Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto which are included in “Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Report.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on September 24, 2020 for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “business combination”). Our sponsors are Crown PropTech Sponsor, LLC (“Crown PropTech Sponsor”, a Delaware limited liability company and CIIG Management III LLC (“CIIG”), a Delaware limited liability company, (each, a “sponsor” and together, the “sponsors”) .
The registration statement for our initial public offering (the “IPO”) became effective on February 8, 2021. On February 11, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 27,600,000 units, which included the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 3,600,000 units at the IPO price to cover over-allotments (the “Units” with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares” with respect to the one-third of one redeemable warrant included in such Units the “Public Warrant”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $276.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $15.8 million, inclusive of approximately $9.66 million in deferred underwriting commissions.
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Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) of 5,013,333 warrants (each, a “Private Placement Warrant” and collectively, the “Private Placement Warrants”), at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant with Crown PropTech Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of approximately $7.5 million.
Upon the closing of the IPO and the Private Placement, approximately $276.0 million ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the IPO and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a Trust Account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and invested only in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by us, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a business combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.
On February 9, 2023, our shareholders approved an amendment to amend and restate our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial Business Combination from February 11, 2023 to February 11, 2024.
If we have not completed a business combination within 36 months from the closing of the IPO, or February 11, 2024 (the “Combination 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 income taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands 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 outstanding warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to consummate a business combination within the Combination Period, including any extension thereto that may be approved by our shareholders.
On August 12, 2022, Dr. Pius Sprenger informed the Board of his decision to resign as Chief Financial Officer and member of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), effective immediately. Richard Chera, the Company’s then Chief Executive Officer assumed the duties as the principal financial officer.
In addition, on August 12, 2022, Dr. Martin Enderle informed the Board of his decision to resign as a member of the Board and chair of the audit committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), effective immediately. Concurrently with Dr. Enderle’s resignation, Frits van Paasschen, a member of the Board and of the Audit Committee, assumed the role of chair of the Audit Committee.
On January 17, 2023, Richard Chera informed the Company of his decision to resign as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and principal financial and accounting officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Chera’s resignation was voluntary and not the result of any disagreement with the operations, policies or practices of the Company. Mr. Chera shall continue to serve as a director of the Company.
On January 17, 2023, the board of directors of the Company appointed Mr. Gavin Cuneo and Mr. Michael Minnick as co-CEOs of the Company, effective immediately.
Additionally, in connection with this appointment, each of Mr. Cuneo and Mr. Minnick entered into an Indemnity Agreement and a Letter Agreement with the Company on the same terms as the Indemnity
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Agreements and Letter Agreements entered into by the directors and officers of the Company at the time of the Company’s IPO. In addition, CIIG (as defined below), entered into the Letter Agreement. CIIG also entered into that certain joinder agreement to the Registration Rights Agreement as described in further detail below.
On January 17, 2023, CIIG entered into a Securities Assignment Agreement (the “Assignment Agreement”), by and among Crown PropTech Sponsor, CIIG and Richard Chera, whereby Crown PropTech Sponsor sold, transferred and assigned 5,662,000 Class B ordinary shares of the Company and 250,667 private placement warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares of the Company to CIIG. In connection with entry into the Assignment Agreement, CIIG (i) entered into a Letter Agreement with the Company (the “Letter Agreement”) and (ii) entered into a joinder agreement to the Registration Rights Agreement entered into by Crown PropTech Sponsor in connection with the Company’s IPO.
Termination of the Proposed Brivo Transaction
On November 10, 2021, we entered into a business combination agreement (the “BCA” or the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among (i) the Company, (ii) Crown PropTech Merger Sub I Corp, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned direct subsidiary of Crown (“Merger Sub I”), (iii) Crown PropTech Merger Sub II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Crown (“Merger Sub II”, and together with Merger Sub I the “Merger Subs”) and (iv) Brivo, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Brivo” and all the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, the “Parties to the Business Combination Agreement”) (the “Business Combination”). The obligation of Brivo to consummate the Business Combination was subject to certain closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the aggregate cash proceeds from Crown’s trust account, together with the proceeds from the sale of the PIPE Notes (as defined below).
