As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
84-4720320 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
18455 S. Figueroa Street
Gardena, CA 90248
(424) 276-7616
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Jarret Johnson
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
18455 S. Figueroa Street
Gardena, CA 90248
(424) 276-7616
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Vijay S. Sekhon
Michael P. Heinz
Sidley Austin LLP
555 California Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94104
Tel: (415) 772-1200
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box: ☒
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Smaller reporting company | |
Emerging growth company |
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be Registered(1) | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Amount of Registration Fee | ||||||||||||
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share(2) | 236,226,156 | $ | 10.32 | (3) | $ | 2,437,853,929.92 | $ | 265,969.86 | ||||||||
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share(4) | 23,652,119 | $ | 11.50 | (5) | $ | 271,999,368.50 | $ | 29,675.13 | ||||||||
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share(6) | 10,196,249 | $ | 10.00 | (7) | $ | 101,962,490.00 | $ | 11,124.11 | ||||||||
Warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock(8) | 674,551 | — | — | — | (9) | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,811,815,788.42 | $ | 306,769.10 |
(1) | Pursuant to Rule 416(a), there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from share splits, share dividends or similar transactions. |
(2) | Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock registered for resale by the selling securityholders named in this registration statement. |
(3) | Pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, and solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, the proposed maximum offering price per share is $10.32, which is the average of the high and low prices of the Class A Common Stock on August 18, 2021 on The Nasdaq Stock Market. |
(4) | Consists of (i) 22,977,568 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and (ii) 674,551 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Warrants. |
(5) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act based on the fixed exercise price of $11.50 per share of the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and Private Warrants. |
(6) | Consists of (i) 9,009,166 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes (as defined herein) and (ii) 1,187,083 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the ATW NPA Warrants (as defined herein). |
(7) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act based on the fixed conversion or exercise price of $10.00 per share of the Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or exercise of the ATW NPA Warrants. |
(8) | Represents the resale of 674,551 Private Warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock, which represent warrants to acquire 674,551 shares of Class A Common Stock. |
(9) | In accordance with Rule 457(g), no separate registration fee is required with respect to the Private Warrants. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Neither we nor the selling securityholders may sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION — DATED AUGUST 20, 2021 |
236,226,156 Shares of Class A Common Stock
Up to 33,848,368 Shares of Class A Common Stock
Issuable Upon Exercise of the Warrants and Conversion of the Notes
Up to 674,551 Private Warrants
This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling securityholders named in this prospectus (the “Selling Securityholders”) of (i) up to 236,226,156 shares of the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Common Stock”) and (ii) up to 674,551 warrants (the “Private Warrants”) originally issued in a private placement in connection with the initial public offering of PSAC (as defined below). We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus.
Our registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that the Selling Securityholders will offer or sell any of the shares. The Selling Securityholders may sell the shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how the Selling Securityholders may sell the shares in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”
In addition, this prospectus relates to the issuance by us, and the offer and sale from time to time by the Selling Securityholders, of up to an aggregate of 33,848,368 shares of Class A Common Stock which consists of (i) 674,551 shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise the Private Warrants originally issued in the initial public offering of PSAC, (ii) 22,977,568 shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of the 22,977,568 warrants (the “Public Warrants”) originally issued in the initial public offering of PSAC and (iii) 9,009,166 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of certain convertible notes and 1,187,083 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain warrants, in each case issued in a private placement to certain institutional investors pursuant to a note purchase agreement (the “ATW NPA Warrants” and, together with the Private Warrants and the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”). We will receive the proceeds from any exercise of any Warrants for cash.
We are registering the securities for resale pursuant to the Selling Securityholders’ registration rights under certain agreements between us and the Selling Securityholders. Our registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that the Selling Securityholders will offer or sell any of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Warrants. The Selling Securityholders may offer, sell or distribute all or a portion of their shares of Class A Common Stock or Warrants publicly or through private transactions at prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock or Warrants by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus. We provide more information about how the Selling Securityholders may sell the shares or Warrants in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”
Our shares of Class A Common Stock and our Public Warrants are listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), under the symbols “FFIE” and “FFIEW”. On August 19, 2021, the closing price of our Class A Common Stock was $9.45 and the closing price of our Public Warrants was $1.68.
We are an “emerging growth company” under federal securities laws and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our Class A Common Stock involves a high degree of risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, as well as the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders are making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Since the respective dates of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “FF,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (f/k/a Property Solutions Acquisition Corp.), a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “PSAC” refer to Property Solutions Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, our predecessor company prior to the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined herein), and “Legacy FF” refers to FF Intelligent Mobility Global Holdings Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, prior to the Business Combination.
i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-1 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using the “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the Selling Securityholders may, from time to time, sell the securities offered by them described in this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by such Selling Securityholders of the securities offered by them described in this prospectus. This prospectus also relates to the issuance by us of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of any Notes or exercise of any Warrants. We will receive the proceeds from any exercise of the Warrants for cash.
Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders will make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
We may also provide a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to add information to, or update or change information contained in, this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement together with the additional information to which we refer you in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
ii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect the Company’s future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements:
● | the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination (as defined herein), which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the combined business to grow and manage growth profitably; |
● | changes adversely affecting the business in which the Company is engaged; |
● | the Company’s ability to execute on its plans to develop and market its vehicles and the timing of these development programs; |
● | the Company’s ability to meet its future capital requirements and manage its indebtedness, including its ability to refinance its current indebtedness; |
● | the ability of the Company’s suppliers to deliver necessary components for the Company’s products; |
● | the Company’s ability to successfully develop or obtain licenses and other rights to certain technology to reach production for its vehicles; |
● | the Company’s ability to remediate the identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting; |
● | the Company’s ability to navigate economic, operational and legal risks specific to operations based in China; |
● | the Company’s estimates of the size of the markets for its vehicles; |
● | the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company’s vehicles; |
● | the success of other competing manufacturers; |
● | the performance and security of the Company’s vehicles; |
● | potential litigation involving PSAC or the Company; |
● | general economic conditions; |
● | the result of future financing efforts; and |
● | the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the business and financial conditions of the Company. |
These and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this prospectus are more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section. The risks described in “Risk Factors” are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward- looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The Company undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
iii
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein. Because it is a summary, it may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. To understand this offering fully, you should read this entire prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the documents incorporated by reference herein carefully, including the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and our financial statements.
The Company
FF is a California-based global shared intelligent mobility ecosystem company with a vision to disrupt the automotive industry.
With headquarters in Los Angeles, California, FF designs and engineers next-generation smart electric connected vehicles. FF intends to start manufacturing vehicles at its production facility in Hanford, California, with additional future production capacity needs addressed through a contract manufacturing partner in South Korea. FF has additional engineering, sales, and operational capabilities in China and plans to develop its manufacturing capability in China through a joint venture.
Since its founding, FF has created major innovations in technology and products, and a user centered business model. These innovations are enabling FF to set new standards in luxury and performance that will enhance quality of life and redefine the future of intelligent mobility.
Background
Property Solutions Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company incorporated in Delaware, completed its initial public offering in July 2020. On July 21, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (f/k/a Property Solutions Acquisition Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), consummated the previously announced business combination pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 27, 2021 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, PSAC Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and wholly-owned subsidiary of PSAC (“Merger Sub”), and FF Intelligent Mobility Global Holdings Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Legacy FF”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy FF, with Legacy FF surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Business Combination”). Upon the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), the registrant changed its name from “Property Solutions Acquisition Corp.” to “Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc.” Legacy FF is considered the Company’s accounting acquirer.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination was effected on July 21, 2021 through the merger of Merger Sub with and into Legacy FF, with Legacy FF surviving as the surviving company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Upon closing the Business Combination, the Company received $229.7 million in proceeds from PSAC’s trust account, net of redemptions of $0.2 million. At the effective time of the Business Combination (the “Effective Time”), the outstanding Legacy FF Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per share, Legacy FF Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.00001 per share, Legacy FF Class A-1 preferred shares, par value $0.00001 per share, Legacy FF Class A-2 preferred shares, par value $0.00001 per share, Legacy FF Class A-3 preferred shares, par value $0.00001 per share and Legacy FF redeemable preferred shares, par value $0.00001 per share, the outstanding Legacy FF converting debt and certain other outstanding liabilities of Legacy FF were canceled and converted into the right to receive pro rata portions of approximately 154.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock and the outstanding Legacy FF Class B preferred shares, par value $0.00001 per share were canceled and converted into the right to receive pro rata portions of approximately 64.0 million shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock,” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”). Additionally, the Legacy FF options and Legacy FF warrants that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (and by their terms did not terminate upon the Closing) remained outstanding and converted into the right to purchase pro rata portions of approximately 44.9 million shares of Class A Common Stock. Holders of the Legacy FF shares issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time also have the contingent right to receive up to 25.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock in two tranches upon the occurrence of certain stock price-based triggering events as set forth in the Merger Agreement (“Earnout Shares”).
1
On July 21, 2021, a number of purchasers (each, a “Subscriber”) purchased from the Company an aggregate of 76.1 million shares of Class A Common Stock (the “PIPE Shares”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $761.4 million, pursuant to separate subscription agreements entered into effective as of January 27, 2021 (each, a “Subscription Agreement” and such investment in the PIPE Shares by the Subscribers collectively, the “Private Placement”). Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, the Company gave certain registration rights to the Subscribers with respect to the PIPE Shares. The sale of the PIPE Shares was consummated concurrently with the Closing.
Our shares of Class A Common Stock and our Public Warrants are currently listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbols “FFIE” and “FFIEW,” respectively.
The rights of holders of our Common Stock, Private Warrants and Public Warrants are governed by our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Charter”), our amended and restated bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), and in the case of the Private Warrants and Public Warrants, the Warrant Agreement dated as of July 21, 2020, duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited liability trust company, as warrant agent. The convertible notes (the “Notes”) and ATW NPA Warrants were issued pursuant to, and are governed by, the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 9, 2020 (as amended from time to time, the “NPA”), among certain subsidiaries of the Company and guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as the Notes agent, Birch Lake Fund Management, LP, as the collateral agent, and the Note purchasers party thereto, and related forms of notes and warrants issued thereunder. For more information, see the section entitled “Description of Securities.”
