Item 1. Business
Item
1. Business
Introduction
We
are a recently organized blank check company incorporated on October 19, 2021 as a Delaware corporation formed for the purpose of effecting
a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or
more businesses, which we refer to throughout this report as our initial business combination.
Initial
Public Offering
On
February 7, 2022, we consummated our initial public offering of an aggregate of 13,225,000 units, including full exercise of the underwriters’
over-allotment option, at $10.00 per unit. The gross proceeds of the offering were $132.25 million. Simultaneously with the consummation
of the initial public offering, we consummated the private placement of 754,000 units to the sponsor, which amount included 69,000 private
placement units purchased by the sponsor in connection with the underwriters’ exercise of their overallotment option in full, at
a price of $10.00 per private placement unit, generating gross proceeds of approximately $7.54 million.
Following
the closing of the Initial Public Offering on February 7, 2022, an amount of $139,790,000 from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units
in the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement was placed in the Trust Account. This resulted in an overfunding of the Trust
Account of $4,895,000. As such, subsequent to the initial funding of the Trust Account, $2,000,000 was transferred to the Company’s
operating cash account and $2,895,000 was used to pay offering costs. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the
Trust Account that may be released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), the funds held
in the Trust Account will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (a) the completion of our initial business combination,
(b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our certificate of incorporation
(A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or certain
amendments to our charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination
within 12 months from the consummation of our initial public offering or up to February 7, 2024 if we extend the period of time to consummate
a business combination, at our election by separate one month extensions, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the
deposit of approximately $77,000 for each one month extension, into the Trust Account or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating
to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable
to complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the consummation of our initial public offering or up to February
7, 2024 if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination, at our election by separate one month extensions, subject
to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the deposit of approximately $77,000 for each one month extension, into the Trust Account,
subject to applicable law.
Merger
Agreement with Conduit Pharmaceuticals Limited
The
following description of the Merger Agreement and related agreements does not purport to describe all of the terms thereof and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement and related agreements. Our stockholders and other interested
parties are urged to read such agreements in their entirety.
On
November 8, 2022, we entered into an agreement and plan of merger (together with an amendment entered into on January 27, 2023, the “Merger
Agreement”) with Conduit Pharmaceuticals Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Conduit”) and Conduit Merger
Sub, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and our wholly owned subsidiary. If the Merger Agreement is approved by our stockholders
and the transactions under the Merger Agreement are consummated, Merger Sub will merge with and into Conduit, with Conduit surviving
the merger as our wholly owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). Upon the closing of the Merger, it is anticipated that we will
change our name to “Conduit Pharmaceuticals Inc.” Our board of directors has (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger
Agreement, the related ancillary agreements thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby and (ii) resolved to recommend approval
of the Merger Agreement and related transactions by our stockholders.
1
Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, the outstanding ordinary shares (including the shares issued upon conversion of all outstanding convertible
debt, which conversion shall have occurred prior to the consummation of the Merger Agreement) of Conduit will be converted into an aggregate
of 65,000,000 shares of our newly issued common stock, with each such outstanding Conduit ordinary share (including the ordinary shares
issued upon conversion of all outstanding convertible debt, which conversion shall have occurred prior to the consummation of the Merger
Agreement) converted into newly issued shares of our common stock on a pro rata basis.
In
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, we entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription
Agreement”) with an investor. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the investor has agreed to purchase $27 million (the “Private
Placement”) units of our securities, with each unit consisting of (i) one share of common stock and (ii) one warrant to purchase
one share of common stock, for a purchase price of $10.00 per unit. The Subscription Agreement contains registration rights, pursuant
to which within 15 business days after the closing, we will use reasonable best efforts to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement registering the resale of the shares of common stock included in the units
and issued and issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The closing of the Private Placement is conditioned on, among other things, the
closing of the Conduit Business Combination.
