Exhibit 99.1
RITHM ACQUISITION CORP.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Rithm Acquisition Corp.:
Opinion on the Financial Statement
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Rithm Acquisition Corp. (the "Company") as of February 28, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statement"). In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of February 28, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
This financial statement is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.
New York, New York
March 6, 2025
RITHM ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Assets: | | | |
Current asset | | | | |
Due from Sponsor | | $ | 2,000,000 | |
Total current asset | | | 2,000,000 | |
Cash held in Trust Account | | | 230,000,000 | |
Total Assets | | $ | 232,000,000 | |
| | | | |
Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit | | | | |
Current Liabilities | | | | |
Accrued offering costs | | $ | 539,108 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 30,680 | |
Promissory note – related party | | | 172,139 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 741,927 | |
Deferred underwriting fee | | | 8,050,000 | |
Total Liabilities | | | 8,791,927 | |
| | | | |
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5) | | | | |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, 23,000,000 shares at redemption value of $10.00 per share | | | 230,000,000 | |
| | | | |
Shareholders’ Deficit | | | | |
Preferred shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding | | | — | |
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 660,000 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 23,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption) | | | 66 | |
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding | | | 575 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | — | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (6,792,568 | ) |
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | | | (6,791,927 | ) |
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit | | $ | 232,000,000 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statement.
RITHM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations
Rithm Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (the “Business Combination”). The Company has not selected any specific Business Combination target and the Company has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination target with respect to an initial Business Combination with the Company. The Company is an emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.
As of February 28, 2025, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from November 21, 2024 (inception) through February 28, 2025 relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”), which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected September 30 as its fiscal year end.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 26, 2025. On February 28, 2025, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 23,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), which includes the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000, which is described in Note 3. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”).
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 660,000 private units (the “Private Placement Units”), at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, Rithm Acquisition Corp Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $6,600,000, which is described in Note 4. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant (the “Private Placement Warrants” and together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
Transaction costs amounted to $13,307,016, consisting of $4,600,000 of cash underwriting fee, $8,050,000 of deferred underwriting fee, and $657,016 of other offering costs.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a 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”).
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, on February 28, 2025, an amount of $230,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units, and a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units, was placed in the trust account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be held in cash, including in demand deposit accounts at a bank, or invested only in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.
The Company will provide the holders (the “Public Shareholders”) of Public Units, with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then held in the Trust Account (initially at $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company for Permitted Withdrawals (as defined below)). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Shareholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 5).
Upon the public announcement of the initial Business Combination, if the Company elects to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Company and the Sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase the Class A ordinary shares in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In the event the Company conducts redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and the Company will not be permitted to complete the initial Business Combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public shareholders not tendering more than the number of public shares the Company is permitted to redeem. If public shareholders tender more shares than the Company has offered to purchase, the Company will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of its Business Combination and does not conduct redemptions in connection with its Business Combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association will provide that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its Public Shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares issued in the Initial Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors (the “initial shareholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (a) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of its Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s Public Shares if the Company does not complete its Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering) (such 24- or 27-month period, the “Combination Period”) or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of Public Shareholders, unless the Company provides the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares in conjunction with any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously withdrawn or eligible to be withdrawn by the Company to pay the Company’s taxes (“Permitted Withdrawals”), divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares.
If the Company has not completed a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company for Permitted Withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s Warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period.
The initial shareholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares included in the Private Placement Units if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the initial shareholders acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares.
In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (excluding the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentially or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Sponsor has not made reserves for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and the Company believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, the Sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (excluding the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Risks and Uncertainties
The United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyber-attacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.
Any of the above mentioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect the Company’s search for an initial Business Combination and any target business with which the Company may ultimately consummate an initial Business Combination.
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statement is presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Liquidity
The Company’s liquidity needs up to February 28, 2025 had been satisfied through the loan under an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of up to $300,000 (see Note 4). As of February 28, 2025, the Company had no cash and a working capital of $1,258,073.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay such loaned amounts at that time. Up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be converted into units of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. The units would be identical to the Private Placement Units. As of February 28, 2025, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” the Company does not believe it will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating its business. However, if the estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the initial Business Combination. Management has determined that upon the receipt of the amount due from Sponsor (see Note 8), the Company will have sufficient funds to finance the working capital needs of the Company within one year from the date of issuance of the financial statement.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may 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 independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statement with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statement in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statement.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statement, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash and cash equivalents as of February 28, 2025.
Cash Held in Trust Account
As of February 28, 2025, the assets held in the Trust Account, amounting to $230,000,000, were held in cash.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. As of February 28, 2025, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A — “Expenses of Offering.” Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Initial Public Offering. Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt into its equity and debt components. The Company applies this guidance to allocate Initial Public Offering proceeds from the Units between Class A ordinary shares and Warrants, using the residual method by allocating Initial Public Offering proceeds first to assigned value of the Warrants and then to the Class A ordinary shares. Offering costs allocated to the Public Shares were charged to temporary equity, and offering costs allocated to the Public Warrants and Private Placement Units were charged to shareholders’ deficit as Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants, after management’s evaluation, were accounted for under equity treatment.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to its short-term nature.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:
· | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; |
· | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and |
· | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. As of February 28, 2025, there were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
The Company is considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the period presented.