Summary Risk Factors
An investment in our Class A Common Stock involves substantial risk. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Important factors and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
● | FF has a limited operating history and faces significant barriers to growth in the electric vehicle industry. |
● | FF has incurred losses in the operation of its business and anticipates that it will continue to incur losses in the future. It may never achieve or sustain profitability. |
● | FF expects its operating expenses to increase significantly in the future, which may impede its ability to achieve profitability. |
● | FF’s operating results forecast relies in large part upon assumptions and analyses developed by its management. If these assumptions and analyses prove to be incorrect, its actual operating results could suffer. |
● | FF may be unable to meet its future capital requirements, including capital required for initial investments to reach initial production and revenue, which could jeopardize its ability to continue its business operations. |
● | FF has historically incurred substantial indebtedness and may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, and it may not be able to refinance borrowings on terms that are acceptable to FF, or at all. |
● | FF’s vehicles are in development and its first vehicle may not be available for sale within 12 months after the Closing, if at all. |
● | FF’s recurring losses from operations had raised substantial doubt about FF’s ability to continue as a going concern. Such circumstance might recur and result in FF not being able to continue as a going concern. |
● | For the audits of the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, FF’s independent registered public accounting firm included a note relating to FF’s ability to continue as a going concern in its report on FF’s audited financial statements included in this prospectus. |
● | FF will depend on revenue generated from a single model of vehicles in the foreseeable future. |
● | The market for FF’s vehicles, including its Smart Last Mile Delivery vehicles, is nascent and not established. |
● | FF is dependent on its suppliers, the majority of which are single-source suppliers. The inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components for FF’s products according to the schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to FF, or FF’s inability to efficiently manage these suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. |
2
● | FF needs to develop complex software and technology systems in coordination with vendors and suppliers to reach production for its electric vehicle, and there can be no assurance such systems will be successfully developed. |
● | FF identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. If FF is unable to remediate these material weaknesses, or if it identifies additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fails to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, it may not be able to accurately or timely report its financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect FF’s business and share price. |
● | FF has yet to obtain licenses and other rights in certain technologies, software, and content needed for its vehicles and FF may face technical difficulties and attendant delays in integrating such technologies in its vehicles. Licensing third-party technology carries risks that are difficult to control. Accordingly, FF may need to modify aspects of planned vehicle designs and alter features. |
● | FF’s decision to manufacture its own vehicles in its leased Hanford, California facility does not guarantee FF will not incur significant delays in the production of the vehicles. |
● | Production and manufacturing of some of FF’s vehicles may be outsourced to a third-party contract manufacturer in South Korea and potentially, through a joint venture or other arrangement in China. If such contract manufacturer, joint venture or other arrangement fails to produce and deliver vehicles in a timely manner for any reason, FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation could be materially harmed. |
● | FF faces competition from multiple sources, including new and established domestic and international competitors, and expects to face competition from others in the future, including competition from companies with new technology. This fierce competition may impair FF’s revenues, increase its costs to acquire new customers, and hinder its ability to acquire new customers. |
● | FF’s go-to-market and sales strategy, including its self-owned and partner-owned stores as well as FF’s online web platform, will require substantial investment and commitment of resources and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. |
● | FF faces risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, civil unrest and other circumstances outside its control, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, which could significantly disrupt FF’s operations. |
● | FF has elected to protect some of its technologies as trade secrets rather than as patents, however, this approach has certain risks and disadvantages. |
● | FF and its manufacturing partners may be subject to increased environmental and safety or other regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions. |
● | Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials used to manufacture FF’s vehicles, in particular for lithium-ion cells or electronic components, could harm its business. |
● | FF may be subject to risks associated with autonomous driving technology. |
● | FF’s vehicles will make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which have been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flame. |
● | FF’s founder, Mr. Yueting Jia (“YT Jia”), is closely associated with the image and brand of FF. Circumstances affecting YT Jia’s reputation, and investor and public perception of his role and influence in FF, may shape FF’s brand and ability to do business. Additionally, YT Jia may continue to be subject to certain restrictions in China if not all creditors participating in YT Jia’s restructuring plan comply with the requirement to request removal of YT Jia from such restrictions. |
● | FF Global Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“FF Global”), which is governed by an executive committee consisting of eight members, may exert influence over the management of FF through its issuance of equity interests as additional compensation to the management of FF. |
● | Substantial aspects of FF’s business and operation may be based in China, which will be subject to economic, operational and legal risks specific to China. |
Additional Information
FF’s principal executive offices are located at Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc., 18455 S. Figueroa Street, Gardena, CA 90248, and FF’s telephone number is (424) 276-7616. Our website address is www.ff.com. Information contained on our website or connected thereto does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which it is a part.
3
THE OFFERING
Issuer | Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. | |
Shares of Class A Common Stock offered by us | 33,848,368 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and conversion of the Notes. | |
Shares of Class A Common Stock offered by the Selling Securityholders | Up to 236,226,156 shares of Class A Common Stock.
| |
Warrants Offered by the Selling Securityholders | Up to 674,551 Private Warrants. | |
Shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of all Warrants | 324,360,508 shares of Class A Common Stock (as of August 16, 2021). | |
Shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding assuming exercise of all Warrants | 352,556,885 shares of Class A Common Stock (based on total shares outstanding as of August 16, 2021). | |
Use of Proceeds | We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders. We will receive up to an aggregate of approximately $284 million from the exercise of the Warrants, assuming the exercise in full of all of the Warrants for cash. We expect to use the net proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants for general corporate purposes, which may include temporary or permanent repayment of our outstanding indebtedness. See “Use of Proceeds.” | |
Redemption | The Warrants are redeemable in certain circumstances. See “Description of Securities — Description of Warrants” for further discussion. | |
Market for Class A Common Stock and Warrants | Our shares of Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are currently traded on NASDAQ under the symbols “FFIE” and “FFIEW,” respectively. | |
Risk Factors | See “Risk Factors” and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before investing in our securities. |
For additional information concerning the offering, see “Plan of Distribution.”
4
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the specific risks set forth herein. If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. As a result, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may become material and adversely affect our business.
Risks Relating to FF’s Business and Industry
FF has a limited operating history and faces significant barriers to growth in the electric vehicle industry.
FF was founded in 2014 and has built several prototype and pre-production vehicles. However, to date, FF has not started commercial production of its first electric vehicle. Although FF expects to start commercial sales of FF 91 series within 12 months after the Closing, there is no assurance FF will be able to develop the manufacturing capabilities and processes, or secure reliable sources of component supply to meet the quality, engineering, design or production standards, or the required production volumes to successfully grow into a viable business.
Furthermore, even if FF achieves production of electric vehicles, it faces significant barriers to growth in the electric vehicle industry, including continuity in development and production of safe and quality vehicles, brand recognition, customer base, marketing channels, pricing policies, talent management, value-added service packages and sustained technological advancement. If FF fails to address any or all of these risks and barriers to entry and growth, its business and results of operation may be materially and adversely affected.
Given FF’s limited operating history, the likelihood of its success must be evaluated especially in light of the risks, expenses, complications, delays and the competitive environment in which it operates. There is, therefore, no assurance that FF’s business plan will prove successful. FF will continue to encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by early commercial stage companies, including scaling its infrastructure and headcount, and may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties or delays in connection with its growth. In addition, due to the capital-intensive nature of FF’s business, it can be expected to continue to incur substantial operating expenses without generating sufficient revenues to cover those expenditures. There is no assurance FF will ever be able to generate revenue, raise additional capital when required or operate profitably. Any investment in FF is therefore highly speculative.
FF has incurred losses in the operation of its business and anticipates that it will continue to incur losses in the future. It may never achieve or sustain profitability.
The design, engineering, manufacturing, sales and service of smart electric vehicles is a capital-intensive business. FF has incurred losses from operations and has had negative cash flows from operating activities since inception. FF incurred a net loss of $128.3 million, $147.1 million and $142.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was $52.3 million, $41.2 million and $189.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Since inception, FF has made significant investments in technology as well as vehicle design, development and tooling, construction of manufacturing facilities, employee compensation and benefits and marketing and branding. FF expects to continue or increase such investments, however, there can be no assurance these investments will result in the successful and timely delivery of FF 91 series or subsequent vehicle programs, or at all.
FF may incur unforeseen expenses, or encounter difficulties, complications, and delays in delivering FF 91 series, and therefore may never generate sufficient revenues to sustain itself. Even if FF brings FF 91 series to market, it may continue to incur substantial losses for reasons including the lack of demand for FF 91 series and the relevant services, increasing competition, challenging macroeconomic conditions, regulatory changes and other risks discussed herein, and so it may never achieve or sustain profitability.
5
FF expects its operating expenses to increase significantly in the future, which may impede its ability to achieve profitability.
FF expects to further incur significant operating costs which will impact its profitability, including research and development expenses as it introduces new models and improves existing models, capital expenditures in the expansion of its manufacturing capacities, additional operating costs and expenses for production ramp-up, raw material procurement costs, general and administrative expenses as it scales its operations, and sales, marketing, and distribution expenses as it builds its brand and markets its vehicles. Additionally, it may incur significant costs once it delivers FF 91 series, including vehicle service and warranty expenses.
FF’s ability to become profitable in the future will not only depend on its ability to successfully market its vehicles and other products and services, but also to control costs. Ultimately, FF may not be able to adequately control costs associated with its operations for reasons outside its control, including the cost of raw materials such as aluminum, steel and lithium-ion cells. Substantial increases in such costs could increase FF’s cost of revenue and its operating expenses, and could reduce its margins. Additionally, unforeseen events such as the current ongoing global pandemic could adversely affect supply chains, impacting FF’s ability to control and manage costs. Additionally, currency fluctuations, tariffs or shortages in petroleum and other economic or political conditions could result in significant increases in freight charges and raw material costs. If FF is unable to design, develop, manufacture, market, sell and service its vehicles, including providing service in a cost-efficient manner, its margins, profitability, and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
The rate at which FF may incur costs and losses in future periods compared to current levels may increase significantly, as it:
● | continues to develop FF 91, FF 81, and FF 71 series and Smart Last Mile Delivery (“SLMD”) electric vehicle models; |
● | develops and equips its manufacturing facility in Hanford, California to produce FF 91, and to secure manufacturing capabilities in South Korea and China for additional capacities production capacity for FF 91 and other electric vehicle models; |
● | builds up inventories of parts and components for FF 91; |
● | develops and expands its design, development, maintenance, servicing and repair capabilities; |
● | opens offline FF self-owned stores; and |
● | increases its sales and marketing activities. |
These efforts may be more expensive than FF currently anticipates, and these efforts may not result in increases in revenues, which could further increase its losses. As FF is seeking funding to realize its business operations plan based on its estimated capital requirements, any cost overruns that deviate from FF’s estimates may materially and adversely affect its business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
FF’s operating results forecast relies in large part upon assumptions and analyses developed by its management. If these assumptions and analyses prove to be incorrect, its actual operating results could suffer.
FF’s operating results forecast relies in large part upon assumptions and analyses developed by its management and reflects current estimates of future performance. Whether actual operating and financial results and business developments will be consistent with FF’s expectations and assumptions as reflected in the forecast depends on a number of factors, many of which are outside FF’s control, including, but not limited to:
● | whether it can obtain sufficient capital to sustain and grow its business; |
● | its ability to manage growth; |
● | whether it can manage relationships with key suppliers; |
● | whether it can sign up and manage relationships with business partners for them to invest in and operate sales and service centers; |
● | the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; |
● | demand for its products and services; |
6
● | the timing and cost of new and existing marketing and promotional efforts; |
● | competition, including established and future competitors; |
● | its ability to retain existing key management, to integrate recent hires and to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; |
● | the overall strength and stability of domestic and international economies; |
● | regulatory, legislative and political changes; and |
● | consumer spending habits. |
Specifically, FF’s results forecast is based on projected purchase prices, unit costs for materials, manufacturing, packaging and logistics, warranty, sales, marketing and service, and its projected number of orders for the vehicles with factors such as industry cost benchmarks taken into consideration. Any of these factors could turn out to be different than those anticipated. Unfavorable changes in any of these or other factors, most of which are beyond FF’s control, could materially and adversely affect its business, prospects, financial results and results of operations.
FF may be unable to meet its future capital requirements, including capital required for initial investments to reach initial production and revenue, which could jeopardize its ability to continue its business operations.
FF operates in a capital-intensive industry which requires significant cash to fund its operations. FF expects its capital expenditures to continue to be significant in the foreseeable future as it continues to develop and grow its business. However, FF believes that existing cash along with recent financing activities including the Business Combination, will be sufficient to support working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. FF has developed a detailed budget for that period, but any challenges in supplier reengagements, delays in ramping capacity at Hanford or sales and service engagements may increase the need for additional capital to launch FF 91 series on time. Apart from FF 91 series, additional capital may be required to fund operations, research, development, and design efforts for future vehicles.
It is difficult to predict the demand for FF’s vehicles and appropriately budget for such expenses; and FF may have limited insight into trends that could emerge and affect its business. As a company, FF does not have experience manufacturing vehicles, and as such, there is no historical basis for FF to make judgments on the demand for its vehicles. If FF is unable to accurately estimate the demand for its vehicles, match the timing and quantities of component purchases to actual needs or successfully implement inventory management and other systems to accommodate the increased complexity in FF’s supply chain, FF may incur unexpected production disruption, and storage, transportation and write-off costs, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
FF may raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity related or debt securities, or through obtaining credit from financial institutions or governmental organizations. FF cannot be certain that additional funds will be available on favorable terms when required, or at all, and any such financing may dilute FF’s stockholder value. If FF is unable to obtain funding in a timely manner or on commercially acceptable terms, or at all, its financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
FF has historically incurred substantial indebtedness and may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, and it may not be able to refinance borrowings on terms that are acceptable to FF, or at all.