January
2023 Extension
Initially,
we were required to complete our initial business combination transaction by 12 months from the consummation of our initial public
offering or up to 18 months if we extended the period of time to consummate a business combination in accordance with our
Certificate of Incorporation (“Business Combination Period”). On January 26, 2023, at a special meeting of our stockholders, our stockholders approved a proposal
to amend our certificate of incorporation to allow us to extend, at our election, the date by which we have to consummate a business
combination up to 12 times, each such extension for an additional one month period, from February 7, 2023, to February 7, 2024. Our
stockholders also approved a related proposal to amend the trust agreement allowing us to deposit into the Trust Account, for each
one-month extension, one-third of 1% of the funds remaining in the Trust Account following the redemptions made in connection with
the approval of the extension proposal at the special meeting. At the special meeting our stockholders also approved a proposal to
amend our certificate of incorporation to expand the methods that we may employ to not become subject to the “penny
stock” rules of the SEC.
In
connection with such proposals, our public stockholders had the right to redeem their shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of
the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two days prior to such stockholder vote. Our public stockholders holding 11,037,272
shares of Class A common stock (out of a total of 13,979,000 shares of Class A common stock) exercised their right to redeem such shares
at a redemption price of approximately $10.33 per share. Approximately $114 million in cash was removed from the Trust Account to pay
such stockholders and, accordingly, after giving effect to such redemptions, the balance in the Trust Account was approximately $23 million.
As
a result of the approval of such proposals, we agreed to deposit into the trust account one-third of 1% of the funds then on deposit
in the trust account for each month of the extension period, resulting in a monthly contribution of approximately $0.035 per share that
was not redeemed in connection with the Special Meeting (approximately $77,000 in the aggregate per month), or an aggregate of $924,000
(the “Maximum Contribution”) if the date we have to consummate a business combination is extended 12 times, each assuming
no interest is earned on the funds in the trust account.
Investment
Thesis and Strategy
To
date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities, as well as activities related to our initial public offering and investigating
potential business combinations. As of the date of this report, we anticipate that we will consummate the Merger Agreement. While we
have entered into the Merger Agreement with Conduit, in the event we are unable to consummate the Conduit Business Combination, we will
continue to pursue another business combination. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any stage of our corporate
evolution or in any industry or sector, we intend to focus our search on identifying businesses in the real estate industry, including
construction, homebuilding, real estate owners and operators, arrangers of financing, insurance, and other services for real estate,
and adjacent businesses and technologies targeting the real estate space, which we may refer to as “Proptech” businesses.
We define Proptech businesses broadly as those applying innovative digital technologies and technology-enhanced services and solutions
to the identification, design, development, construction, operation, underwriting, acquisition, leasing, financing, management and disposition
of real estate properties. Leveraging our sponsor’s management team and directors’ deep and global real estate expertise
and extensive network of relationships, we intend to identify innovative companies that have the potential to disrupt different aspects
of the real estate industry or related industries and to transform how stakeholders relate to real estate in the future. These stakeholders
include brokers, investors, lenders, operators, municipalities, service providers, owners, residents and tenants. Our sponsor and management
team have a proven track record in identifying opportunities in the real estate industry that have generated attractive risk-adjusted
returns.
2
Our
business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that complements the experience of our
management team and that can benefit from their and our sponsor’s operational expertise. Our selection process will leverage our
management teams’ broad and deep relationship network, unique industry experiences and proven deal sourcing capabilities to access
a broad spectrum of differentiated opportunities. The businesses we seek to acquire offer innovative software, hardware, products, operations
or services that are technologically equipped to improve property ownership; property financing; property transactions; property valuation;
property operations; property management; leasing; property insurance; real estate asset management and investment management; and design,
construction and development. Our management team will seek to leverage their access to proprietary deal flow, sourcing capabilities
and network of industry contacts to generate business combination opportunities.
Consistent
with this strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective
targets. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial
business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines.
●
Property
Technology . We will seek to focus our search on identifying transformative, technology-driven businesses targeting the real estate
sector that can benefit from the leading brand, operational expertise and global network of our sponsor and management team in the
real estate industry. Our management team has developed significant experience at Presidio Property Trust, Inc. in evaluating transaction
candidates across many stages of the real estate investment and business life cycles, and we will seek to capitalize on that multifaceted
expertise in sourcing and assessing potential business combination targets.
●
Value
Creation . We intend to focus our efforts on identifying one or more later-stage businesses that we believe have significant potential
for attractive risk-adjusted returns for shareholders, weighing potential growth opportunities and operational improvements in the
target business against any identified downside risks.
●
Growth
Potential . We will seek to acquire one or more businesses that have the potential for significant revenue and earnings growth
through a combination of organic growth, potential to leverage competitive advantages and innovation through our expertise and scale
as a vertically integrated real estate platform.
