Following the closing of our Initial Public Offering on January 18, 2023, an amount of $146,625,000 ($10.00 per unit sold in our Initial Public Offering) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Public Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units was placed in the trust account established for the benefit of the holders of Public Shares maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee (the “Trust Account”).
Effective April 30, 2023, Roy Zisapel resigned from his role as a member of and as Chairman of our audit committee (the “Audit Committee”). Pursuant to the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee must consist of at least three directors, one of which shall be the Chairman, and all of which must be “independent directors” in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. Simultaneously with Roy Zisapel’s resignation from the Audit Committee, the Board appointed Daniel Recanati as Chairman of the Audit Committee and appointed Peter Cohen as a member of the Audit Committee.
Results of Operations
As of March 31, 2023, we had not commenced any operations. All activity from inception through March 31, 2023 relates to our formation and initial public offering, and, since the completion of the initial public offering, our search for a target to consummate a business combination. We will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a business combination, at the earliest. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the initial public offering and placed in a U.S.-based trust account (the “Trust Account”). We expect to incur increased 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 three months ended March 31, 2023, we had net income of $1,143,965, which consisted of listing expenses of $5,213, administrative expenses of $30,885, legal and accounting expenses of $128,184, marketing and advertising expenses of $3,732, dues and subscriptions expense of $2,650, and insurance expenses of $55,887, offset by an unrealized gain and dividend income on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $1,359,315, dividends and interest on cash and cash equivalents of $11,201. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company had net loss of $25,969 consisting of $25,000 in legal and accounting expenses and $969 of formation and operating costs.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going concern
As of March 31 2023, we had $1,015,869 in cash and cash equivalents held outside of the Trust Account and working capital of $1,195,608.
Until the consummation of the initial public offering, our only source of liquidity was from the $25,000 of proceeds from our sponsor’s purchase of Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and a loan of $237,234 from our sponsor pursuant to a promissory note to cover certain expenses. The promissory note was repaid in full on January 18, 2023.
Following our initial public offering and the sale of Private Placement Units (the “Private Units”) to the sponsor, a total of $146,625,000 was placed in the Trust Account.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $517,798. Net income of $1,143,965 was adjusted by unrealized gains on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $1,359,312, and $302,451 changes in operating assets and liabilities. Net cash used in investing activities was $146,625,003 related to the funding of the Trust Account, as well as dividends received from and reinvestment of marketable securities. Net cash provided by financing activities included $141,250,000 of net proceeds from the issuance of ordinary shares and $7,625,000 of proceeds from Private Placement Warrants, offset by $237,234 payment of the outstanding promissory note balance at the date of the Initial Public Offering, and $487,401 payments of deferred offering costs.
As of March 31, 2023, we had marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $147,984,315 (including approximately $1,359,315 of gains on marketable securities) consisting of securities held in a money market fund that invests in U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of 185 days or less.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $1,015,869 held outside the Trust Account. 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, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination.