Liquidity and Capital Resources
Until the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, our only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of founder shares and the unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor entered on January 28, 2021, pursuant to which the Company was able to borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000.
On January 18, 2022, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 23,000,000 Units, which includes the full exercise by the underwriters of its over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 13,550,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement in a private placement to the Sponsor and the Sponsor Co-Investor, generating gross proceeds of $13,550,000.
Following the Initial Public Offering, the full exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, a total of $235,750,000 was placed in the Trust Account. We incurred $23,807,600 in Initial Public Offering related costs, including $4,600,000 of underwriting fees and $754,790 of other offering costs.
In connection with the July 14, 2023 special meeting, shareholders holding an aggregate of 15,105,199 of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem their shares prior to the redemption deadline on July 12, 2023. Following the withdrawals from the trust account in connection with such redemptions, approximately $84.2 million remained in the trust account (based on the redemption amount of $10.66 per share).
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $157,413 in its operating bank account, $85,132,545 in marketable securities held in the Trust Account, which includes $4,210,835 of interest income, which is a result of $10,423,899 of interest income reduced by $6,213,064 of interest paid to redeeming shareholders and a working capital deficit of $510,271. We may withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay taxes, if any. We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less income taxes payable), to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our share capital or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $2,747,659. Net income of $705,617 was affected by interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $7,024,163 and changes in related party convertible promissory notes of $38,199. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $3,532,688 of cash for operating activities.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $161,054,354 as a result of the redemption of ordinary shares.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in financing activities was $158,752,402 as a result of the drawdowns on the related party convertible promissory notes partially offset by the payment of offering costs of $85,000 and redemption of ordinary shares of $161,041,354, offset by proceeds from convertible note – related party of $2,373,952.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $1,740,944. Net income of $360,273 was affected by interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $1,405,427. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $695,790 of cash for operating activities.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $235,750,000 as a result of the investment into trust from the funds associated with the initial public offering.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $238,298,521 which consisted of $225,400,000 from the proceeds from sale of units, $6,221 from the issuance of Class B ordinary shares, $13,550,000 from the sale of private placement warrants, and $75 as a result of draws on the promissory note partially offset by the payment of offering costs of $417,146 and payment of promissory note of $240,629.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account, which interest shall be net of taxes payable and excluding deferred underwriting commissions, to complete our Business Combination. We may withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay taxes, if any. To the extent that our share capital or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete a Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.
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