●
Benefit
From Presidio Property, Inc.’s Proven Platform. We intend to acquire one or more businesses that we believe will benefit
from Presidio Property, Inc.’s differentiated industry network, brand and proprietary value-creation capabilities in order
to improve financial performance and business planning.
●
Competitive
Position . We will seek to acquire one or more businesses that demonstrate advantages when compared to their competitors, including
the potential to disrupt the market through technology driven transformation, defensible proprietary technology, strong adoption
rates, and low or manageable risks of technological obsolescence.
●
Management
Team. We will seek to invest in one or more businesses that have proven management teams with a compelling strategy of selling
their product and recruiting talent.
3
●
Benefit
from Being a Public Company. We intend to invest in one or more businesses that will benefit from being publicly listed and can
effectively utilize the broader access to capital and the public profile to grow and accelerate shareholder value creation.
These
criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be
based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management
may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet
the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our shareholder communications
related to our initial business combination, which would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that
we would file with the SEC.
Competitive
Strengths
In
the event the Conduit Business Combination is not consummated, we intend to capitalize on the following competitive advantages in our
pursuit of a target company or companies:
●
Leadership
of an Experienced Management Team .
We
believe our management team will provide us with a significant pipeline of opportunities from which to evaluate potential business
combinations. Our management team provides a combination of a proprietary sourcing network and deep industry, mergers and acquisition,
and capital markets expertise.
Our
management team is led by our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) Jack K. Heilbron, who has over 40 years of experience in real
estate due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate management. He has previously served as a director of an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We believe that his business acumen and experience, which demonstrate his ability
to identify opportunities and enhance value, will help facilitate our business acquisition strategy.
Our
Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Adam Sragovicz, has over 25 years of experience in treasury and investment analysis, equity
and debt management, strategic risk and reward analysis as well as portfolio management. We believe that Mr. Sragovicz brings a unique
background to oversee the Company’s accounting and financial reporting matters through a wealth of experience in SEC reporting,
finance, accounting, and building and integrating internal control structures in high growth environments which will provide accurate
and reliable financial and operations reporting and internal control structures for successfully acquired domestic and international
acquisition targets.
Ed
Bentzen, our Chief Accounting Officer (“CAO”), brings over 18 years of professional experience in accounting and finance
for both public and private companies, including seven years of experience in SEC reporting, control processing experience at publicly
traded companies]. We believe that Mr. Bentzen’s expertise in financial reporting will prove invaluable in evaluating acquisition
targets and ensuring a smooth business combination process.
●
Access
to established and proven solution . We believe the business relationships with our sponsor’s corporate parent, Presidio
Property Trust, Inc., will provide significant value enhancement to acquisition targets from both daily human capital management
and cost efficiency perspectives.
●
Established
Deal Sourcing Network . We believe the strong track record of our management team will provide access to quality initial business
combination partners. In addition, through our management team, we believe we have contacts and sources from which to generate acquisition
opportunities and possibly seek complementary follow-on business arrangements. These contacts and sources include those in private
and public companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment bankers, attorneys and accountants.
4
●
Status
as a Publicly Listed Acquisition Company . We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner
to prospective target businesses. As a publicly listed company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional
initial public offering process. We believe that some target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is less expensive,
while offering greater certainty of execution, than the traditional initial public offering process. During an initial public offering,
there are typically underwriting fees and marketing expenses, which would be costlier than a business combination with us. Furthermore,
once a proposed business combination is approved by our stockholders (if applicable) and the transaction is consummated, the target
business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriter’s ability
to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe
our target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned
with stockholders’ interests than it would as a private company.
●
A.G.P.
Brings Deal Flow and Extensive Understanding of Capital Markets and Public Market Investors. We will be supported by A.G.P.
and its team of investment banking professionals, each of whom have meaningful transaction experience, including corporate finance,
mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt capital markets, strategic consulting, and operations. A.G.P. has developed an extensive
network of contacts and corporate relationships which we believe will provide us with an important source of initial business combination
opportunities as well as assistance with potential future financing needs. A.G.P. is a leading advisor to public company boards of
directors and executives, including technology companies, on matters of public markets capital raising, corporate strategy, and M&A.
