Kodiak AI, Inc. 10-K

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations References to the “Company”, “our”, “us” or “we” refer to Ares Acquisition Corporation II. Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and certainties. 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 Annual Report. Overview We are a blank check company formed on March 15, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this Annual Report as our initial business combination. We intend to effectuate our business combination using cash from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt. We have not selected any business combination target. The issuance of additional ordinary shares in connection with a business combination: • may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the Initial Public Offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B ordinary shares resulted in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares; • may subordinate the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares if preference shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A ordinary shares; • could cause a change in control if a substantial number of our Class A ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; • may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; • may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants; and • may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants. Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt, it could result in: • default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; • acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; • our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; 63 Table of Contents • our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding; • our inability to pay dividends on our Class A ordinary shares; • using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our Class A ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; • limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; • increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation or prevailing interest rates; • limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt; and • other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, as of December 31, 2023, we had $1,905,123 in our operating bank account. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of initial business combinations. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete our initial business combination will be successful. Our registration statement for our Initial Public Offering was declared effective on April 20, 2023. On April 25, 2023, we consummated our Initial Public Offering of 50,000,000 Units, including 5,000,000 Over-Allotment Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $500,000,000, and incurring offering costs of $28,550,129, of which $17,500,000 was for deferred underwriting commissions. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the Private Placement of 14,300,000 Private Placement Warrants, including 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants to cover over-allotments, for an aggregate purchase price of $14,300,000, to the Sponsor. Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Private Placement and the Overfunding Loans, $505,000,000 ($10.10 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement and the Overfunding Loans were placed in the Trust Account located in the United States and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below. We have until April 25, 2025 to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will 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 (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest income to pay liquidation 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), subject to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and to the other requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which may expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. Results of Operations All activity for the period from March 15, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2023 related to our formation and the preparation for the Initial Public Offering, and since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective initial business combination. We will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on investments. We expect to incur increased 64 Table of Contents 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, 2023, we had net income of $16,915,460, which consisted of investment income earned on investments held in Trust Account of $18,038,352, offset by general and administrative costs of $1,122,892. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net loss of $3,542, consisting of formation costs. Going Concern Considerations, Liquidity and Capital Resources As of December 31, 2023, we had $1,905,123 in our operating bank account and working capital of $2,135,940. Our liquidity needs to date have been satisfied through a contribution of $25,000 from our Sponsor to cover certain expenses in exchange for the issuance of the Class B ordinary shares, a loan of $366,781 from our Sponsor pursuant to the Promissory Note (see Note 4) and the proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. On April 25, 2023, the total balance of $366,781 of the Promissory Note was fully repaid to the Sponsor. In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management believes that we will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity from our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor to meet our needs through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from this filing. We have access to funds from the Sponsor that are sufficient to fund our working capital needs until a potential business combination or up to the mandatory liquidation as stipulated in our certificate of incorporation. In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor may provide us with Working Capital Loans. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loans. However, management has determined that if we are unsuccessful in consummating an initial Business Combination, the mandatory liquidation of the Trust Account raises substantial doubt about the ability to continue as a going concern. Trends Affecting Our Business We continue to evaluate the impact of increases in inflation and rising interest rates, financial market instability, including the recent bank failures and certain geopolitical events, including the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas. Management has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the risks and uncertainties related to or resulting from these events could have a negative effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or ability to complete an initial Business Combination, we cannot at this time fully predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our business and our ability to complete an initial Business Combination. Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements We do not have any long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, off-balance sheet arrangements or long-term liabilities. Administrative Service Fee On April 20, 2023, we entered into an agreement to pay our Sponsor a monthly fee of $16,667 for general and administrative services including office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services. This arrangement will terminate upon completion of our initial business combination or the distribution of the Trust Account to the public shareholders. Underwriting Agreement and Advisory Agreement The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $17,500,000. The deferred fee will be waived by the underwriters in the event that we do not complete an initial business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. On April 20, 2023, we also engaged Ares Management Capital Markets LLC, an affiliate of the Company’s Sponsor, to provide consulting and advisory services to the Company in connection with the Initial Public Offering, for which it will receive a deferred advisory fee of $3,500,000, payable solely in the event that we complete the initial Business Combination. The fees payable to Ares Management Capital Markets LLC will be reimbursed from a portion of the fees to the underwriters. 65 Table of Contents Contingent Fees We have entered into fee arrangement with a service provider pursuant to which certain transaction fees and service fees will become payable only if we consummate a Business Combination. If the Business Combination does not occur, we will not be required to pay these contingent fees. As of December 31, 2023, the amount of these contingent fees with the service provider was $734,573. Critical Accounting Estimates Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our 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. The Company has identified the following as its critical accounting estimates: Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption We account for our Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A 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 our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. Our Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2023, 50,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity (deficit) section of our balance sheets. As of December 31, 2022, there were no Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption. We recognize changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. This method would view the end of the reporting period as if it were also the redemption date for the security. Net Income (Loss) Per Ordinary Share We comply with the accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. We have two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income (loss) per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Accretion associated with the redeemable shares of Class A ordinary shares is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. The calculation of diluted income (loss) per share does not consider the effect of the public warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, because the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Our management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncement if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements. JOBS Act The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards 66 Table of Contents on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (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 Initial Public Offering 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 16 of this Annual Report and is included in this Annual Report by reference. Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure None.