the Company, Agriculture & Natural Solutions Company Limited ACN 680 144 085, an Australian unlisted public company limited by shares and affiliated with Sponsor (“NewCo”), Merino Merger Sub 1 Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo (“Merger Sub 1”), Merino Merger Sub 2 Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo (“Merger Sub 2”), Raymond T. Dalio, in his capacity as Trustee of the Raymond T. Dalio Revocable Trust (“Dalio”), Bell Group Holdings Pty Limited ACN 004 845 710, an Australian private company (together with Dalio, the “Sellers”), Australian Food & Agriculture Company Limited ACN 005 858 293, an Australian unlisted public company limited by shares (“AFA”), and, solely with respect to Section 2.07 of the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below), Sponsor (and together with the Company, NewCo, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2, the Sellers and AFA, collectively, the “Parties”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”).
Termination of Business Combination Agreement
On April 10, 2025, pursuant to Section 11.01(a) of the Business Combination Agreement, the Parties entered into a Termination Agreement to terminate the Business Combination Agreement. See Part I, Item 1. Note 1 “Description of Organization and Business Operations—Termination of Business Combination Agreement” to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from March 22, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2025 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Public Offering, described below, and subsequent to the Public Offering, the Company’s search for a target business with which to complete an initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination, at the earliest. Following the Public Offering, we generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities. We are incurring expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in connection with completing an initial business combination.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we reported net income of $4,017,775 which consisted of general and administrative expenses (inclusive of $2,076,234 of waived legal fees offset against $2,036,401 in general and administrative expenses incurred) and $3,977,942 of interest on Trust Account.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we reported net income of $4,136,680 which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $551,258, offset by $4,687,938 of interest on Trust Account.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had a cash balance of $1 and a working capital deficit of $10,259,448. Following the closing of the Public Offering, the Company’s liquidity needs were satisfied through using an amount from net proceeds from the Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants held outside of the Trust Account for existing accounts payable, identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the initial business combination.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, cash used in operating activities was $0, which is made up of a net income of $4,017,775, changes in operating assets and liabilities of $1,347,254, and general and administrative expenses funded by a note payable to Sponsor of $1,307,421. These amounts were offset by an interest on Trust Account of $3,977,942.
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If the Company’s estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to an initial business combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete an initial business combination or because it becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of its public shares upon completion of an initial business combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such initial business combination. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination, our officers, directors and initial shareholders may, but are not obligated to, provide us with loans up to $1,500,000 as the Company may require (“Working Capital Loans”). As of March 31, 2025, the outstanding balance under the Working Capital Note (as defined below) was $838,405. See Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations—Promissory Note” to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The Company has incurred and expects to incur additional significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans, including the proposed business combination. The Company has until November 13, 2025 to complete a business combination or cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements–Going Concern,” our management has determined that this condition raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through one year from the filing date of this report if a business combination is not consummated. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after this date. The Company intends to complete a business combination before the mandatory liquidation date.
Contractual Obligations
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and Warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement, dated November 8, 2023 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). These holders are entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
On November 13, 2023, the underwriters were entitled to, and the Company paid, an underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $6,900,000 in the aggregate, upon closing of the Public Offering.
In addition, $0.35 per Unit, or approximately $12,075,000 in the aggregate, will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. 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.
Administrative Services Agreement
Commencing on the date that our securities were first listed on NASDAQ and continuing until the earlier of our consummation of an initial business combination or our liquidation, we have agreed to pay an affiliate of our Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative support made available to the Company. Upon completion of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company incurred $30,000 and $30,000, respectively, in administrative fees.
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Promissory Note
On August 28, 2024, in connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Working Capital Note”) in the principal amount of $1,500,000 to Warrant Holdings Sponsor. The Working Capital Note does not bear interest and is repayable in full upon consummation of an initial business combination. If the Company does not complete an initial business combination, the Working Capital Note will not be repaid and all amounts owed under the Working Capital Note will be forgiven except to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of its Trust Account. Immediately prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, Warrant Holdings Sponsor may elect to convert all or any portion of the unpaid principal balance of the Working Capital Note into that number of warrants, each entitling the holder to purchase one Public Share (the “Working Capital Warrants”) equal to the principal amount of the Working Capital Note so converted divided by $1.00. The Working Capital Warrants will be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. The Working Capital Note is subject to customary events of default, the occurrence of which automatically trigger the unpaid principal balance of the Working Capital Note and all other sums payable with regard to the Working Capital Note becoming immediately due and payable. As of March 31, 2025, the outstanding balance under the Working Capital Note was $838,405.
Critical Accounting Estimates
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 expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting estimates:
Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A—“Expenses of Offering.” Deferred offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Public Offering. FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt into its equity and debt components. The Company applied this guidance to allocate Public Offering proceeds from the Units between Class A ordinary shares and Warrants, using the residual method by allocating Public Offering proceeds first to assigned value of the Warrants and then to the Class A ordinary shares. Offering costs allocated to the Class A ordinary shares were charged to temporary equity and offering costs allocated to the Warrants and Private Placement Warrants were charged to shareholders’ equity as Warrants and Private Placement Warrants after management’s evaluation were accounted for under equity treatment. The significant judgement involved in valuation of warrant values and the allocation of proceeds led to the assessment of offering costs as a critical accounting estimate.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” in Note 2 of the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act and are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We elected 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 unaudited condensed financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
As an “emerging growth company,” we are not required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 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 comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five (5) years following the completion of our Public Offering or until we otherwise no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company.”
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualita tive Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. As a result, pursuant to Item 305(e) of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Item 4. Contro ls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principle executive officer and principle financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our principle executive officer and principle financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our principle executive officer and principle financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective during the period covered by this report.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHE R INFORMATION
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.