Warrant Instruments
The Company accounted for the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Accordingly, the Company evaluated and classified the warrant instruments under equity treatment at their assigned values. Such guidance provides that the Warrants described above will not be precluded from equity classification. Equity-classified contracts are initially measured at fair value (or allocated value). Subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the contracts continue to be classified in equity in accordance with ASC 480 and ASC 815.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The public shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such public shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, or if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company classifies public shares subject to redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and will adjust the carrying value of redeemable shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable shares will result in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit. Accordingly, as of February 28, 2025, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheet. As of February 28, 2025, the Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected in the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds | | $ | 230,000,000 | |
Less: | | | | |
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants | | | (2,464,833 | ) |
Class A ordinary shares issuance costs | | | (13,146,278 | ) |
Plus: | | | | |
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value | | | 15,611,111 | |
Class A Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption, February 28, 2025 | | $ | 230,000,000 | |
Share-Based Compensation
The Company records share-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Share Compensation” (“ASC 718”), guidance to account for its share-based compensation. It defines a fair value-based method of accounting for an employee share option or similar equity instrument. The Company recognizes all forms of share-based payments at their fair value on the grant date, which are based on the estimated number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Grants of share-based payment awards issued to non-employees for services rendered are recorded at the fair value of the share-based payment, which is the more readily determinable value. The grants are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods, which is generally the vesting period. If an award is granted, but vesting does not occur, any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed in the period related to the termination of service.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating officer decision maker (“CODM”), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 on November 21, 2024.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statement.
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, On February 28, 2025, the Company sold 23,000,000 Units, which includes a full exercise by the underwriter of their over-allotment option amounting to 3,000,000 Units, at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, and one-third of one redeemable Public Warrant. Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6).
Note 4 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On November 26, 2024, Rithm Acquisition Corp Sponsor LLC paid $25,000 to cover certain of the Company’s expenses in exchange for the issuance of 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (the “Founder Shares”). The Sponsor has agreed to forfeit up to 750,000 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 19.8% of the Company’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares (excluding the Private Placement Units and assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering) after the Initial Public Offering. On February 27, 2025, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full as part of the closing of the Initial Public Offering. As such, the 750,000 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture. The Sponsor is holding 5,675,000 Founder Shares, after giving effect to the Founder Share transfers described below.
In January and February 2025, the Sponsor transferred a total of 75,000 Founder Shares to the three independent director nominees (25,000 shares each) for an aggregate consideration of $0.004 per share, or an aggregate total amount of $326. The Founder Shares will be returned to the Sponsor if the holder of such Founder Shares is no longer serving as a director on the Company’s board of directors prior to the initial Business Combination. The transfer of the Founder Shares to the three independent director nominees are in the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The fair value of the Founder Shares granted to the Company’s independent directors was $123,600 or $2.47 per share for the 50,000 shares transferred in January 2025, and $61,828 or $2.47 per share for the 25,000 shares transferred in February 2025. The Founder Shares were granted subject to a performance condition (i.e., providing services through Business Combination). Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination is considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of Founder Shares that ultimately vest times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founder Shares. As of February 28, 2025, the Company determined that the initial Business Combination is not considered probable and therefore no compensation expense has been recognized. Subject to limited exceptions, the initial shareholders agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) 180 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
Private Placement
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 660,000 Private Placement Units, at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, in a private placement. The Private Placement Units are identical to the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering. If the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, any proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). Holders of the Private Placement Units have entered into an agreement, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares included in any Private Placement Units and Public Shares in connection with (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination and (ii) the implementation by the directors of, following a shareholder vote to approve, an amendment to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of the obligation to provide holders of the Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with the initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares. Subject to limited exceptions, the Private Placement Units (including any Private Placement Shares or Private Placement Warrants included in such Private Placement Units) will not be transferable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. Certain proceeds from the Private Placement Units will be added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account.
Due from Sponsor
As of February 28, 2025, the Sponsor owes the Company an aggregate amount of $2,000,000, representing the private placement proceeds to be transferred to the Company once its bank account has been established. The Sponsor settled the total amount it owed to the Company on March 4, 2025 (see Note 8).
Related Party Loans
On November 26, 2024, Rithm Acquisition Corp Sponsor LLC agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). This loan was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of June 30, 2026 or the completion of the Initial Public Offering. As of February 28, 2025, the Company had $172,139 outstanding borrowings under the Note. The note is now due on demand. On March 4, 2025, the Company repaid the total outstanding balance of the Note (see Note 8).
Working Capital Loans
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company may repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into shares of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. The Private Placement Units issued upon conversion of any such loans would be identical to the Private Placement Units sold in the private placement concurrently with the Initial Public Offering. As of February 28, 2025, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
Administrative Support Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement with the Sponsor, commencing on February 26, 2025 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of initial Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor an aggregate of $20,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative support services.