FF had a working capital deficit (being the extent to which total consolidated current liabilities exceeds total consolidated current assets less restricted cash) of $775.9 million, $835.3 million and $688.2 million as of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Although FF settled the majority of all of its existing debt in either equity or cash upon consummation of the Business Combination, and paid off certain other indebtedness with the proceeds of the Business Combination, FF may incur additional indebtedness from time to time to support its operations. If FF incurs additional debt, the risks it faces as a result of indebtedness and leverage could intensify. The incurrence of any additional debt could:
● | limit FF’s ability to satisfy obligations under certain debt instruments, to the extent there are any; |
● | cause FF to seek bankruptcy protection or enter into other insolvency proceedings in the event FF is not able to renew or refinance any existing indebtedness as it becomes due; |
● | increase FF’s vulnerability to adverse general economic and industry conditions; |
7
● | require FF to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to servicing and repaying indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of cash flow to fund its working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes; |
● | increase its exposure to interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; |
● | limit its ability to borrow additional funds and impose additional financial and other restrictions on FF, including limitations on declaring dividends; and |
● | increase the cost of additional financing. |
Commercial banks, financial institutions and individual lenders may have concerns in providing additional financing for FF’s operations. The governments of the United States, China and Europe may also pass measures or take other actions that may tighten credit available in relevant markets. Any future monetary tightening measures as well as other monetary, fiscal and industrial policy changes and/or political actions by those governments could materially and adversely affect FF’s cost and availability of financing, liquidity, access to capital, and ability to operate our business.
FF’s vehicles are in development and its first vehicle may not be available for sale within 12 months after closing of the Business Combination, if at all.
FF has not yet commenced production of any model and has not recognized any revenue as of the date hereof. FF’s future business depends in large part on its ability to execute on its plans to develop, manufacture, market, sell and deliver electric vehicles, including FF 91, FF 81, FF 71 series, and Smart Last Mile Delivery electric vehicle models that appeal to customers. Although FF plans to commence commercial sales of its first vehicle, FF 91 series, by July 2022, it may experience significant delays due to reasons such as supply shortages, design defects, talent gaps, and/or force majeure. For example, FF relies on third-party suppliers for the provision and development of many key components used in FF 91 and other models. To the extent FF’s suppliers experience any delays in providing or developing necessary components, or if they experience quality issues, FF could experience delays in delivering on its timelines. For example, due to the delay in the closing of the Business Combination caused by PSAC’s re-evaluation of the accounting treatment for their Private Warrants, FF had to adjust and/or reduce certain payments to suppliers. Such adjustments and/or reductions could delay the launch date for the FF 91.
To the extent FF were to delay launch of FF 91 series, potential consumers may lose confidence in FF, and customers who have placed orders for FF 91 may cancel orders, which may curtail FF’s growth prospects. Additionally, FF’s competitors may move more quickly to market than FF, which could impact FF’s ability to grow its market share.
FF’s recurring losses from operations had raised substantial doubt about FF’s ability to continue as a going concern. Such circumstance might recur and result in FF not being able to continue as a going concern.
Since inception, FF has incurred cumulative losses from operations, negative cash flows from operating activities and has an accumulated deficit of $2,519.4 million, $2,391.1 million, and $2,244.1 million as of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. FF expects to continue to generate significant operating losses for the foreseeable future. In FF’s audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, FF concluded that this circumstance raised substantial doubt about FF’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the original issuance date of such financial statements. Similarly, in its report on the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, FF’s independent registered public accounting firm included an emphasis of matter paragraph stating that FF’s recurring losses from operations and accumulated deficit raised substantial doubt about FF’s ability to continue as a going concern. FF’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty and do not reflect the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination. However, after the closing of the Business Combination and the PIPE Financing on July 21, 2021, FF received cash aggregating $991.1 million and made payments, through the date that FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2021 were available to be issued, of (i) $28.4 million to vendors with payables in the Vendor Trust; (ii) $31.8 million to related party notes payable holders and $57.7 million to notes payable holders for principal and accrued interest; (iii) $9.6 million to active and former employees; and (iv) $17.5 million to other vendors. As of the date the FF unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2021 were available to be issued, management expects that the net proceeds from the Business Combination along with cash balances held by FF prior to the Closing Date will be sufficient to complete the final stages of the development and commence the production of the FF 91 electric vehicle. FF expects that the net proceeds from the Business Combination along with cash balances held prior to the Closing Date will be sufficient to complete the final stages of the development and production of the FF 91 electric vehicle within 12 months of the Closing.
If FF is unable to continue as a going concern, it may have to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws and/or liquidate or reorganize its assets and may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on its audited financial statements. If this were to happen, it is likely investors would lose part or all of their investment. Future reports from FF’s independent registered public accounting firm may also contain statements expressing substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. If such doubt about FF continues, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding to FF on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and FF’s business may be harmed.
8
For the audits of the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, FF’s independent registered public accounting firm included a note relating to FF’s ability to continue as a going concern in its report on FF’s audited financial statements included in this prospectus.
FF’s audit reports in 2020 and 2019 from their independent registered public accounting firm included an emphasis of matter paragraph stating that FF’s recurring losses from operations and cash outflows from operating activities raised substantial doubt about FF’s ability to continue as a going concern. FF’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty and do not reflect the Business Combination transactions. As of the date the FF unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2021 were available to be issued, FF management expects that the net proceeds from the Business Combination along with cash balances held by FF prior to the Closing Date will be sufficient to complete the final stages of the development and commence the production of the FF 91 electric vehicle. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of this prospectus for additional information. FF may be required to obtain additional funding to support its business plan beyond the next 12 months, which could affect its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations materially and adversely, and FF may be unable to continue as a going concern. If FF is unable to continue as a going concern, it may have to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws and/or liquidate or reorganize its assets and may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on its audited financial statements. If this were to happen, it is likely investors would lose part or all of their investment. Future reports from FF’s independent registered public accounting firm may also contain statements expressing substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. If such doubt about FF continues, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding to FF on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and FF’s business may be harmed.
FF will depend on revenue generated from a single model of vehicles in the foreseeable future.
FF’s success will initially depend substantially on the future sales and success of FF 91 series. FF expects FF 91 series to be its only manufactured vehicle in the market in the near future; it remains uncertain when FF will raise sufficient funding to complete design, development, tooling and launch of its second model, FF 81 series. Historically, automobile customers have come to expect a variety of vehicle models offered in a manufacturer’s fleet and new and improved vehicle models to be introduced frequently. It remains uncertain if FF’s business will generate sufficient funds or FF will be able to obtain sufficient funds through other means to introduce new vehicle models on a regular basis. Given that FF’s business will depend on a single or limited number of models in the foreseeable future, to the extent a particular model is not well-received by the market, FF’s business prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
The market for FF’s vehicles, including its Smart Last Mile Delivery vehicles, is nascent and not established.
FF’s B2C (“business-to-consumer”) passenger electric vehicles are planned to be with leading design and provide superior driving experience and personalized user experience in their respective customer segments. FF believes its electric vehicles represent the “smart mobility” of the next generation. FF’s growth is highly dependent upon the consumers’ reception and adoption of FF’s vision as to what the future of transportation and mobility should embody. Although there are many automakers introducing multiple options of mass-market electric vehicles, the market for the electric vehicles with ultra-new technology and cutting-edge styling is still nascent and untested. In addition to vehicles targeting end customers, FF plans to build the Smart Last Mile Delivery vehicles targeting B2B (“business-to-business”) last mile delivery logistics companies. FF believes its modular approach to vehicle design provides adaptive and sustainable solutions in the commercial vehicle segment, thus meeting the needs of commercial vehicle owners. However, there is uncertainty as to the future demands for FF’s vehicles in both B2B and B2C market segments, and there is no assurance that the retail and commercial vehicle market FF envisions for its vehicles will be established. To a large extent, it depends on general economic, political, and social conditions, all of which are beyond FF’s control.
FF is dependent on its suppliers, the majority of which are single-source suppliers. The inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components for FF’s products according to the schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to FF, or FF’s inability to efficiently manage these suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on its business prospects, financial condition and operating results.
The FF 91 model incorporates over 2,000 purchased components sourced from over 400 suppliers, many of whom are currently FF’s single-source suppliers for the components they supply, and FF expects this to be similar for any other vehicles FF may produce. The supply chain exposes FF to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages. To the extent FF’s suppliers experience any delays in providing FF with or developing necessary components or experience quality issues, FF could experience delays in delivering on its planned timelines.
9
Currently, FF has not approved secondary sources for the key single sourced components used in FF 91. For example, FF’s battery cell supplier helped develop its customized battery cell, and is the sole source of FF battery cells used in the battery pack. Generally, FF does not maintain long-term agreements with these single-source suppliers.
Historically, certain suppliers ceased supplying their components and initiated legal claims against FF when FF failed to make overdue payments. While most of these legal claims have been settled through the vendor trust FF established in April 2019 (“Vendor Trust”), there are still a number of remaining disputes with suppliers in the U.S. and in China. Any disruption in the supply of components, whether or not from a single-source supplier, could temporarily disrupt FF’s production until a satisfactory alternative supplier is found, which can be time consuming and costly. There can be no assurance that FF would be able to successfully retain alternative suppliers or supplies in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, if at all. If FF is unable to efficiently manage its suppliers, including its relationship with them, FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected. Additionally, changes in business and/or political conditions, force majeure events, changes in regulatory framework and other factors beyond FF’s control could also affect the suppliers’ ability to deliver components in a timely manner. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
If any of FF’s suppliers become economically distressed or go bankrupt, FF may be required to provide substantial financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of components or materials, which could increase FF’s costs, affect its liquidity or cause production disruptions.
FF expects to purchase various types of equipment, raw materials and manufactured component parts from its suppliers. If any of these suppliers experience substantial financial difficulties, cease operations, or otherwise face business disruptions, FF may be required to provide substantial financial support to ensure supply continuity, or FF would have to take other measures to ensure components and materials remain available. Any disruption could affect FF’s ability to deliver vehicles and could increase FF’s costs and negatively affect its liquidity and financial performance.
FF faces a number of challenges in the sale and marketing of its vehicles.
FF plans to enhance its brand recognition, improve its brand reputation and grow its client base by substantial investments in marketing and business development activities. However, FF cannot guarantee that its marketing spending or the marketing strategies it plans to adopt will have their anticipated effect or generate returns. FF faces a number of challenges in the sale and marketing of its vehicles, including, without limitation:
● | Demand in the automobile industry is highly volatile; |
● | Final delivered range, performance and quality of FF’s vehicles may vary from estimates; |
● | It is expensive to establish a strong brand. FF may not succeed in continuing to establish, maintain and strengthen the FF brand in a cost-efficient manner, or at all; |
● | Many consumers are not aware of the benefits of FF’s products, which may depend on factors beyond FF’s control such as transition of consumer behaviors; |
● | FF competes with other automotive manufacturers for consumer spending; |
● | FF’s failure to keep up with rapid technological changes could make its vehicles less attractive than those of competitors or make potential customers unwilling to pay a premium for FF’s vehicles; |
● | FF may not be able to attract a sufficient number of retail partners to support its expected sales volumes; and |
● | FF’s efforts to develop and market its Smart Last Mile Delivery vehicles might not be successful given the fact that its target customers are commercial logistic companies which have different requirements compared to retail consumers. |
If FF is unable to efficiently enhance its brand and market its products, its business prospects, financial condition and operating results may be adversely and materially affected.
10
FF needs to develop complex software and technology systems in coordination with vendors and suppliers to reach production for its electric vehicles, and there can be no assurance such systems will be successfully developed.
FF’s vehicles will use a substantial amount of third-party and in-house software code and complex hardware to operate. The development of such advanced technologies is inherently complex, and FF will need to coordinate with vendors and suppliers to achieve development for its electric vehicles. Defects and errors may be revealed over time, and FF’s control over the performance of third-party services and systems may be limited. FF is relying on third-party suppliers to develop and manage emerging technologies for use in its vehicles, including lithium-ion battery technology. As technology in electric vehicles is constantly evolving, FF may also need to rely on suppliers to develop technologies that are not yet commercially viable. There can be no assurances that FF’s suppliers will be able to meet the technological requirements, production timing, and volume requirements needed to support FF’s business plan. Nor can FF assure that such emerging technologies and systems will be successfully developed on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. FF’s potential inability to develop the necessary software and technology systems may harm its competitive position and its business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
FF identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. If FF is unable to remediate these material weaknesses, or if it identifies additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fails to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, it may not be able to accurately or timely report its financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect FF’s business and share price.
