PROPOSAL NO. 1 — THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Background
We are a blank check company, incorporated on September 9, 2020 as a Delaware corporation, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving one or more businesses.
On March 12, 2021, the Company consummated its IPO of 20,000,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-fifth of one redeemable warrant to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company completed the private sale of 4,000,000 private placement warrants at a purchase price of $1.50 per private placement warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of $6,000,000. On March 18, 2021, the underwriters in the IPO purchased an additional 1,163,433 units pursuant to the partial exercise of their over-allotment option, and the Sponsor simultaneously purchased an additional 155,124 private placement warrants. Following the closing of the IPO and the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, a total of $211,634,330 ($10.00 per unit) of the net proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants was placed in the Trust Account, with Continental acting as trustee.
The First Amendment
We are proposing to amend the Charter pursuant to paragraphs four, six and nine of the amendment to the Charter in the form set forth in Annex A of this proxy statement to amend the date by which the Company must either (i) consummate an initial Business Combination or (ii) cease its operations, except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial Business Combination, and redeem all of the shares of Class A Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Company’s IPO, from the Original Termination Date to the Amended Termination Date.
Reasons for the First Amendment Proposal
Since our IPO, our management team evaluated more than 55 target businesses and employed a broad set of search criteria for potential target businesses. In evaluating potential target businesses, our management team remained focused on finding fair valuations amid volatile market conditions. Amid high valuations in 2021 and a declining IPO market in 2022, we have been unable to secure an opportunity that offered a compelling return on investment for our stockholders.
We have considered the current adverse market conditions, including (i) a limited pool of public company ready business combination partners and their diminished interest in pursuing a public listing via a SPAC, (ii) the overall decline in the SPAC market, (iii) high redemption rates of SPACs, (iv) increased regulatory uncertainty around SPACs, and (v) the evaporation of the PIPE market. We also considered the financial benefits to Public Stockholders of dissolving and liquidating prior to the Original Termination Date.
After considering the foregoing circumstances, we have determined that it in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for the Company to accelerate the date of its dissolution and liquidation to no later than December 30, 2022.
If the First Amendment Proposal Is Approved
If the First Amendment Proposal is approved, we plan to promptly file the First Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to paragraphs four, six and nine of the Certificate of Amendment in the form set forth in Annex A of this proxy statement. However, we may decide to abandon the First Amendment at any time and for any reason prior to the effectiveness of the filing of the Certificate of Amendment setting forth the First Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If we abandon the First Amendment, Public Stockholders will not have their Public Shares redeemed in the Optional Redemption.
If the First Amendment Proposal is approved, the First Amendment is effected and we do not consummate an initial Business Combination by the Amended Termination Date, our Charter provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible