Item 1. | Security and Issuer |
The class of equity security to which this statement on Schedule 13D relates is the Class A common stock, $0.001 par value (“Class A Common Stock”) of System1, Inc. (formerly known as Trebia Acquisition Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer” or “System1”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 4235 Redwood Avenue, Marina Del Rey, CA 90066. Information given in response to each item shall be deemed incorporated by reference in all other items, as applicable.
Item 2. | Identity and Background |
(a) | This Schedule 13D is filed by Lone Star Friends Trust and Stanley Blend. The Reporting Persons expressly disclaim status as a “group” for purposes of this Schedule 13D. Stanley Blend is the father of Michael Blend, the Issuer’s co-founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Michael Blend and his family are the beneficiaries of Lone Star |
(b) | The principal business office of the Reporting Persons is 14122 Bluff Manor Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216. |
(c) | The principal business of Lone Star is holding, managing, investing and distributing the trust property and the proceeds therefrom. Mr. Blend is the trustee of each of Lone Star, the Dante Trust and the Nola Trust. The principal occupation of Mr. Blend is an attorney at Clark Hill PLC, 2301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78215 |
(d) | During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors). |
(e) | During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction resulting in such Reporting Person being subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. |
(f) | Lone Star was organized under the laws of the state of Texas. Mr. Blend is a United States citizen. |
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration |
The securities reported herein as being beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons were issued or otherwise acquired in connection with the completion of the business combination (the “Business Combination”) on January 27, 2022 (the “Closing Date”) as contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2021, as amended on November 30, 2021, January 10, 2022 and January 25, 2022, by and among Trebia Acquisition Corp. (“Trebia”), S1 Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“S1 Holdco”), System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Protected” and, together with S1 Holdco, the “Companies” or “Old System1”), and the other parties signatory thereto (as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”).
In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement:
(a) all of the limited liability company interests of OpenMail LLC (“OM”) held by each of Lone Star, the Dante Trust and the Nola Trust (collectively the “Blend Trusts”) were redeemed by OM in exchange for the transfer by OM to the Blend Trusts of certain Class B Units of S1 Holdco and certain units of Protected Security Holdings, LLC (“PSH”), which ultimately resulted in those holders of units of PSH receiving certain shares of common stock of Protected;
(b) S1 Holdco redeemed (i) 195,281 Class B Units of S1 Holdco held by Lone Star in return for $1,952,810 in cash, (ii) 54,318 Class B Units of S1 Holdco held by the Dante Trust in return for $543,180 in cash and (iii) 54,318 Class B Units of S1 Holdco held by the Nola Trust in return for $543,180 in cash (collectively, the “S1 Holdco Redemptions”);
(c) Lone Star contributed all of the ordinary shares of Protected.net Group Limited held by it to Protected in exchange for 74,047 shares of common stock of Protected;
(d) PSH distributed the shares in Protected held by it to its members in accordance with its constitutional documents, pursuant to which distribution: (i) Lone Star received 401,452 shares of common stock of Protected, (ii) the Dante Trust received 95,477 shares of common stock of Protected, (iii) the Nola Trust received 95,477 shares of common stock of Protected and (iv) Stanley Blend received 7,913 shares of common stock of Protected;
(e) prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, (i) Lone Star contributed 401,452 shares of common stock of Protected to Trebia in exchange for 1,877,234 shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) the Dante Trust contributed 95,477 shares of common stock of Protected to Trebia in exchange for 547,437 shares of Class A Common Stock, (iii) the Nola Trust contributed 95,477 shares of common stock of Protected to Trebia in exchange for 547,437 shares of Class A Common Stock and (iv) Stanley Blend contributed 7,913 shares of common stock of Protected to Trebia in exchange for 45,368 shares of Class A Common Stock; and
(f) upon the consummation of the merger of Protected with and into Orchid Merger Sub I, Inc. on the Closing Date of the Business Combination Agreement, (i) Lone Star received $797,467 in cash and 1,327,848 shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) the Dante Trust received $221,819 in cash and 45,078 shares of Class A Common Stock and (iii) the Nola Trust received $221,819 in cash and 45,078 shares of Class A Common Stock, in each case, in consideration for the cancellation of shares of common stock of Protected held by them.
In addition, following the S1 Holdco Redemptions, (i) Lone Star continued to hold 7,945,580 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and a corresponding number of share of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer), (ii) the Dante Trust continued to hold 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer) and (iii) the Nola Trust continued to hold 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer).
Additionally, in connection with the Business Combination, Lone Star entered into a warrant transfer agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, with BGPT Trebia, LP (the “BGPT Sponsor”), pursuant to which Lone Star acquired 500,000 Warrants covering 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $750,000 with an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Warrants by their terms become exercisable (including by cash settlement) 30 days following the Closing Date, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. The terms of the Warrants are more fully described in Item 6 incorporated by reference herein.
The funds used by Lone Star to acquire the Warrants were obtained from cash on hand of Lone Star.
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