In connection with the signing of the Business Combination Agreement, we entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”). Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreements, each PIPE Investor had the right to terminate its Subscription Agreement after July 9, 2022, if the closing of the Business Combination had not occurred as of such date or at any date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is validly terminated.
Golub Capital LLC and its affiliates (such entity, together with its affiliates, “Golub”), a PIPE Investor, subscribed for PIPE Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $68 million. On July 11, 2022, we received a notice of election from Golub, notifying us that Golub has elected to terminate Golub’s Subscription Agreement because the Business Combination was not consummated by July 9, 2022.
On August 10, 2022 we received a notice of election from Brivo, notifying us that Brivo has elected to terminate the Business Combination. As a result of such election, the Business Combination was immediately terminated. In addition, the rest of the Subscription Agreements were automatically terminated.
Following a confidential settlement arrangement (the “Settlement Arrangement”), we are no longer pursuing any remedies in connection with the termination of the Brivo Business Combination.
On January 13, 2023, the Company formally withdrew its Form S-4 Registration Statement from the SEC associated with the BCA.
Settlement of Payables
In December 2022 and January 2023, the Company settled $7,008,070 due to vendors. In addition, in December 2022, the underwriters agreed to waive their right to receive the deferred underwriting discount of $0.35 per Unit, or $9,660,000 in the aggregate, that was to be payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes an initial business combination.
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Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering and identifying a target company for our initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents held in the trust account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had a net income of $14,797,454. We incurred $4,242,071 of operating costs consisting mostly of legal fees. We negotiated settlements of payables for $6,472,941, had income on our trust account for $3,985,204, a change in fair value of warrant liability of $8,101,600 and a recovery of offering costs allocated to warrants of $479,780.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had a net income of $6,689,555. We incurred $5,580,262 of formation and operating costs consisting mostly of general and administrative expenses, generated income on our trust account for $13,345, expensed a portion of the offering costs associated with the Initial Public Offering in the amount of $819,794 based on a relative fair value basis and had a change in fair value of warrant liability of $13,076,266.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
On February 11, 2021, we consummated our IPO of 27,600,000 Units, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, which included the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 3,600,000 Units at the IPO price to cover over-allotments. The Units were sold, generating gross proceeds of $276,000,000. Substantially concurrently with the closing of the IPO, we completed the private sale of 5,013,333 Private Placement Warrants to Crown PropTech Sponsor and the Anchor Investor at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $7,520,000.
Following the IPO, the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, and the underwriters’ election to fully exercise their over-allotment option, a total of $276,000,000 was placed in the Trust Account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, and we had $1,919,091 of cash held outside of the Trust Account, after payment of costs related to the IPO, and available for working capital purposes. We incurred $16,505,915 in transaction costs, including $5,520,000 of underwriting fees, $9,660,000 of deferred underwriting fees, $795,825 of excess fair value of the Anchor Investor shares and $530,090 of other offering costs. In December 2022, the underwriters agreed to waive their right to receive any additional deferred underwriting discount.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $498,316, resulting primarily from the net income of $14,797,454 which was impacted by unrealized gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $8,101,600, trust dividend income of $3,985,204, settlement of payable for $6,472,941 and a recovery of offering costs allocated to warrants for $479,780 offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3,743,755 of cash from operating activities. Cash provided from financing activities include borrowings under the Convertible Note of $216,000 and capital contributions from Crown PropTech Sponsor of $347,721.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in operating activities was $2,104,209, resulting primarily from the net income of $6,689,555 which was impacted by unrealized gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $13,076,266 and trust dividend income of $13,345 and offset by offering costs allocated to warrants of $819,794, and changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $3,476,053 of cash from operating activities.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had cash outside the trust account of $80,212 and $14,807 available for working capital needs and working capital deficits of $1,512,654 and $4,091,246, respectively. All remaining
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cash held in the trust account is generally unavailable for our use, prior to an initial business combination, and is restricted for use either in a business combination or to redeem ordinary shares. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, none of the amount in the trust account was available to be withdrawn as described above.
Through December 31, 2022, our liquidity needs were satisfied through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the Founder Shares, the remaining net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering, the sale of Private Placement Warrants, the Promissory Note and the Convertible Note (as defined below) and a capital contribution from Crown PropTech Sponsor of $347,721 in 2022.