We believe that the significant knowhow of A.G.P. will allow us to effectively gauge target companies that possess a readiness for
being public, as well as to support their executives in the process of going public.
Industry
Opportunity
While
we may acquire a business or businesses in any industry, in the event the Conduit Business Combination is not consummated, our focus
will be on companies in the real estate industry, including construction, homebuilding, real estate owners and operators, arrangers of
financing, insurance, and other services for real estate, and adjacent businesses and technologies targeting the real estate space, which
we may refer to as “Proptech” businesses. We believe that our target industry is attractive for a number of reasons, including
the following:
Large
Addressable Market . Real estate investment represents a significant segment of the global economy. Global real estate was worth over
$280 trillion (by asset value), larger than equity, debt, or gold (combined), and more than 3.5 times the total global gross domestic
product in 2017, according to Savills Inc. According to Forbes, real estate contributed $3.5 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product
in 2018. Within the real estate industry, Proptech businesses have a large addressable market targeting landlords, tenants, developers,
operators, managers, brokers, investors, lenders, architects, engineers, and general contractors. We believe the acquisition of one or
more Proptech businesses can serve as a platform for expansion, both organically and through further acquisitions.
Innovative
Technology Trends . Real estate has traditionally been a human capital and resource-intensive sector, but technology has become a
strategic imperative as owners seek ways to increase the efficiency of their assets. We believe new technologies that create efficiencies
in the value chain will reduce transaction costs and improve information flow. Innovation is being driven by increased rates of technology
adoption, provided by both incumbent firms and disruptive new entrants that are building vertical solutions and new consumer-facing technologies
for the real estate industry. Examples of innovative technology trends driving technological transformation in the real estate sector
include: artificial intelligence and machine learning, data and analytics, cloud technologies, the Internet of Things, virtual and augmented
reality, financial and mortgage technologies, 5G, automation and robotics, 3D printing, and modular construction. Digital transformation
has also enabled new business models including iBuying, co-working, flexible warehousing, and crowdfunding.
Accelerating
Market Growth . Over the last two decades, Proptech has evolved from tools and platforms that facilitated enhanced information transparency
to more robust and innovative technologies that can drive meaningful operational efficiencies and safety enhancements. The total global
investment in Proptech businesses has grown at a pace substantially above the rate of inflation in the recent past, with approximately
$66 billion invested in Proptech since 2010, of which approximately $63 billion has been invested since 2015 and approximately $43 billion
since 2018. We expect this growth to continue over the years to come, given the increased rates of technology adoption we are seeing
in the real estate industry.
5
Broad
Universe of Potential Targets . We currently intend to focus our investment effort broadly across Proptech businesses, although we
may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any industry or geographic region. We believe that our investment and operating expertise in
the real estate industry and across multiple asset classes and geographies will offer us a large, addressable universe of potential targets.
The diversity of the target universe and the number of largely uncorrelated sub-sectors maximizes the likelihood that our management
team will identify and execute an attractive transaction.
Acquisition
Criteria
Consistent
with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective
target businesses. In the event that the Conduit Business Combination is not consummated, we will use these criteria and guidelines in
evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does
not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to focus on companies that provide value-added services that we believe:
●
have
market leadership positions in their respective products and services;
●
have
an attractive risk profile, including revenues under long-term contracts and/or a strong backlog of business;
●
have
attractive organic and inorganic growth opportunities which may be accelerated with our expertise and/or access to a public listing;
●
can
benefit from an improved capital structure or streamlined ownership structure;
●
would
benefit from a relationship with a public company; and
●
offer
an attractive risk-adjusted return for our stockholders.
We
intend to seek targets with an aggregate combined enterprise value of approximately $300 million to $1.2 billion, based upon widely accepted
valuation standards and methodologies. We believe targeting companies in this “middle market” will provide the greatest number
of opportunities for investment.
These
criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be
based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that from time to time
our management may deem relevant. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that
will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities,
as applicable, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
Initial
Business Combination
Nasdaq
rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value
of the assets held in the Trust Account at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination.
Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors
is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, or if we are considering an initial
business combination with an entity that is affiliated with A.G.P., our sponsor, directors or officers, we will obtain an opinion from
an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction
of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of
the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business
of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. Additionally,
pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors.