We have identified material weaknesses in FF’s internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of its annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. These material weaknesses are as follows:
● | FF did not design and maintain an effective control environment commensurate with its financial reporting requirements. Specifically, the Company lacked a sufficient number of professionals with an appropriate level of accounting knowledge, training and experience to appropriately analyze, record and disclose accounting matters timely and accurately. Additionally, the lack of a sufficient number of professionals resulted in an inability to consistently establish appropriate authorities and responsibilities in pursuit of its financial reporting objectives, as demonstrated by, among other things, insufficient segregation of duties in its finance and accounting functions. |
● | FF did not design and maintain effective controls in response to the risks of material misstatement. Specifically, changes to existing controls or the implementation of new controls were not sufficient to respond to changes to the risks of material misstatement to financial reporting, due to growth in the business. |
● | FF did not design and maintain effective controls for communicating and sharing information between the legal and accounting and finance departments. Specifically, the accounting and finance departments are not consistently provided the complete and adequate support, documentation, and information to record transactions within the financial statements timely, completely and accurately. |
These material weaknesses contributed to the following additional material weaknesses:
● | FF did not design and maintain effective controls to address the identification of and accounting for certain non-routine, unusual or complex transactions, including the proper application of U.S. GAAP of such transactions. Specifically, FF did not design and maintain controls to timely identify and account for embedded derivatives related to convertible notes, impute interest on related party notes payable with interest rates below market rates, account for failed sale leaseback transactions, and account for warrant instruments. |
● | FF did not design and maintain formal accounting policies, procedures and controls to achieve complete, accurate and timely financial accounting, reporting and disclosures, including controls over the period-end financial reporting process addressing areas including financial statement and footnote presentation and disclosures, account reconciliations and journal entries, including segregation of duties, assessing the reliability of reports and spreadsheets used in controls, and the timely identification and accounting for cut-off of expenditures. |
11
These material weaknesses resulted in adjustments primarily related to expense cut-off and the associated accounts including operating expenses, accounts payable and accruals, property and equipment, convertible notes payable and interest expense and related financial disclosures, which were recorded as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019. These material weaknesses also resulted in adjustments primarily related to the extinguishment of a noncontrolling interest, accounts payable, vendor payables in trust, and adjustments to the statement of cash flows which were recorded as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 as well as disclosure errors related to the anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share, deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance, and accrued interest for certain notes payable, and the fair value of the Vendor Trust as of December 31, 2019. The material weakness related to accounting for warrant instruments resulted in the restatement of the previously issued financial statements of the entity acquired as part of the July 21, 2021 merger agreement related to warrant liabilities and equity. Additionally, these material weaknesses could result in a misstatement of substantially all of our accounts or disclosures that would result in a material misstatement to the annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.
● | FF did not design and maintain effective controls over information technology (“IT”) general controls for information systems that are relevant to the preparation of its financial statements, specifically, with respect to: (i) program change management controls to ensure that IT program and data changes affecting financial IT applications and underlying accounting records are identified, tested, authorized and implemented appropriately; (ii) user access controls to ensure appropriate segregation of duties and that adequately restrict user and privileged access to financial applications, programs, and data to appropriate company personnel; and (iii) computer operations controls to ensure that critical batch jobs are monitored and data backups are authorized and monitored. These IT deficiencies did not result in a material misstatement to the consolidated financial statements, however, the deficiencies, when aggregated, could result in misstatements potentially impacting all financial statement accounts and disclosures that would not be prevented or detected. |
FF has begun implementation of a plan to remediate the material weaknesses described above. Those remediation measures are ongoing and include (i) hiring additional accounting and IT personnel to bolster its technical reporting, transactional accounting and IT capabilities; (ii) designing and implementing controls to formalize roles and review responsibilities and designing and implementing formal controls over segregation of duties; (iii) designing and implementing controls for communicating and sharing information between legal and accounting to facilitate transactions being recorded timely and accurately; (iv) designing and implementing procedures to identify and evaluate changes in FF’s business and the impact on its internal controls; (v) formally assessing complex accounting transactions and other technical accounting and financial reporting matters; (vi) designing and implementing formal processes, accounting policies, procedures, and controls supporting FF’s financial close process, including creating standard balance sheet reconciliation templates and journal entry controls; and (vii) designing and implementing IT general controls, including controls over change management, the review and update of user access rights and privileges, and controls over batch jobs and data backups.
While FF believes these efforts will remediate the material weaknesses, FF may not be able to complete its evaluation, testing or any required remediation in a timely fashion, or at all. FF cannot assure you that the measures it has taken to date and may take in the future, will be sufficient to remediate the control deficiencies that led to its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting or that they will prevent or avoid potential future material weaknesses. The effectiveness of FF’s internal control over financial reporting is subject to various inherent limitations, including cost limitations, judgments used in decision making, assumptions about the likelihood of future events, the possibility of human error and the risk of fraud. If FF is unable to remediate its material weaknesses, FF’s ability to record, process and report financial information accurately, and to prepare financial statements within the time periods specified by the forms of the SEC, could be adversely affected which, in turn, to may adversely affect FF’s reputation and business and the market price of the Class A Common Stock. In addition, any such failures could result in litigation or regulatory actions by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, loss of investor confidence, delisting of FF’s securities and harm to FF’s reputation and financial condition, or diversion of financial and management resources from the operation of FF’s business.
FF has yet to obtain licenses and other rights in certain technologies, software, and content needed for its vehicles and FF may face technical difficulties and attendant delays in integrating such technologies in its vehicles. Licensing third-party technology carries risks that are difficult to control. Accordingly, FF may need to modify aspects of planned vehicle designs and alter features.
FF has not yet obtained rights for certain technologies, software, and content FF currently plans to employ in its vehicles. For example, FF still needs to acquire rights to software to enable autonomous driving, and such software will need to be customized for its use. In addition, while FF plans to differentiate its vehicles from those of its competitors by offering a rich and connected set of mobile entertainment offerings, FF has yet to conclude the requisite agreements with connectivity and content providers. The licensors and service providers of such software, connectivity, and content may insist on pricing and other legal and commercial terms that FF considers unreasonable or unacceptable. If FF cannot obtain all of the rights and services FF needs on acceptable terms and on a timely basis, FF may need to change its plans and omit planned features.
Moreover, even if FF does obtain the technologies, software, and content FF needs from third parties, FF may encounter technical difficulties integrating them into its vehicles and with each other. In general, the software FF needs to license must be developed and customized for FF. Delays in development of a single software system, or delays in successfully integrating the system with other complex systems, could delay the launch of a vehicle model. Any delay in launch dates for FF’s vehicles could have an adverse effect on FF’s financial performance. Licensing third-party technology also carries the risk that the licensed technology has bugs or other defects or that such technology infringes another person’s intellectual property rights, without FF’s ability to directly influence or mitigate the impacts of such circumstances.
12
FF’s decision to manufacture its own vehicles in its leased Hanford, California facility does not guarantee FF will not incur significant delays in the production of the vehicles.
FF plans to continue to build-out its leased manufacturing facility in Hanford, California to commence production of FF 91 series within 12 months after the Closing. Additionally, this construction may experience unexpected delays or other difficulties which could further increase costs and/or adversely affect FF’s scheduled timeline to manufacture and deliver vehicles. Further, manufacturing and assembling components in-house in the Hanford facility does not guarantee that the production of its vehicles will be on schedule. Various risks and uncertainties inherent in all new manufacturing processes could result in delays in the production of FF’s vehicles, including for example those with respect to:
● | pace of bringing production equipment and processes online with the capability to manufacture high-quality units at scale; |
● | compliance with complex and evolving environmental, workplace safety and similar regulations; |
● | channels to secure necessary equipment, tools and components from suppliers on acceptable terms and in a timely manner; |
● | the ability to attract, recruit, hire and train skilled employees; |
● | quality controls; |
● | a health emergency such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, difficult economic conditions and international political tensions; and |
● | other delays and cost overruns. |
Production and manufacturing of some of FF’s vehicles may be outsourced to a third-party contract manufacturer in South Korea and potentially, through a joint venture in China. If such contract manufacturer or joint venture fails to produce and deliver vehicles in a timely manner for any reason, FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation could be materially harmed.
FF expects to outsource the manufacturing of some of its vehicles to a third-party contract manufacturer in South Korea and may also set up a joint venture in China for vehicle manufacturing, which FF may heavily rely upon. Collaboration with third parties, including FF’s joint venture, for the manufacturing of vehicles is subject to risks that may be outside FF’s control. FF has yet to enter into any legally binding definitive agreements regarding such third-party contract manufacturer or the joint venture. The parties could revise or terminate the preliminary memorandum of understanding with such third-party contract manufacturer. The parties may also not reach agreement on legally binding definitive documents regarding such joint venture, could abandon the related preliminary memorandum of understanding and cooperation agreement and pursue other commercial arrangements (such as contract manufacturing or sale) or could terminate the preliminary memorandum of understanding and cooperation agreement at any time before the definitive agreements are signed. Even if the definitive agreements are signed, there remains uncertainty if the manufacturing facility would be build-out as planned or if the parties will cooperate with each other as agreed. For example, FF entered into a joint venture agreement with The9 Limited in March 2019 with the intent for the joint venture to serve the China market with capabilities to manufacture, market, distribute, and sell a new model designed for the JV based on concepts of FF 91. However, the joint venture has been dormant since then because The9 Limited has never provided the required funding, and as a result FF has not licensed its IP to the joint venture.
In addition, FF could experience delays if such third-party contract manufacturing partner or joint venture does not meet agreed upon timelines or experiences capacity constraints. There is risk of potential disputes with business partners, and FF could be affected by adverse publicity related to its business partners, whether or not such publicity is related to their collaboration with FF. FF’s ability to successfully build a premium brand could also be adversely affected by perceptions if the quality of the third-contract manufacturing partners or joint venture’s products not related to FF’s products are questioned. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that FF will successfully ensure its manufacturing partners or joint ventures maintain appropriate quality standards, with any failure to do so adversely affecting customers’ perceptions of FF’s self-manufactured electric vehicles.
13
If FF experiences delays, disputes or other difficulties with third-party manufacturers or joint ventures that FF outsources orders to, there can be no assurance that it would be able to engage other third parties or to establish or expand its own production capacity to meet the needs of its customers in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, or at all. The expense and time required to complete any transition, and to assure that vehicles manufactured at facilities of new manufacturers comply with FF’s quality standards and regulatory requirements may be greater than anticipated. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect FF’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Changes in U.S. and international trade policies, including the export and import controls and laws, particularly with regard to China, may adversely impact FF’s business and operating results.
FF operates with a United States and China dual-home market strategy, partnering with leading international suppliers from North America, Europe and Asia. While FF believes this is the best strategic business model, it also is more subject to risks associated with international trade conflicts including between the United States and China, particularly with respect to export and import controls and laws. Former President Donald J. Trump advocated for greater restrictions on international trade in general, which significantly increased tariffs on certain goods imported into the United States - particularly from China. Former President Trump also took steps toward restricting trade in certain goods. In response, China and other countries imposed similar retaliatory tariffs and other measures. Rising political tensions could reduce trade volume, investment, technological exchange and other economic activities between major international economies, resulting in a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets. Additionally, increasing tariffs could impact raw material prices, the cost of component parts and transportation. Any of the foregoing could have an adverse effect on FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. The new administration under President Joseph R. Biden may also enact policy changes that could have an impact on FF’s business.
Continued or increased price competition in the automotive industry generally, and in electric and other alternative fuel vehicles, may harm FF’s business.
Increased competition could result in lower vehicle unit sales, increased inventory, price reductions, revenue shortfalls, loss of customers and loss of market share, which could harm FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. For example, the automotive industry has witnessed increasing price competition over the years. With more competitors entering the field, many manufacturers are facing downward price pressure and have been adjusting their pricing strategies. FF may not have the same financial resources as some of the competitors to allow it to adjust pricing strategies, which may result in a loss of customers and future market share. On the other hand, if FF follows the downward price adjustment trend, its ability to generate revenues and achieve profitability may be adversely affected. Any of the foregoing may harm FF’s business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
FF faces competition from multiple sources, including new and established domestic and international competitors, and expects to face competition from others in the future, including competition from companies with new technology. This fierce competition may impair FF’s revenues, increase its costs to acquire new customers, and hinder its ability to acquire new customers.
The automotive market in the United States, China, and the European Union, which are FF’s target markets, is and will remain highly competitive. A significant and growing number of established and new automobile manufacturers, as well as other companies, have entered or are reported to have plans to enter the alternative fuel vehicle market, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, as well as the market for autonomous driving technology and applications. In some cases, such competitors have announced an intention to produce electric vehicles exclusively at some point in the future. FF directly competes with other pure-play electric vehicle companies targeting the high-end market segment, and also competes to a lesser extent with new energy vehicles (“NEVs”) and internal combustion engine (“ICE”) vehicles in the mid- to high-end market segment offered by traditional OEMs. In light of the increased demand and regulatory push for and technology changes in connection with the alternative fuel vehicles, FF expects competition in the industry to intensify with more new players in the future, including companies with new technology.
Many of FF’s current and potential competitors, particularly international competitors, have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and other resources than FF, and are able to devote greater resources to the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, sale and support of their products than FF. In order to acquire customers and better compete, FF may have to incur significant expenses for marketing and business development activities and discounts. Any inability to successfully compete with new or existing competitors may prevent FF from attracting new customers and result in loss of market share. By the time FF starts delivering FF 91, a substantial portion of the market share may have already been taken by FF’s competitors. There can be no assurance that FF will be able to compete successfully in global and local markets, failure of which may materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
14
FF’s go-to-market and sales strategy, including its self-owned and partner-owned stores and showrooms as well as FF’s online web platform, will require substantial investment and commitment of resources and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties.
FF intends to establish online and offline marketing, sales, and after-sales channels, which consist of its self-owned stores, partner-owned stores and showrooms and an online web platform. FF plans to distribute its vehicles in certain key markets through its direct stores, while establishing a distribution model of direct sales and partner-owned stores and showrooms in other markets. Users will be able to place orders and purchase FF’s vehicles exclusively through an online platform while assigning the transaction to a specific store or showroom. Establishing FF’s direct stores rather than exclusively distributing its vehicles though partner-owned stores will require significant capital expenditures and may result in reduced or slower expansion of FF’s distribution and sales systems in the key markets compared to a traditional dealership system.
FF expects the partner-owned stores and showrooms (such partners “FF Partners” and such stores or showrooms “FF Partner Stores and showrooms”), will be compensated from the sales and services that are conducted online and from the capital upside of the FF equity that the retail partners will receive as an incentive for making their initial investment in stores of showrooms. However, FF cannot assure that its partner business model will be as attractive as that of traditional OEMs and thus that FF will be able to scale up its network to an adequate size. In addition, FF is not in a position to guarantee that it will be able to generate sufficient traffic to FF’s online web platform or to attract enough users to place orders. Moreover, FF will be competing with automakers with well-established distribution channels, which places significant risk to the successful implementation of FF’s business plan.
If FF is unable to roll out and establish a broad network covering both online and offline channels that fully meet customers’ expectations, consumer experience could be adversely affected, which could in turn materially and adversely affect FF’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Implementing the FF business model is subject to numerous significant challenges, including obtaining permits and approvals from government authorities, and FF may not be successful in addressing these challenges. In addition, dealer trade associations may mount challenges to FF’s distribution strategy by challenging the legality of FF’s operations in court and employing administrative and legislative processes to attempt to prohibit or limit FF’s ability to operate. All these would have a material and adverse effect on FF’s business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Difficult economic conditions, financial or economic crises, or the perceived threat of such a crisis, including a significant decrease in consumer confidence, may affect consumer purchases of premium items, such as FF’s electric vehicles.
Sales of premium consumer products, such as FF 91 and other electric vehicles, depend in part on discretionary consumer spending and therefore may decline based on adverse changes in general economic conditions. The global economy and financial markets experience significant disruptions from time to time, constantly facing new challenges, including the recent uncertainties over the impact of Brexit, ongoing trade disputes and tariffs, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic policies taken by various governments around the world. It is unclear whether these challenges will be successfully addressed and what effects they may have. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies that have been adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies. Any prolonged slowdown in economic development might lead to tighter credit markets, increased market volatility, sudden drops in business and consumer confidence and dramatic changes in business and consumer behaviors.
Specifically, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, difficult macroeconomic conditions, such as decreases in per capita income and disposable income, increased and prolonged unemployment, a decline in consumer confidence, and/or reduced spending by businesses could have a material adverse effect on future investor interest or customer demand for FF’s vehicles. In response to the perceived uncertainty in economic conditions, consumers might delay, reduce or cancel purchases of such electric vehicles. Potential customers may seek to reduce spending by foregoing luxurious new energy vehicles. Decreased demand for FF vehicles, particularly in the United States and China, could negatively affect the business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations of FF.
15
FF faces risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, civil unrest and other circumstances outside its control, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, which could significantly disrupt FF’s operations.
The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of an epidemic, pandemic or other widespread health emergency, civil unrest, terrorist attacks or natural disasters could create economic and financial disruptions. These types of events could lead to operational difficulties, impair FF’s ability to manage its business and expose FF’s business activities to significant losses. FF’s management and operational teams are based in the United States and China. FF has a manufacturing facility in Hanford, California, and plans to partner with a contract manufacturer in South Korea. Additionally, FF may establish manufacturing through a joint venture in China and/or other regions for certain future vehicle models. An unforeseen or catastrophic event in any of these regions could adversely impact FF’s operations.
Most recently, there has been a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19, including changes in consumer and business behavior, pandemic fears, market downturns, and restrictions on business and individual activities has created significant volatility in the global economy and has led to reduced economic activity. The spread of COVID-19 has also created a disruption in the manufacturing, delivery and overall supply chain of vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, and has led to a global decrease in vehicle sales in markets around the world.
The pandemic has resulted in government authorities implementing numerous measures to try to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, and business shutdowns. For example, FF’s employees based in California have been subject to stay-at-home orders from state and local governments. These measures may adversely impact FF’s employees and operations and the operations of FF’s suppliers and business partners, and could negatively impact the construction schedule of FF’s manufacturing facility and the production schedule of FF 91. In addition, various aspects of FF’s business and manufacturing facility cannot be conducted remotely. These measures by government authorities may remain in place for a significant period of time and could adversely affect FF’s construction and manufacturing plans, sales and marketing activities, and business operations.
The spread of COVID-19 has caused FF to modify its business practices, including limiting employee travel, requiring all non-essential personnel to work from home, and canceling or reducing physical participation in meetings, events and conferences. Further action may be required by government authorities or the Company to ensure the health and safety of FF’s employees, customers, suppliers, vendors and business partners. There is no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by the virus or be satisfactory to government authorities. If significant portions of FF’s workforce are unable to work effectively, including due to illness, quarantines, social distancing, government actions or other restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, FF’s business prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be negatively impacted.
On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into a Paycheck Protection Program Promissory Note (“PPP Note”) with East West Bank under the Paycheck Protection Program of the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The Company received total proceeds of $9.2 million from the PPP Note, which is due on April 17, 2022. In accordance with the requirements of the CARES Act, the Company used the proceeds primarily for payroll costs, rent and utilities.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts FF will depend on future developments which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including, but not limited to the duration and spread of the pandemic, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, the effectiveness and side effects of vaccines, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating activities can resume. The COVID-19 pandemic could limit the ability of FF’s suppliers and business partners to perform, including third-party suppliers’ ability to provide components, materials and service used for FF 91. FF may also experience an increase in the cost of raw materials. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, FF may continue to experience an adverse impact to its business as a result of the global economic impact and any lasting effects on the global economy, including any recession that has occurred or may occur in the future.
If FF is unable to attract and/or retain key employees and hire qualified personnel, its ability to compete could be harmed.
FF’s success depends substantially on the continued efforts of its executive officers and key employees. If one or more of FF’s executive officers or key employees are unable or unwilling to continue their services with FF, FF may not be able to replace them easily, in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, certain FF employees received payment of bonuses at the Closing of the Business Combination in recognition of their reduced prior compensation paid by Legacy FF that may increase the risk that they may terminate their employment with FF in the near term.
If any of FF’s executive officers or key employees terminates his or her services, FF’s business may be negatively affected. In addition, FF may incur additional expenses to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel. FF adopted a global partnership program to retain, and provide incentives for, certain key management members. However, there is no guarantee that FF will be able to attract other qualified candidates to fill certain positions. The failure to do so may lead to difficulties in effectively executing FF’s business strategies, and its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, if any of FF’s executive officers or key employees joins a competitor or forms a competing company, FF may lose know-how and be poorly positioned in the marketplace.
16
Unionization activities or labor disputes may disrupt FF’s business and operations and affect its profitability.
Although none of our employees are currently represented by organized labor unions, it is not uncommon for employees at companies in the automobile industry to belong to a union, which can result in higher employee costs and increased risk of work stoppages. Although FF works diligently to provide the best possible work environment for its employees, they could still decide to join or seek representation by organized labor unions, or FF may be required to become a union signatory. FF’s business and operations as well as its profitability could be adversely affected if unionized activities such as work stoppages occur, or if FF becomes involved in labor disputes or other actions filed by labor unions. Any unfavorable outcome in such disputes could create a negative perception of how FF treats its employees.
If FF’s employees were to engage in strikes or other work stoppages, or if third-party strikes or work stoppages cause supply chain interruptions, FF’s business, prospects, operations, financial condition and liquidity could be materially adversely affected.
A strike or work stoppage by FF’s employees or by employees of FF’s outsourcing partners or suppliers could have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, operations, financial condition and liquidity. Work stoppages at FF’s suppliers may cause supply chain interruptions, which could materially and adversely impact FF’s operations given its limited, and in most cases, single-source supply chain. If a work stoppage occurs, it could delay the manufacture and sale of FF’s products, disrupt its business and operations, or have an adverse effect on FF’s cashflow, all of which could materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The discovery of defects in vehicles may result in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns or increased warranty costs, which may adversely affect FF’s brand and result in a decrease in the residual value of FF’s vehicles.
FF’s vehicles may contain design and manufacturing defects. The design and manufacturing of FF’s vehicles are complex and could contain latent defects and errors, which may cause its vehicles not to perform or operate as expected or even result in property damage, personal injuries or death. Furthermore, FF’s vehicles use a substantial amount of third-party and in-house software codes and complex hardware to operate. Advanced technologies are inherently complex, and defects and errors may be revealed over time. While FF has performed extensive internal testing on its vehicles and the related software and hardware systems, and will continue this testing and evaluation, FF has a limited frame of reference by which to assess the long-term performance of its vehicles and systems. There can be no assurance that FF will detect or fix the defects in a timely manner.
The discovery of defects in FF’s vehicles may result in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns, product liability claims or increased warranty costs and other expenses, and may decrease the residual values of vehicles that are subject to leasing arrangements. FF might from time to time, voluntarily or involuntarily, initiate vehicle recalls if any of FF’s vehicles, including any systems or parts sourced from suppliers and contractors, prove to be defective or noncompliant with applicable laws and regulations. Such recalls, whether voluntary or involuntary or caused by systems or components engineered or manufactured by FF or by suppliers and contractors, could require that FF incur significant costs relating to logistics and/or repair. All of the foregoing could materially harm FF’s brand image, business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
FF may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm its financial condition and liquidity if FF is not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.
FF may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm its business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. The automotive industry experiences significant product liability claims, and FF faces the inherent risk of exposure to claims in the event FF’s vehicles do not perform as expected or experience a malfunction that results in property damage, personal injury and/or death. Such claims could divert FF’s financial and other resources and cause disruption to its operations. Furthermore, a successful product liability claim against FF could result in a substantial monetary award while generating significant negative publicity. FF’s insurance coverage might not be sufficient to cover all potential product liability claims.