On November 30, 2021, we entered into a convertible note with Richard Chera, our former Chief Executive Officer and Director, pursuant to which Mr. Chera agreed to loan us up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 (the “Convertible Note”). The Convertible Note is non-interest bearing and due on the earlier of: (i) 12 months from the date thereof or (ii) the date on which we consummate a business combination. If we do not consummate a business combination, we may use a portion of any funds held outside the trust account to repay the Convertible Note; however, no proceeds from the trust account may be used for such repayment if we do not consummate a business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of the Convertible Note may be converted into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of Mr. Chera. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance under the Convertible Note amounted to an aggregate of $666,000.
We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our financing and acquisition plans. We lack the financial resources we need to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year for the issuance date of the financial statements. Although no formal agreement exists, our sponsors are committed to extend loans as needed. Accordingly, we may not be able to obtain additional financing. If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but are not limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential merger target, and reducing overhead expenses. We cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, or that our plans to consummate an initial business combination will be successful.
In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” we have determined that the mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution, should we be unable to complete a business combination, raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We have until February 2024 (as extended), or the end of any extension to the Combination Period, to consummate a business combination. If a business combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution.
Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the Founder
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Shares) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed prior to the effective date of the IPO requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggyback” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a business combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. On November 10, 2021 (but effective as of the closing of the Brivo Business Combination), and as part of the Brivo Business Combination, New Brivo, Crown PropTech Sponsor, Anchor Investor and certain other shareholders and directors and officers of Crown and Brivo entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement. As part of the termination of the Business Combination, the Restated Registration Rights Agreement was automatically terminated.
Underwriting Agreement
On February 11, 2021, we paid a fixed underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $5,520,000 in the aggregate. Additionally, a deferred underwriting discount of $0.35 per Unit, or $9,660,000 in the aggregate, was payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that we complete an initial business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. In December 2022, the underwriters agreed to waive their right to receive any additional deferred underwriting discount.
Advisory Service Agreements
We may enlist various entities as capital market advisors to assist in the identification and consummation of an initial business combination. Fees for such services will be payable only upon consummation of an initial business combination by us.
During the fourth quarter of 2022 these contracts with the advisors have been terminated and no amounts were paid or due under the contracts.
Administrative Support Agreement
We previously entered into an administrative agreement to pay Crown PropTech Sponsoror an affiliate thereof a total of up to $15,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of our management team (the “Administrative Support Payments”). Pursuant to a subsequent letter agreement, Crown PropTech Sponsor is no longer entitled to receive any Administrative Support Payments and we are no longer required to pay any such payments. As of December 31, 2022, we have not made any payments pursuant to the administrative agreement and do not expect to incur any related expenses in the near future.
Attorney Fees
We incurred legal fees in connection with the proposed Brivo Business Combination, none of which were payable until consummation of the proposed Brivo Business Combination. As of December 31, 2022, we fully paid a settled amount in legal fees associated with the Brivo Business Combination.
Convertible Note
On November 30, 2021, we entered into a convertible note with Richard Chera, our former Chief Executive Officer and Director, pursuant to which Mr. Chera agreed to loan us up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000. See “ Liquidity and Capital Resources .”
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Contractual Obligation
We do not have any long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or long-term liabilities other than described above.
Critical Accounting Policies
This management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to fair value of financial instruments and accrued expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, 27,600,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheets.
Net Loss per Ordinary Shares
We have two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. The 14,213,333 potential ordinary shares for outstanding warrants to purchase our shares were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 because the warrants are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met. As a result, diluted net income per ordinary share is the same as basic net income per ordinary share for the periods presented.
Anchor Investors
The Company complies with SAB Topic 5.A to account for the valuation of the Founder Shares acquired by the Anchor Investors. The Founder Shares purchased by the Anchor Investors represent a capital contribution for the benefit of the Company and are recorded as offering costs and reflected as a reduction in the proceeds from the offering and offering expenses in accordance with ASC 470 and Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A. As such, upon sale of 690,000 Founder Shares to the Anchor Investors the valuation of these shares was recognized as a deferred offering cost and charged to temporary equity and other expenses. At February 11, 2021, the fair value of the Founder Shares to the Anchor Investors in excess of the amount paid was $795,825.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the financial statements required by Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2022, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
JOBS Act
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, the consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this Item.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
This information appears following Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
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