6
We
are not prohibited from consummating an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with A.G.P., our sponsor, officers
or directors, provided, however, that, pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, if we do, we, or a committee of our independent
directors, must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation
opinions that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
We
anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares
will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial
business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target
business in order to meet certain objectives of the prior owners of the target business, the target management team or stockholders or
for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of
the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target 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”).
Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the
business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the
target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number
of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target. In this case, we would
acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders
immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent
to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned
or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued
for purposes of the 80% fair market value test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% fair market
value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as our
initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
To
the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages
of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor
to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant
risk factors.
In
evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which will encompass, among other things,
meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational,
legal and other information which will be made available to us.
The
time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs
associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification
and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in
our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. Further, our sponsor’s corporate
parent, Presidio Property Trust, Inc., is not formally constrained in any way from pursuing acquisitions or business combinations that
could be suitable transactions for us. While we do not believe it is likely that Presidio Property Trust, Inc., will compete against
us for suitable acquisition targets based upon our management’s understanding of Presidio Property Trust, Inc.’s current
business model, it is possible that a potential business combination could arise that would be suitable for us and Presidio Property
Trust, Inc., giving rise to a conflict of interest. If such a circumstance were to occur, we anticipate that our board of directors would
recuse any conflicted members of our management from taking any role in the consideration of such a transaction and, to the extent necessary,
retain appropriate qualified, non-conflicted personnel to advise us in accordance with the provisions of our certificate of incorporation
relating to transactions with affiliates. Such an eventuality could increase the costs associated with evaluating a target business.
Our board of directors has established a code of ethics that includes a conflict of interest policy intended to ensure timely disclosure
and avoidance of activities and relationships that conflict with the interests of the Company.
7
Initial
Business Combination Process
In
evaluating prospective business combinations, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review process that will encompass, among
other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well
as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
We
are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, Murphy Canyon Acquisition
Sponsor, LLC, its corporate parent, Presidio Property Trust, Inc., or any of our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete
our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, its corporate parent, or any of our officers or
directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a
member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point
of view.
Members
of our management team will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement units and, accordingly, may have a conflict
of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business
combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business
combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors were to be included by a target business as a condition
to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. However, subject to any pre-existing contractual or fiduciary obligations,
our sponsor and officers and directors will offer all suitable business combination opportunities within the real estate industry (and
other related sectors, as discussed elsewhere in this annual report) to us before any other person or company until we have entered into
a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination by February
7, 2024.
All
of our officers are employed by our sponsor’s corporate parent, Presidio Property Trust, Inc. Our sponsor is continuously made
aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for an initial business combination.
Murphy
Canyon Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, Presidio Property Trust, Inc., and each of our officers and directors presently have, and any of them
in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director
is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware
of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations,
he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity.
We do not believe, however, that any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our sponsor, its corporate parent, and our officers
or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our certificate of incorporation provides
that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered
to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually
permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to
refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Sourcing
of Potential Initial Business Combination Targets
We
believe the industry experience and business relationships of our sponsor’s corporate parent, Presidio Property Trust, Inc., will
allow for a wide range of evaluation of targets for our business combination. Our sponsor’s corporate parent, with many decades
of experience in the real estate industry and related industries, should be able to assist with accessing, and the vetting of, quality
targets. While we are an entirely separate company from Presidio Property Trust, Inc., with a fully independent Board except for Jack
K. Heilbron and Adam Sragovicz, (and no overlapping officers aside from our CEO, Jack K. Heilbron, our CFO, Adam Sragovicz, and our CAO,
Ed Bentzen), we expect to benefit from our sponsor’s corporate parent’s position in the industry.
8
This
network has provided our management team with a flow of referrals that have resulted in numerous transactions. In the event that the
Conduit Business Combination is not consummated, we believe that the network of contacts and relationships of our management team will
provide us with an important source of acquisition opportunities. In addition, we anticipate that target business candidates will be
brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity groups, investment
banks, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises.