17
If FF is sued for infringing or misappropriating intellectual property rights of third parties, litigation could be costly and time consuming and could prevent FF from developing or commercializing its future products.
FF is subject to litigation risks from third parties alleging infringement of their intellectual property, which could be time consuming and costly, regardless of whether the claims have merit. Individuals, organizations and companies, including FF’s competitors, may hold or obtain patents, trademarks and/or other proprietary rights that would prevent, limit or interfere with its ability to make, use, develop, sell and/or market FF’s vehicles or components, and may bring claims alleging FF’s infringement of such rights. If FF is determined to have or believes there is a high likelihood that FF has infringed upon a third party’s intellectual property rights, not only may FF be required to pay substantial damages or settlement costs, but FF may also be required to cease sales of its vehicles, incorporate certain components into its vehicles, or offer vehicles or other goods or services that incorporate or use the challenged intellectual property, seek a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property rights (which license may not be available on reasonable terms or at all), redesign the vehicles or other goods or services, establish and maintain alternative branding for FF’s products and services, and/or alter FF’s business strategy, all of which could prevent FF from developing or commercializing its vehicles and adversely and materially hamper its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, negative publicity, and diversion of resources and management attention.
FF may be subject to damages resulting from claims that FF or its employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets or other intellectual property rights of former employers of FF’s employees.
Many of FF’s employees were previously employed by other automotive companies or by suppliers to automotive companies. FF may be subject to claims that it or these employees have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If FF fails in defending such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, it may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. A loss of key personnel or their work product could hamper or prevent FF’s ability to commercialize its products, which could severely harm FF’s business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. Even if FF is successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs, negative publicity and demand on management resources, which would materially adversely affect its business, prospects, brand, financial condition and results of operations.
FF has elected to protect some of its technologies as trade secrets rather than as patents, however, this approach has certain risks and disadvantages.
FF has elected to protect many of its technological developments as trade secrets rather than filing patent applications on them. If another person has filed or files in the future a patent application on the same subject invention FF may be precluded from subsequently filing for its own patent on such invention. In addition, if the other person’s patent application is granted, FF’s continued use of its technological development could then constitute infringement of the other person’s patent. In that case FF could be forced to stop using the affected technology or to pay royalties to continue using it. These risks are heightened for FF given the large number of patent filings in the industry.
Another risk of reliance upon trade secret protection is that there is no guarantee that the efforts FF has made to keep its trade secrets secret will be successful. Trade secrets may be taken or used without FF’s authorization or knowledge, including via information security breaches. It is difficult to detect that trade secrets are being misappropriated, and it is very difficult and expensive to prove disclosure or unauthorized use in court and to obtain an adequate remedy.
FF is dependent upon its proprietary intellectual properties.
FF considers its copyrights, trademarks, trade names, internet domain names, patents and other intellectual property assets invaluable to its ability to develop and protect new technology, grow its business and enhance FF’s brand recognition. FF has invested significant resources to develop its intellectual property assets. Failure to successfully maintain or protect these assets could harm FF’s business. The steps FF has taken to protect its intellectual property rights may not be adequate or prevent theft and use of its trade secrets by others or prevent competitors from copying its newly developed technology. If FF is unable to protect its proprietary rights or if third parties independently develop or gain access to similar technology, FF’s business, revenue, reputation and competitive position could be harmed. For example, the measures FF takes to protect its intellectual property from unauthorized use by others may not be effective for various reasons, including the following:
● | any patent applications FF submits may not result in the issuance of patents; |
● | the scope of FF’s issued patents may not be broad enough to protect its proprietary rights; |
18
● | FF’s issued patents may be challenged and/or invalidated by its competitors or others; |
● | the costs associated with enforcing patents, confidentiality and invention agreements and/or other intellectual property rights may make aggressive enforcement impracticable; |
● | current and future competitors may circumvent FF’s patents; |
● | FF’s in-licensed patents may be invalidated, or the owners of these patents may breach their license arrangements; and |
● | even if FF obtains a favorable outcome in litigation asserting its rights, FF may not be able to obtain an adequate remedy, especially in the context of unauthorized persons copying or reverse engineering FF’s products or technology. |
FF may need to resort to litigation to enforce its intellectual property rights if its intellectual property rights are infringed or misappropriated, which could be costly and time consuming. Additionally, protection of FF’s intellectual property rights in different jurisdictions may vary in their effectiveness. FF has little patent coverage anywhere in the world except the United States and China. Implementation and enforcement of Chinese intellectual property-related laws historically has been considered to be deficient and ineffective. Moreover, with FF’s ownership of patents limited mostly to those issued in China and the United States, FF may find it impossible to prevent competitors from copying its patented advancements in vehicles manufactured and sold elsewhere.
Despite FF’s efforts to protect its proprietary rights, third parties may still attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use its intellectual property or seek court declarations that such third parties’ intellectual property does not infringe upon FF’s intellectual property rights, or they may be able to independently develop technologies that are the same as or similar to FF’s technologies.
FF may not be able to obtain patent protection on certain of its technological developments, and may face better-funded competitors with formidable patent portfolios.
FF may not be able to obtain patent protection for certain of its technological developments because some of its existing applications were abandoned and applicable filing deadlines for seeking to protect such technologies may have passed in the United States and around the world. Also, FF has elected to protect some of its technologies as trade secrets rather than as patents. However, this approach risks the wrongful disclosure and use of FF’s trade secrets by departing employees and others. FF has delayed filing for patent protection on certain of its technological developments in recent years due to financial constraints. Because patents are granted on a first-to-file basis, a delay in patent filings, such as this, can result in other companies filing for and obtaining the same inventions either independently derived or otherwise. In addition, inventions not subject to an earlier filing date as disclosed in an active application can result in FF’s inventions or patents being “blocked” by prior art in the meantime. The consequences of the filing delays could place FF at a disadvantage relative to competitors that have been continuously more active in filing patent applications and could leave FF unable to protect its technologies that differentiate FF’s vehicles from the vehicles of its competitors. FF also faces better-funded competitors with formidable patent portfolios and there can be no guarantee that one or more competitors has not and/or will not obtain patent protection on features necessary to implement in FF’s vehicles.
FF is subject to stringent and changing laws, regulations, standards and contractual obligations related to data privacy and security, and FF’s actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm its reputation, subject it to significant fines and liability, or otherwise adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
FF plans to permit certain of its business partners to collect, process, store, and in some cases transfer across borders, personally identifiable information concerning the drivers and passengers of FF’s vehicles. Such information may include among other things faces, names, geolocation information, payment data, and preferences. Although FF has adopted security policies and measures, including technology, to protect its customer information and other proprietary data, it may be required to expend significant resources to comply with data breach requirements if third parties improperly obtain and use personal information of FF’s customers or FF otherwise experiences a data loss with respect to its customers’ personal information.
FF plans to operate on a global basis, and thus FF will face a significant burden to comply with data privacy and information security laws and regulations in the United States, the State of California, China, Europe, and the rest of the world. Although FF endeavors to comply with all such laws and regulations, as well as FF’s own policies and obligations under contracts with third parties, FF may at times fail to do so or be alleged to have failed to do so. Any failure or perceived failure by FF to comply with such laws, regulations, policies, and obligations in one or more jurisdictions could expose FF to litigation, awards, fines or judgments, civil and/or criminal penalties or negative publicity, and could adversely affect FF’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
19
The global regulatory framework governing the collection, processing, storage, use and sharing of personal information, is rapidly evolving and is likely to continue to be subject to uncertainty and varying interpretations. In the United States, certain state laws may be more stringent or broader in scope, or offer greater individual rights, with respect to sensitive and personal information than federal, international or other state laws, and such laws may differ from each other, which may complicate compliance efforts. For example, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”) which went into effect in January 2020 and became enforceable by the California Attorney General in July 2020, and which, among other things, requires companies covered by the legislation to provide new disclosures to California consumers and afford such consumers new rights of access and deletion for personal information, as well as the right to opt out of certain sales of personal information. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for certain data breaches that result in the loss of personal information. This private right of action may increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. Additionally, a new California ballot initiative, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) was passed in November 2020. Effective starting on January 1, 2023, the CPRA imposes additional obligations on companies covered by the legislation and will significantly modify the CCPA, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information. The CPRA also creates a new state agency that will be vested with authority to implement and enforce the CCPA and the CPRA. The effects of the CCPA and the CPRA are potentially significant and may require FF to modify its data collection or processing practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and expenses in an effort to comply and increase our potential exposure to regulatory enforcement and/or litigation. Internationally, many jurisdictions have established their own data security and privacy legal framework with which FF or its clients may need to comply, including, but not limited to, the European Union, or EU. The EU’s data protection landscape is currently unstable, resulting in possible significant operational costs for internal compliance and risk to FF’s business. In October 2020 a proposed new Personal Information Protection Law was introduced in China. The draft law seeks to impose restrictions on entities that collect and process personal data and sensitive information about subjects in China. The law imposes fines for non-compliance up to RMB 50,000,000 (approximately $7.4 million) or up to 5% of the entity’s revenue for the preceding year.
Failure by FF, whether actual or perceived, to comply with federal, state or international privacy, data protection or security laws or regulations could result in regulatory or litigation-related actions against FF, legal liability, fines, damages and other costs, and could adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
FF is subject to cybersecurity risks relating to its various systems and software, or that of any third party that FF relies upon, and any failure, cyber event or breach of security could prevent FF from effectively operating its business, harm its reputation or subject FF to significant liability.
FF and the business partners storing its data are routinely subject to cybersecurity threats and attacks. Information security risks have increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, state-sponsored actors, and other external parties. FF’s vehicles contain complex IT systems and software to support interactive and other functions. FF maintains policies, procedures and technological safeguards and has implemented policy, procedural, technical, physical and administrative controls intended to prevent unauthorized access to its IT networks and vehicles’ systems. However, unauthorized persons may attempt to gain unauthorized access to modify, alter, insert malicious code and use such networks and systems. In the event FF’s or FF business partners’ data system protection efforts are unsuccessful and such systems or the data systems of vehicles are compromised, FF could suffer substantial harm.
FF cannot entirely eliminate the risk of improper or unauthorized access to or disclosure of data or personal information, other security events that impact the integrity or availability of FF’s data systems and operations, or the related costs FF may incur to mitigate the consequences from such events. Additionally, FF cannot guarantee that its insurance coverage would be sufficient to cover all losses. Moreover, FF has limited control over and limited ability to monitor FF’s third-party business partners that collect, store, and process information, including personally identifiable information, on FF’s behalf. They and their systems could be the subject of cyberattacks, just as FF could, and they may or may not put into practice the policies and safeguards they should in order to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and their contractual obligations to FF. A vulnerability in a third-party business partner’s software or systems, a failure of FF’s third-party business partner’s safeguards, policies or procedures, or a breach of a third-party business provider’s software or systems could result in the compromise of the confidentiality, integrity or availability of FF’s systems or vehicles or the data stored by FF’s business partners.
To the extent that FF’s vehicles are commercialized, there can be no assurance that these vulnerabilities related to FF’s systems and software will not be exploited in the future before they can be identified, or that FF’s remediation efforts will be successful. A major breach of FF’s network security and systems could have negative consequences for its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation including possible fines, penalties and damages, reduced customer demand for FF’s vehicles and harm to its reputation and brand. Any cyberattacks, unauthorized access, disruption, damage or control of FF’s IT networks and systems or any loss or leakage of data or information stored in its systems could result in disruption of FF’s operations and legal claims or proceedings. In addition, regardless of their veracity, reports of cyberattacks to our networks, systems or data, as well as other factors that may result in the perception that FF’s networks, systems or data are vulnerable to “hacking,” could further negatively affect FF’s brand and harm its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation.
20
FF may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for its vehicles.
Motor vehicles are subject to substantial regulation under international, federal, state and local laws. Vehicles produced by FF will be required to comply with the applicable safety, product and other standards and regulations in FF’s targeted markets. For example, FF’s vehicles in the United States will be subject to numerous regulatory requirements established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), including all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (“FMVSS”). Rigorous testing and the use of approved materials and equipment are among the requirements for achieving federal certification. In addition, FF’s vehicles sold in China must pass various tests and undergo a certification process and be affixed with the China Compulsory Certification (“CCC”), before delivery from the factory and sale, and such certification is also subject to periodic renewal. FF may fail to obtain or renew the required certification or regulatory approval for its vehicles, which may prevent FF from delivering, selling and/or importing/exporting its vehicles, and therefore materially and adversely affect its business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
FF and its manufacturing partners may be subject to increased environmental and safety or other regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions.
