Item 1. Business
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the
“Form 10-K”), references to the “Company” and to “we,” “us,” and “our”
refer to Nubia Brand International Corp.
Overview
Nubia Brand International Corp. is a newly organized
blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination throughout this prospectus.
While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry or geographic location, we intend to focus our
search on wireless telecommunications companies.
On March 15, 2022, Nubia consummated its initial
public offering of 12,350,000 units (the “Units”), including 1,350,000 units under the underwriters’ over-allotment
option, with each unit consisting of one share of Nubia’s Class A common stock and one-half of one warrant, each whole warrant
to purchase one share of Nubia’s Class A common stock. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating
gross proceeds of $123,500,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of the initial public offering, Nubia consummated the private placement
of 5,405,000 warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant (the “Private Warrants”), generating total proceeds of $5,405,000. The
private warrants are identical to the public warrants underlying the Units being sold in the initial public offering.
Following the consummation of the initial public
offering, a total of $125,970,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the Units in the initial public offering and the Private Warrants
was deposited into a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. None of the funds
held in trust will be released from the trust account, other than interest income to pay any tax obligations, until the earlier of the
completion of an initial business combination within the required time period or our entry into liquidation if we have not completed a
business combination in the required time period. On May 2, 2022, our Class A common stock and warrants underlying the Units sold in our
IPO began to trade separately on a voluntary basis.
If the Company is unsuccessful in consummating
an initial business combination within 12 months, or March 15, 2023, (or up to 18 months, September 15, 2023, if the Company extends the
period of time to consummate a business combination) from the closing of the IPO the Company is required to cease all operations, redeem
the public shares and thereafter liquidate and dissolve.
Business Combination Agreement
On February 16, 2023, Nubia entered into a
Merger Agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (the
“Company” or “Honeycomb”), Nubia, and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Merger Sub”)
and wholly-owned subsidiary of Nubia, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”)
with the Company as the surviving corporation of the Merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nubia. In connection with the
Merger, Nubia will change its name to “ Honeycomb Battery Company ” or such
other name designated by the Company by notice to Nubia, which is referred to herein as the “Combined Company.” The
board of directors of Nubia has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated thereby (collectively, the “Transactions”) and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the
Merger Agreement and related matters by the stockholders of Nubia.
The Merger Agreement provides for Nubia to issue
to the Honeycomb shareholders aggregate consideration of 70,000,000 shares of the Combined Company’s common stock (the “Closing
Merger Consideration Shares”) at the effective time of the Merger Agreement (the “Effective Time”), plus up to an additional
22,500,000 shares of the Combined Company’s common stock (the “Earnout Shares”) upon the occurrence of the following
events (or earlier upon a change of control of Nubia but subject to (and only to the extent that) the valuation of Nubia common stock
implied by such change of control transaction meeting the respective VWAP (as defined below) thresholds set forth below):
(i) 5,000,000 Earnout Shares if, over any ten (10) trading days
within any thirty (30) trading day period from and after the date that is thirty (30) days following the closing date of the Transactions
(the “Closing Date”) until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the VWAP of the shares of Nubia’s Class A common
stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement);
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(ii) 7,500,000 Earnout Shares if, over any ten (10) trading days
within any thirty (30) trading day period from and after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date until
the date that is forty-two (42) months following the Closing Date, the VWAP of the shares of Nubia’s Class A common stock is greater
than or equal to $15.00 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement); and
(iii) 10,000,000 Earnout Shares if over any ten (10) trading days
within any thirty (30) trading day period from and after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date until
the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, the VWAP of the shares of Nubia’s Class A common stock is greater than or equal to
$25.00 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement).
For purposes of the foregoing, “VWAP”
means, for any security as of any date(s), the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the principal securities exchange
or securities market on which such security is then traded during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00
p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “HP” function (set to weighted average) or, if the foregoing does
not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for
such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg,
or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing
bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. If the
VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date(s) on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date(s) shall
be the fair market value per share on such date(s) as reasonably determined by Nubia.
In accordance with the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Merger Agreement, each share of Honeycomb’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will
be converted into the right to receive its allocable portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and the Earnout Shares, if any.
The Business Combination will require the
approval of the shareholders of Nubia and Honeycomb and is subject to other customary closing conditions, including a proxy statement
being filed with and cleared by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Transactions is expected to close in the second quarter
of 2023.
Initial Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not
engage in, any substantive commercial business until we complete a business combination. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds
of the IPO and the private placement of Private Warrants, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these in effecting our initial business
combination.
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
(excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on 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. Even though our board of directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our
board of directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves
a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the board of directors in evaluating
the fair market value of the target or targets. Any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with
any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of our satisfaction of the 80% of fair market value test,
as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of
our initial business combination, 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.
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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.
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.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after consummation
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.
By consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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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
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result in our dependency upon the performance of a single operating business or the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
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Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’
Management Team
Although we scrutinized the management team of
our target business, our assessment of the target business’ management team may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future
management team may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role
of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following our initial business combination remains to be determined. While
it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following our
initial business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full time efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business
combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of our initial business combination if
they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take
place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of
cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination.
While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business,
their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor
in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors
may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Following our initial business combination, we
may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We may not have the ability to
recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience
necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target
business for our initial business combination, we have encountered and will continue to 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 acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have significant experience identifying
and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical,
human and other resources than us. 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 acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, the requirement that
we acquire a target business or businesses having a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding
any taxes payable) at the time of the agreement to enter into the business combination, and our obligation to pay cash in connection with
our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of these factors
may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.
Facilities
Our executive offices are located at 13355 Noel
Rd., Suite 1100, Dallas, Texas, and our telephone number is (972) 918-5120.
Employees
We have two 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.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We have registered our units, Class A common stock
and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current
reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited
and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
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We will provide stockholders with audited financial
statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders
to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance
with, or reconciled to, GAAP, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited
in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential targets we may conduct
an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements
in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure
you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements
prepared in accordance with GAAP or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance
with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed
target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will
be material.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control
procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a
large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to have our
internal control procedures audited. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding
adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination. Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will
file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As
a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a
Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business
combination.
We are an “emerging growth company,”
as defined in Section 2(a) of 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 auditor 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 this offering, (b) in which
we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means
the market value of our shares of common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2)
the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein
to “emerging growth company” will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting
company” as defined in Item 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 equals or exceeds
$250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during
such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s
second fiscal quarter.
Potential Conflicts
Members of our management team who directly or
indirectly own our securities 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.
Our officers and directors have agreed to present
to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account, subject
to any fiduciary or contractual obligations they may have. As more fully discussed in “ Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate
Governance — Conflicts of Interest, ” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination
opportunity that might be attractive to any entity to which he has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he may be required to present
such initial business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such initial business combination opportunity to us.
For more information on the relevant pre-existing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our management team, see the section
titled “ Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance — Conflicts of Interest .”
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or
governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required
to make disclosures under this Item.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We do not own any real estate or other physical
properties materially important to our operations. We maintain our principal executive offices at 13355 Noel Rd., Suite 1100, Dallas,
Texas. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate
for our current operations.
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.