Members
of our management team and our independent directors directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or placement units following our initial
public offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate
business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of
interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors
was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
In
addition, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual
obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity
to such entity. As discussed above, however, we do not believe that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or
directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless
such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity
is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent
the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Status
as a Public Company
We
believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As a public company, we offer a target
business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination with us. Following
an initial business combination, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating
management incentives that are better aligned with stockholders’ interests than it would as a private company. A target business
can further benefit by augmenting its profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. In
a business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of stock in the
target business for our shares of Class A common stock (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of our shares of Class
A common stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers.
Although
there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a
more expeditious and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial
public offering process takes a significantly longer period of time than the typical business combination transaction process, and there
are significant expenses in the initial public offering process, including underwriting discounts and commissions, marketing and road
show efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with an initial business combination with us.
Furthermore,
once a proposed initial business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial
public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions,
which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Following an initial business
combination, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management
incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public
company can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting
talented employees.
9
While
we believe that our structure and our management team’s backgrounds make us an attractive business partner, some potential target
businesses may view our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history and our ability to seek stockholder
approval of any proposed initial business combination, negatively.
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities
Act”, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements
that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not
being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from
the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments
not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market
for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In
addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended
transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other
words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of
the completion of our initial public offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which
we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds
$700 million as of the prior June 30 th , and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible
debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Additionally,
we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take
advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements.
We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held
by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of the prior June 30 th , or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million
during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior
June 30 th .
Financial
Position
With
funds available for an initial business combination in the amount of approximately $23 million after payment of $4,628,750 of deferred
underwriting fees, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital
for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because
we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing,
we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target
business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance
it will be available to us.
Effecting
Our Initial Business Combination
We
are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following our initial public
offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of the offering and the sale of the placement
units, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to backstop agreements we
may enter into), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination
of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable
or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
10
If
our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the Trust Account
are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our Class A
common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the Trust Account for general corporate purposes, including for
maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred
in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
As
in the case of the Conduit Business Combination, we may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities
in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the
proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the Trust Account. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger
than we could acquire with the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the placement units, and may as a result be
required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities
laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. In the
case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the Trust Account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents
disclosing the initial business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by applicable law or stock
exchange requirements, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds
privately, or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement
or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Selection
of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq
rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value
of the assets held in the Trust Account at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination.
The fair market value of our initial business combination will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards
generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation, a valuation based on trading multiples of comparable
public businesses or a valuation based on the financial metrics of M&A transactions of comparable businesses. If our board of directors
is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, or if we are considering an initial
business combination with an entity that is affiliated with A.G.P., our sponsor, directors or officers, we will obtain an opinion from
an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction
of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of
the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business
of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. We
do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to
this requirement, our management will virtually have unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target
businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar
company with nominal operations.
In
any case, we will only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities
of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business
or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be
taken into account for purposes of Nasdaq’s 80% fair market value test. There is no basis for investors to evaluate the possible
merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To
the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages
of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor
to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant
risk factors.
In
evaluating a prospective business target, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which may encompass, among other things,
meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities,
as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
11
The
time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs
associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification
and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in
our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack
of Business Diversification
For
an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely
on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with
multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate
the risks of being in a single line of business. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a
single industry. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
●
subject
us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may
have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our
initial business combination, and
●
cause
us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited
Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although
we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial
business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition,
the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future
role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination
as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial
business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following
our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial
business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge
relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We
cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The
determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business
combination.
Following
an initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business.
We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite
skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders
May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We
may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval
of the Conduit Business Combination and, if the Conduit Business Combination is not consummated, of any future proposed initial business
combination if it is required by applicable law or applicable stock exchange listing requirements, or we may decide to seek stockholder
approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business
combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
12
Type
of Transaction
Whether
Stockholder
Approval
is Required
Purchase
of assets
No
Purchase
of stock of target not involving a merger with the company
No
Merger
of target into a subsidiary of the company
No
Merger
of the company with a target
Yes
Under
Nasdaq’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
●
we
issue shares of Class A common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of our Class A common stock
then outstanding (other than in a public offering);
●
any
of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons
collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise
and the present or potential issuance of common stock could result in an increase in outstanding common stock or voting power of
5% or more; or
●
the
issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control.
Permitted
Purchases of our Securities
If
we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business
combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates
may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following
the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers
or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they have
no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such
transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material
nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not
currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange
Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at
the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases
will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting
requirements. None of the funds held in the Trust Account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants in such transactions prior
to completion of our initial business combination.