As a manufacturing company, including with respect to FF’s current Hanford, California facility, its potential future facility with a third-party manufacturer in South Korea and its proposed joint venture in China, FF and its manufacturing partners are or will be subject to complex environmental, manufacturing, health and safety laws and regulations at numerous jurisdictional levels in the U.S., South Korea and other locations where they may expand operations, including laws relating to the use, handling, storage, recycling, disposal and human exposure to hazardous materials and relating to the construction, expansion and maintenance of their facilities. The costs of compliance, including remediating contamination if any is found on FF or its manufacturing partner’s properties, and any changes to their operations mandated by new or amended laws, may be significant. FF and/or its manufacturing partners may be required to incur additional costs to comply with any changes to such regulations, and any failures to comply could result in significant expenses, delays or fines. FF and its manufacturing partners will be subject to laws, regulations and standards applicable to the supply, manufacture, import, sale and service of automobiles in different jurisdictions and relating to vehicle safety, fuel economy and emissions, among other things, in different jurisdictions which often may be materially different from each other. As a result, FF and/or its manufacturing partners may need to make additional investments in the applicable vehicles and systems to ensure regulatory compliance.
Additionally, there is a variety of international, federal and state regulations that may apply to autonomous vehicles, which include many existing vehicle standards that were not originally intended to apply to vehicles that may not have a driver. For example, there are currently no federal U.S. regulations pertaining to the safety of autonomous vehicles; however, NHTSA has established recommended guidelines. Certain states have legal restrictions on autonomous vehicles, and many other states are considering them. Such regulations continue to rapidly change, which increases the likelihood of a patchwork of complex or conflicting regulations. This could result in higher costs and cash expenditures, or may delay products or restrict self-driving features and availability, any of which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation.
FF may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, economic sanctions and other similar laws and regulations, and non-compliance with such laws and regulations could subject FF to civil, criminal and administrative penalties, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.
FF is or will be subject to laws with respect to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and other similar laws and regulations in various jurisdictions in which FF conducts, or in the future may conduct, activities, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and other anti-corruption laws and regulations. The FCPA prohibits FF and its officers, directors, employees and business partners acting on its behalf, including agents, from offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to a “foreign official” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records and accounts that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls. A violation of these laws or regulations could adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.
FF’s policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these regulations may not be sufficient, and its directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, agents, and business partners could engage in improper conduct for which FF may be held responsible. Non-compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering or financial and economic sanctions laws could subject FF to adverse media coverage, investigations, and severe administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.
21
Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials used to manufacture FF’s vehicles, in particular for lithium-ion cells or electronic components, could harm its business.
FF incurs significant costs related to procuring components and raw materials required to manufacture its vehicles. FF may experience cost increases, supply disruption and/or shortages relating to components and raw materials, which could materially and adversely impact its business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. FF uses various components and raw materials in its business, such as steel, aluminum, and lithium battery cells. The prices for these materials fluctuate, and their available supply may be unstable, depending on market conditions and global demand for these materials, including as a result of increased production of electric vehicles by FF’s competitors, as well as unforeseeable events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
For instance, FF is exposed to multiple risks relating to lithium battery cells or electronic components, including but not limited to: (i) an increase in the cost, or decrease in the available supply, of materials used in the battery cells, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese; (ii) disruption in the supply of battery cells or electronic components due to quality issues or recalls by battery cell or electronic component manufacturers; and (iii) the inability or unwillingness of FF’s current battery cell or electronic component manufacturers to build or operate battery cell or electronic components manufacturing plants to supply the numbers of lithium cells or electronic components required to support the growth of the electric vehicle industry as demand for such battery cells or electronic components increases.
FF’s business is dependent on the continued supply of battery cells for the battery packs used in its vehicles and other electronic components. While FF believes several sources of the battery cells are available for such battery packs, it has to date fully qualified only one supplier for the battery cells used in such battery packs and have very limited flexibility in changing battery cell suppliers. Additionally, FF has not approved secondary sources for the key sourced components used in FF 91. Any disruption in the supply of battery cells or electronic components from such suppliers could disrupt production of FF’s vehicles until such time as a different supplier is fully qualified. There can be no assurance that FF would be able to successfully retain alternative suppliers on a timely basis, on acceptable terms or at all.
Furthermore, tariffs or shortages in petroleum and other economic conditions may result in significant increases in freight charges and material costs. In addition, a growth in popularity of electric vehicles without a significant expansion in battery cell production capacity could result in shortages which would result in increased materials costs to FF negatively impact its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Substantial increases in the prices for FF’s raw materials or components would increase its operating costs, and could reduce the margins if FF cannot recoup the increased costs through increased vehicle prices. Any attempts to increase product prices in response to increased material costs could result in a decrease in sales and therefore materially and adversely affect FF’s brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
FF may be subject to risks associated with autonomous driving technology.
FF 91 is designed with autonomous driving functionalities and FF plans to continue its research and development efforts in autonomous driving technology. However, such functionality is relatively new and poses risks, such as from defective software performance or unauthorized access or security attacks by other persons. The safety of such technologies also depends in part on user interaction, and users may not be accustomed to using such technologies. Such failures could lead to accidents, injury and death. For example, there have already been fatal accidents caused by autonomous driving vehicles developed by other leading market players. Any accidents involving self-driving vehicles — even if involving those of FF’s competitors — may result in lawsuits, liability and negative publicity and increase calls for more restrictive laws and regulations governing self-driving vehicles or to keep in place laws and regulations in locations that do not permit drivers to employ the self-driving functionality. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect FF’s business, results of operations, financial condition, reputation and prospects.
Autonomous driving technology is also subject to considerable regulatory uncertainty as the law evolves to catch up with the rapidly evolving nature of the technology itself, all of which are beyond FF’s control. Also see “FF and its manufacturing partners may be subject to increased environmental and safety or other regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions.”
Developments in new energy technology or improvements in the fuel economy of internal combustion engines or significant reduction in gas prices may materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation.
Significant developments in alternative technologies, such as advanced diesel, ethanol, or compressed natural gas or improvements in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine or significant reduction in gas prices may materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation in ways FF does not currently anticipate. Other fuels or sources of energy, such as hydrogen fuel cells, may emerge as customers’ preferred alternative to battery electric vehicles. FF is currently a pure battery electric vehicle company. Any failure by FF to develop new or enhanced technologies or processes, or to react to changes in existing technologies or consumer preferences, could result in the loss of competitiveness of FF’s vehicles, decreased revenue and a loss of market share to competitors.
22
FF’s vehicles will make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which have been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flame.
FF’s vehicles will make use of lithium-ion battery cells. It has been reported that on rare occasions, lithium-ion cells can rapidly release the energy they store by venting smoke and flames in a manner that can ignite nearby materials as well as other lithium-ion cells. While FF has designed the battery enclosure and management system in its battery pack to be actively and continuously monitoring all battery modules over the current voltage and temperature conditions of the battery pack to prevent such incidents, a field or testing failure of our vehicles or battery packs could occur, which could subject FF to product liability claims, product recalls, or redesign efforts, and lead to negative publicity. Moreover, any failure of a competitor’s electric vehicle or energy storage product may cause indirect adverse publicity for FF and FF’s products.
In addition, FF will need to store a significant number of lithium-ion cells at its facilities. Any mishandling of battery cells may cause disruption to business operations and cause damage and injuries.
FF may not be able to guarantee customers access to efficient, economical and comprehensive charging solutions.
FF has not built any commercial charging infrastructure, and FF’s customers will have to rely on private and publicly accessible charging infrastructure, which is generally considered to be insufficient, especially in China. Although FF has developed its proprietary and patented battery pack system with leading battery energy density of 187 Wh/kg (without coolant) and high charging capability of up to 200kW, FF may not have competitive advantages in terms of proprietary charging infrastructure or holistic charging solutions. Some competitors may provide charging services via self-owned charging infrastructure, battery swapping and charging vehicles, which FF may not be able to deliver.
The charging services FF may provide could fail to meet the expectations and demands of FF’s customers, who may lose confidence in FF and its vehicles. This may also deter potential customers from purchasing FF’s vehicles. In addition, even if FF has the ability and plan to build its own charging infrastructure, it may not be cost-effective and FF may face difficulties in finding proper locations and obtaining relevant government permits and approvals. To the extent FF is unable to meet its customers’ expectations or demand, or faces difficulties in developing efficient, economical and comprehensive charging solutions, FF’s reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
FF will face risks associated with international operations, including possible unfavorable regulatory, political, currency, tax and labor conditions, which could harm its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
FF has a global footprint with domestic and international operations and subsidiaries. Accordingly, FF is subject to a variety of legal, political and regulatory requirements and social, environmental and economic conditions over which FF has little control. For example, FF may be impacted by trade policies, environmental conditions, political uncertainty and economic cycles involving the United States and China, which are inherently unpredictable. FF is subject to a number of risks particularly associated with international business activities that may increase FF’s costs, impact its ability to sell vehicles and require significant management attention. These risks include conforming FF’s vehicles to various international regulatory and safety requirements as well as charging and other electric infrastructures, organizing local operating entities, difficulty in establishing, staffing and managing foreign operations, challenges in attracting customers, hedging against foreign exchange risk, compliance with foreign labor laws and restrictions, and foreign government taxes, regulations and permit requirements, FF’s ability to enforce its contractual rights, trade restrictions, customs regulations, tariffs and price or exchange controls, and preferences of foreign nations for domestically manufactured products. If FF does not sufficiently address any of these challenges, its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
FF might not obtain and maintain sufficient insurance coverage, which could expose FF to significant costs and business disruption.
To the extent FF commercializes its vehicles, FF may only obtain and maintain a limited liability insurance coverage for its products and business operations. A successful liability claim against FF due to injuries suffered by the users of its vehicles or services could materially and adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and reputation. In addition, FF does not have any business disruption insurance. Any business disruption event could result in substantial cost and diversion of resources.
Government financial support, incentives and policies for electric vehicles are subject to change. Discontinuation of any of the government subsidies or imposition of any additional taxes or surcharges could adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Government financial support and subsidies are critical to electric vehicle sales and changing consumer behaviors. Any reduction, discontinuation, elimination or discriminatory application of government financial support, subsidies and economic incentives because of policy changes, fiscal tightening, or the perceived success of electric vehicles or other reasons may result in the diminished competitiveness of the electric vehicle industry generally or FF’s electric vehicles in particular. Competitors who have already rolled out their electric vehicles before the phase-out or discontinuation of these incentives may be able to expand their customer base more effectively, which could place FF at a competitive disadvantage. While certain tax credits and other incentives for alternative energy production, alternative fuel and electric vehicles have been available in the past, there is no guarantee that these programs will be available in the future. If current tax incentives are not available in the future, or if additional taxes or surcharges are imposed, FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
23
FF may engage in direct-to-consumer leasing or financing arrangements in the future which will expose FF to credit, compliance and residual value risks, the failure of which to manage may materially harm FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation.
FF expects the availability of financing or leasing programs to be important for its potential customers and may offer financing or leasing arrangements for its vehicles or collaborate with third parties to provide such arrangements in the future. However, FF may not be able to obtain adequate funding for its future financing or leasing programs or offer terms acceptable to potential customers. If FF is unable to provide compelling financing or leasing arrangements for its vehicles, it may be unable to grow the vehicle orders and deliveries, which could materially and adversely harm FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, if FF does not successfully monitor and comply with applicable national, state, and/or local consumer protection laws and regulations governing these transactions, FF may become subject to enforcement actions or penalties, either of which may harm its business and reputation.