Note 5 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
Holders of the Founder Shares and Private Placement Units, including from time to time the Public Shares, Private Placement Units that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, any Private Placement Shares or Private Placement Warrants included in Private Placement Units, any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of Founder Shares or upon exercise of Warrants they may hold or acquire, and any Warrants, including Private Placement Warrants, that they may hold or acquire, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement to be signed in connection with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain piggyback registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Further, the Sponsor, upon and following consummation of an initial Business Combination, will be entitled to nominate three individuals for appointment to the board of directors, as long as the Sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration and shareholder rights agreement.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Public Shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On February 27, 2025, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in full and, simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering on February 28, 2025, the underwriters purchased the additional 3,000,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit.
The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per Public Share, or $4,600,000 in the aggregate, which was paid at the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, the underwriters are entitled to a deferred underwriting commissions of $0.35 per Public Share, or $8,050,000 in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Note 6 — Shareholders’ Deficit
Preference Shares — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 preference shares with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of February 28, 2025, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of February 28, 2025, 660,000 Class A ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, excluding 23,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption.
Class B Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of February 28, 2025, there were 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding.
Except as described below, ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders and holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders except as required by law. Unless otherwise specified in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the ordinary shares that are represented in person or by proxy and are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by the shareholders. Approval of certain actions will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company, and pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; such actions include amending the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. The board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for terms of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote and voted for the appointment of directors can elect all of the directors. The shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. Prior to the initial Business Combination, only holders of the Founder Shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors. Holders of the Public Shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time. Incumbent directors shall also have the ability to appoint additional directors or to appoint replacement directors in the event of a casual vacancy in accordance with the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Further, prior to the closing of the Business Combination, only holders of the Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on transferring the Company by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend the constitutional documents of the Company or to adopt new constitutional documents of the company, in each case, as a result of the Company approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands) and, as a result, the Sponsor will be able to approve any such proposal without the vote of any other shareholder. The provisions of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the appointment of directors prior to the Business Combination and the Company’s continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to the initial Business Combination may only be amended by a special resolution passed by holders representing at least two-thirds of the Company’s outstanding Class B ordinary shares. Holders of the public shares will not be entitled to vote on a special resolution to amend such provisions of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association during such period.
Subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein, the Founder Shares, which are designated as Class B ordinary shares, will be convertible at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis or will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares (such Class A ordinary shares delivered upon conversion will not have any redemption rights or be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to consummate an initial Business Combination) concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of the initial Business Combination at a ratio such that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt for purposes of the calculation described hereafter, the Class A ordinary shares that may have been issued upon conversion of Founder Shares at the option of the holder thereof prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination) will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding (excluding the Private Placement Shares included in the Private Placement Units and including any Class A ordinary share issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option) upon consummation of the Initial Public Offering, plus (ii) the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Business Combination and any private placement-equivalent units issued to the Sponsor, members of the management team or any of their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company. In no event will the Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one to one.
Warrants — As of February 28, 2025, there were 7,886,667 Warrants outstanding, including 7,666,667 Public Warrants and 220,000 Private Placement Warrants. Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional Public Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Public Warrants will trade.
The Public Warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky laws of the state of residence of the holder (or the Company permits holders to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis under certain circumstances). The Company is registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants in the registration statement of which the prospectus, in which the financial statement is included, forms a part because the Public Warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, which may be within one year of the Initial Public Offering. However, because the Public Warrants will be exercisable until their expiration date of up to five years after the completion of the Business Combination, in order to comply with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act following the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the Warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the Warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
The Warrants have an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments, and will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or its affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of Class A ordinary shares during the 20-trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the Warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. See “— Redemption of Warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00” below).
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except (i) that the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions, (ii) the Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable and (iii) the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and have certain registration rights.
Redemption of Warrants when the price per Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Warrants (except as described herein with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):
· | in whole and not in part; |
· | at a price of $0.01 per Warrant; |
· | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and |
· | if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Warrant holders. |
The Company will not redeem the Warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period.
In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Warrant. If the Company has not completed a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of Warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their Warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such Warrants. Accordingly, the Warrants may expire worthless.
Note 7 — Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Public Warrants is $2,464,833, or $0.32 per Public Warrant. The fair value of Public Warrants was determined using Monte Carlo Simulation Model. The Public Warrants have been classified within shareholders’ deficit and will not require remeasurement after issuance. The following table presents the quantitative information regarding market assumptions used in the valuation of the Public Warrants:
| | February 28, 2025 | |
Valuation date price | | $ | 9.89 | |
Strike price | | $ | 11.50 | |
Expected time until merger (years) | | | 1.50 | |
Time remaining post-merger (years) | | | 5.00 | |
Probability of merger closing | | | 25.00 | % |
Effective expected warrant term | | | 2.75 | |
Peer implied volatility | | | 7.55 | % |
Risk-free rate (term matched) | | | 3.97 | % |
Note 8 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date that the financial statement was issued. Based upon this review, other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statement.
On March 4, 2025, the Sponsor paid a total aggregate amount of $1,827,861 it owed to the Company. The amount paid by the Sponsor was derived from the $2,000,000 total amount due from the Sponsor less the outstanding Note balance of $172,139. Borrowings under the note are no longer available.