The
purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase
the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement
with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination,
where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce
the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection
with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination
that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class
A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult
to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our
sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers,
directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt
of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination.
To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact
only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the Trust Account
or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial
business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates will only purchase public shares if such purchases comply
with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
13
Any
purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange
Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability
for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be
complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates
will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. We expect that
any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchases are subject
to such reporting requirements.
Redemption
Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We
will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the
completion of our initial business combination, including the Conduit Business Combination, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal
to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business
combination including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided
by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the Trust Account is anticipated
to be approximately $11.05 per public share, assuming our sponsor makes the Maximum Contribution, less any tax obligations. Except as
otherwise set forth herein, all references to the approximately $11.05 per share redemption amount assume that our sponsor will have
made the Maximum Contribution and do not include any interest generated on the amounts in the trust account. Our sponsor, officers and
directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect
to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Manner
of Conducting Redemptions
We
will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares of Class A common stock upon
the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial
business combination, as in the case of the Conduit Business Combination, or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether
we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in
our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction
would require us to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions
and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and
any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our certificate of incorporation would
require stockholder approval. If we structure an initial business combination with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder
approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed initial business combination.
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required
by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long
as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the Nasdaq we will be required to comply with such rules.
If
stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder
approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our certificate of incorporation:
●
conduct
the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation
of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and
●
file
proxy materials with the SEC.
14
In
the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection
therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If
we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common
stock present and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve the initial business combination when a quorum is present are voted in favor
of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of
outstanding capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count toward this quorum and pursuant to the letter agreement,
our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares acquired during or after
our initial public offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.
For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the
approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. In order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming
only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted), we would need 716,864, or approximately 33% of the 2,187,728 Class
A common Stock public shares, to be voted in favor of an initial business combination, in addition to our initial stockholders’
founder shares. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any
such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorums and voting thresholds,
and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
If
a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant
to our certificate of incorporation:
●
conduct
the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
●
file
tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial
and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the
Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon
the public announcement of our initial business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with
Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender
offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In
the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days,
in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until
the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules,
we will not redeem any public shares unless (i) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon
consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions or (ii) we are otherwise
exempt from the provisions of Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act . If public stockholders tender more shares than we have
offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that we may not redeem our public shares unless (i) we are exempt from the provisions of Rule 419
promulgated under the Securities Act other than through our net tangible assets or (ii) our net tangible assets are at least $5,000,001
either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and
commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash
requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed initial business
combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for
working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the
terms of the proposed initial business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all
shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant
to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the
initial business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to
the holders thereof.
15
Limitation
on Redemption upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination if we Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with
our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our certificate of incorporation provides 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 Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate
of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” Such restriction shall
also be applicable to our affiliates. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares,
and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed initial business
combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price
or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in our initial
public offering without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt
to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with
a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be
restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business
combination.
Tendering
Stock Certificates in Connection with Redemption Rights
We
may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares
in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent up to two business days prior to the vote on
the proposal to approve the initial business combination, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository
Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The proxy materials that we will furnish
to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders
to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business
combination to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period,
it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There
is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through
the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not
to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking
to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless
of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
The
foregoing is different from the procedures used by many special purpose acquisition companies. In order to perfect redemption rights
in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’
vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box
on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the initial business combination
was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership.
As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the initial business combination during
which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he
or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation.
As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become
“option” rights surviving past the completion of the initial business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its
certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election
to redeem is irrevocable once the initial business combination is approved.
16
Any
request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date of the stockholder meeting. Furthermore, if a holder
of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the
applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically
or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares
will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If
our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their
redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the Trust Account. In such case,
we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If
our initial proposed initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination
with a different target at the election of the Company until February 7, 2024.
Redemption
of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Initial Business Combination
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that we will have up to February 7, 2024 if we extend the period of time to consummate a business
combination, at our election by separate one month extensions, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the deposit of
up to $77,000 for each one month extension, into the Trust Account, to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to
complete our initial business combination within such period, 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), 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), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate,
subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our 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 our warrants, which
will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such period.
Our
sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating
distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination
within 12 months from the consummation of our initial public offering (or up to February 7,
2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction of certain conditions) . However,
if our sponsor, officers or directors acquire public shares after our initial public offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions
from the Trust Account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within
12 months from the consummation of our initial public offering (or up to February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject
to satisfaction of certain conditions).
Our
sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our
certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial
business combination or certain amendments to our charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete
our initial business combination within 12 months from the consummation of our initial public offering
(or up to February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction of certain conditions) or (ii) with respect
to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public
stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment 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 divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. If this optional
redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of public shares such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset
requirement (described above), we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of our public shares at such time.
17
We
expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be
funded from amounts remaining out of the funds held outside the Trust Account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient
funds for such purpose. As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $346,000 in cash remaining. We will depend on sufficient interest
being earned on the proceeds held in the Trust Account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. However, if those funds are not sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued
in the Trust Account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of
such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If
we were to expend all of the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the placement units, other than the proceeds
deposited in the Trust Account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the Trust Account, the per-share redemption
amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $11.05, assuming our sponsor makes the Maximum Contribution
and net of any taxes paid or payable. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could, however, become subject to the claims of our
creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share
redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than approximately $11.05. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL,
our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full,
as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining
assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay
or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although
we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute
agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit
of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that
they would be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of
fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order
to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third party refuses
to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives
available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such
third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where
we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise
or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver
or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. Marcum LLP, our independent registered
public accounting firm, and the underwriters of the offering, will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held
in the Trust Account.
In
addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising
out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. Our sponsor
has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us,
or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or
business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per public share and
(ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than
$10.20 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply
to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust
Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial
public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to
reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy
its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure
you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third
parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
18
In
the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public
share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets,
in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy
its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors
would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect
that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to
us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the
cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent
directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations
and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims
of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.20 per public share.
We
will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring
to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements
with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account. Our sponsor will also not
be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $1,500,000 from loans from our sponsor with which to
pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no
more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities
is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our Trust Account could be liable for claims made by creditors.
Under
the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by
them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public
shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the
consummation of our initial public offering (or up to February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction
of certain conditions) , may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If
the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision
for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation,
a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating
distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser
of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder
would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore,
if the pro rata portion of our Trust Account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event
we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the consummation of our
initial public offering (or up to February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction of certain conditions),
is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially
due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant
to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption
distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we are unable to complete our initial business
combination within 12 months from the consummation of our initial public offering (or up to
February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction of certain conditions), 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), 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), subject to applicable
law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and
our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our obligations under Delaware
law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public
shares as soon as reasonably possible up to the 24th month from the closing of our initial public offering at the election of the Company
subject to satisfaction of certain conditions or as extended by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with our certificate of
incorporation) and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable
for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond
the third anniversary of such date.
19
Because
we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such
time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within
the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be
limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as
lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our
underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which
we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust
Account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any
claim that would result in any liability extending to the Trust Account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent
necessary to ensure that the amounts in the Trust Account are not reduced below (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount
per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in value of the
trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity
of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the
event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent
of any liability for such third-party claims.
If
we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the
Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of
third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the Trust Account, we cannot
assure you we will be able to return $10.20 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an
involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed
under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.”
As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors
may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and
our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our
public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of
our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to
amend any provisions of our certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption
in connection with our initial business combination or certain amendments to our charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public
shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the consummation
of our initial public offering (or up to February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction of certain conditions)
or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii)
the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our business combination within 12 months from the consummation
of our initial public offering (or up to February 7, 2024 at the election of the Company subject to satisfaction of certain conditions)
, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the Trust Account.
In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection
with the initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro
rata share of the Trust Account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. These provisions
of our certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
20
Competition
In
identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter intense competition from
other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged
buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic business combinations. Many of these entities are well established and have
extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors
possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited
by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the initial business combination
of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption
rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution
they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive
disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Employees
We
currently have three officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend
to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary, in the exercise of their respective business judgement, to our affairs until
we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether
a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the initial business combination process we
are in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. We do not have
an employment agreement with any member of our management team.
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.