Moreover, offering leasing or financing arrangements will expose FF to risks commonly associated with the extension of credit. Credit risk is the potential loss that may arise from any failure in the ability or willingness of the customer to fulfil its contractual obligations when they fall due. In the event of a widespread economic downturn or other catastrophic event, FF’s customers may be unable or unwilling to satisfy their payment obligations on a timely basis or at all. Moreover, competitive pressure and challenging markets may increase credit risk through loans and leases to financially weak customers and extended payment terms. If a significant number of FF’s customers default, FF may incur credit losses and/or have to recognize impairment charges with respect to the underlying assets, which may be substantial. Any such credit losses and/or impairment charges could adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, operating results or financial condition.
Further, in lease arrangements, the profitability of any vehicles returned to FF at the end of their leases depends on FF’s ability to accurately project such vehicles’ residual values at the outset of the leases, and such values may fluctuate prior to the end of their terms depending on various factors such as supply and demand of FF’s used vehicles, economic cycles, and the pricing of new vehicles. FF may incur substantial losses if its vehicles’ fair market value deteriorates faster than projected.
FF’s founder, Mr. Yueting Jia (YT Jia), is closely associated with the image and brand of FF. Circumstances affecting YT Jia’s reputation, and investor and public perception of his role and influence in FF, may shape FF’s brand and ability to do business. Additionally, YT Jia may continue to be subject to certain restrictions in China if not all creditors participating in YT Jia’s restructuring plan comply with the requirement to request removal of YT Jia from such restrictions.
FF’s founder, Mr. YT Jia, has previously been the subject of negative press related to his debts and has significant influence over FF’s management and operations. In December 2019, YT Jia was also determined by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange of China to be unsuitable for a position as director, supervisor or executive officer of public listed companies in China as a result of violation by Leshi Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“LeTV”), a public company founded and controlled by YT Jia in China, of several listing rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange, including procedural non-compliance for the provision of funding and guarantees by LeTV to other affiliated companies founded by YT Jia, discrepancies in LeTV’s forecast and financials, and procedurally improper use of proceeds from LeTV’s public offering. Additionally, as the controlling shareholder and the former chairman of LeTV, YT Jia, received a notice from China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) in April 2021 notifying the CSRC’s decision to impose an administrative fine of RMB241.2 million and a permanent ban from entry into the securities market on YT Jia as a result of LeTV’s misrepresentation in the registration document of its IPO and its financial statements, fraud in connection with a private placement, and other violations of securities law and listing requirements. In January 2021, YT Jia, as the former executive director and chairman of Coolpad Group Limited (SEHK: 2369) (“Coolpad”) received a decision from the Listing Committee of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKSE Listing Committee”) that YT Jia and another former executive director of Coolpad had breached their undertakings to the HKSE Listing Committee in connection with Coolpad’s failure to comply with the Hong Kong listing rules requirement to timely announce certain disclosable transactions (such as advancement of money, provision of financial assistance, or certain related party transactions) and timely publish its financial results. HKSE Listing Committee determined that YT Jia’s retention of office on the board of Coolpad would have been prejudicial to the interests of investors. YT Jia appealed the decision on January 15, 2021.
As the Founder and the Chief Product and User Ecosystem Officer of FF, YT Jia’s image will be closely associated with its brand. The media’s focus on negative coverage could materially and adversely affect FF’s valuation and investors’ confidence. Such negative publicity could also solicit inquiries from securities regulatory bodies in the relevant jurisdictions where FF does business. While YT Jia completed a Chapter 11 restructuring plan with respect to his personal debts and claims in June 2020 and received a discharge order on March 4, 2021 with an effective discharge date as of February 3, 2021, according to which all distributions, rights, and treatment that are provided in the plan will be in exchange for, and in complete satisfaction, settlement, discharge, and release of, all claims against the debtor of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, or against the assets or properties of YT Jia that arose before the discharge date, there is no assurance that such negative publicity, although not directly related to FF, would not adversely affect FF’s business, prospects, brand, financial condition and results of operations.
24
Additionally, as a condition for the creditors to receive distribution from the trust established as part of the restructuring plan, creditors are required to request Chinese Courts to remove YT Jia from the list of dishonest judgment debtors (“China Debtor List”) and lift any consumption or travel restrictions (“China Restrictions”) that are currently imposed on YT Jia by the Chinese courts. As of January 17, 2021, creditors of more than 80% of the total allowed claims in the restructuring plan confirmed submitted such a request to the Chinese courts. However, there may be risks that other holders who had not yet submitted such a request would not submit the request or that the Chinese courts do not approve such a request. If YT Jia cannot be removed from such restrictions, he will not be able to make certain consumptions or actions deemed as “high consumption” which will nevertheless be necessary for him to work in China, such as taking a plane. If YT Jia cannot be removed from the China Debtor List, in addition to the restriction applies to consumption restriction, he cannot be a director, supervisor or other executive officer of the Company in China.
FF Global, which is governed by an executive committee consisting of eight members, may exert influence over the management of FF through its issuance of equity interests as additional compensation to the management of FF.
As described below in this prospectus under the caption “Partnership Program,” FF established a partnership program (the “Partnership Program”) through FF Global Partners LLC (“FF Global”) in July 2019. FF Global controls Pacific Technology Holding LLC, which indirectly holds approximately 37.4% of FF’s outstanding voting power on a fully-diluted basis as of the date hereof. The members and managers of FF Global are treated as “partners” or “preparatory partners” from FF’s internal governance perspective. FF Global is managed by its executive committee (the “FF Global Executive Committee”), which currently consists of eight managers — YT Jia, Matthias Aydt, Jiawei Wang, Tin Mok, Prashant Gulati, Chaoying Deng, Philip Bethell and Dr. Carsten Breitfeld. A majority of these managers (excluding Dr. Carsten Breitfeld, who does not yet have voting rights because he has not met the tenure eligibility requirement and once he satisfies the tenure requirement in September 2022, subject to election by the partners of FF Global, he will become a voting manager) is required to approve any actions of FF Global. The managers, except for Chaoying Deng, are nominated by the partners of FF Global from the existing partners that satisfy certain qualifications and elected by all partners by plurality voting according to the policy and procedures adopted by the committee.
FF Global may issue equity interests to members of FF management and FF employees as additional incentives to attract and retain talent of FF. The decisions on the issuance of FF Global equity interests to FF management and employees are made by the FF Global Executive Committee, which consists of voting members that are not the NEOs and different from the members of the compensation committee of the FF board of directors. Certain of FF’s current management (including most of the executive officers of FF) and other FF employees participate in the Partnership Program as members in FF Global. By controlling the decision making regarding additional incentives to be granted to the management and employees of FF, FF Global and its executive committee may exert influence over the management of FF outside the FF board of directors. FF Global’s interests may conflict with the interests of FF.
FF is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business.
FF has been and continues to be involved in legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of FF’s business. Outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain. For example, FF has been involved in litigation with contractors and suppliers over its past due payments. Although FF has been making efforts to settle these disputes, including establishing a vendor trust secured by certain of FF’s assets in April 2019, there are two active legal proceedings pending in connection therewith as of the date hereof in the U.S. FF’s China subsidiaries are involved in 86 proceedings or disputes in China. Substantially all of the claims arose out of those subsidiaries’ ordinary course of business, involving lease contracts, third-party suppliers or vendors, or labor disputes. The amounts claimed by the parties in the disputes involving FF’s China subsidiaries range from $1,000 to $5.2 million. If one or more of those legal matters were resolved against FF in a reporting period for amounts above management’s expectations, FF’s business prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.
Further, regardless of whether the results of the legal proceedings are favorable to FF, they could still result in substantial costs, negative publicity and diversion of resources and management attention, which could materially affect FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
25
Risks Related to FF’s Operations in China
Substantial aspects of FF’s business and operation may be based in China, which will be subject to economic, operational and legal risks specific to China.
As part of FF’s dual-market strategy, substantial aspects of its business and operations may be based in China in the future, which will increase FF’s sensitivity to the economic, operational and legal risks specific to China. For example, China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many aspects, including, but not limited to, the degree of government involvement, level of corruption, control of capital investment, reinvestment control of foreign exchange, control of intellectual property, allocation of resources, growth rate and development level. It is unclear whether and how FF’s current or future business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations may be affected by changes in China’s economic, political and social conditions and in its laws, regulations and policies. In addition, many of the economic reforms carried out by the Chinese government are unprecedented or experimental and are expected to be refined and improved over time. This refining and improving process may not necessarily have a positive effect on FF’s operations and business development. Additionally, the legal system in China is not fully developed and there are inherent uncertainties that may affect the protection afforded to FF for its business and activities in China that are governed by the Chinese laws and regulations.
Further, if substantial FF operations and markets are based in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), FF may need to rely on dividends and other distributions paid by its PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements FF may have, and any limitation on the ability of the PRC subsidiaries to make payments to FF, including but not limited to foreign currencies control, could have a material and adverse effect on FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation, including FF’s ability to conduct business, or limit FF’s ability to grow.
FF may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulations on internet-related business, automotive businesses and other business carried out by FF’s PRC subsidiaries.
The Chinese government extensively regulates the internet and automotive industries and other business carried out by FF’s PRC operating entities, such laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainties. As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to determine what actions or omissions may be deemed to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations.
Several PRC regulatory authorities, such as the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”), oversee different aspects of the electric vehicle business, and FF’s PRC subsidiaries will be required to obtain a wide range of government approvals, licenses, permits and registrations in connection with their operations in China. For example, certain filings must be made by automobile dealers through the information system for the national automobile circulation operated by the relevant commerce department within 90 days after the receipt of a business license. Furthermore, the electric vehicle industry is relatively immature in China, and the government has not adopted a clear regulatory framework to regulate the industry.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of the existing PRC laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies relating to internet-related businesses as well as automotive businesses and companies. There is no assurance that FF will be able to obtain all the permits or licenses related to its business in China, or will be able to maintain its existing licenses or obtain new ones. In the event that the PRC government considers that FF was or is operating without the proper approvals, licenses or permits, promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses, or imposes additional restrictions on the operation of any part of FF’s business, the PRC government has the power, among other things, to levy fines, confiscate FF’s income, revoke its business licenses, and require FF to discontinue the relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of its business. Any of these actions by the PRC government may have a material adverse effect on FF’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
26
Any independent registered public accounting firm operating in China that FF uses as an auditor for its operations in China will not be permitted to be subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), and as such, investors may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection.
FF expects to expand the operations in China in the future to carry out its dual-home market strategy. Any independent registered public accounting firm that FF uses as an auditor for its operations in China will not be permitted to be subject to inspection by PCAOB.
Inspections of other PCAOB-registered firms by the PCAOB outside of China have identified deficiencies in their audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may improve future audit quality. This lack of PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating audits and quality control procedures of any auditors operating in China. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections to the extent that certain portions of financial statements are prepared by auditors in China. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of the China-based audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investor confidence may be affected by the fact that the financial statements with respect to FF’s PRC operating entities were prepared by auditors not inspected by the PCAOB.
The lack of PCAOB inspections with respect to FF’s operations in China may subject FF to additional risks in light of the changing regulatory framework. As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on limited access to business books and records and audit work papers caused by the protection of state secrets and national security laws in China, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCA”) Act was enacted in December 2020. The major purpose of the HFCA is to avail U.S. regulators of access to review audits for companies in the same manner in which they review those of firms in any other nation. The HFCA requires that, among others, to the extent that the PCAOB has been unable to inspect a reporting issuers’ auditor for three consecutive years, the SEC shall prohibit its stock from being traded on any national securities exchange or any over-the-counter markets in the United States. Such legislation efforts could cause investor uncertainty for both affected foreign issuers and transnational companies with operations in China including FF. If FF’s accounting firms could not avail to the PCAOB inspection regarding its work in China within three years, FF will need to take remedial measures including shifting its operations and marketing to other jurisdictions, which will materially and adversely affect its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
27
Risks Related the Common Stock
We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our Class A Common Stock and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our Class A Common Stock.
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. has no direct operations and no significant assets other than the ownership of the stock of its subsidiaries. As a result, Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. will depend on its subsidiaries for distributions, loans and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our financial obligations, including our expenses as a publicly traded company, and to pay any dividends with respect to our Class A Common Stock. Applicable state law and contractual restrictions, including in agreements governing the current or future indebtedness of FF, as well as the financial condition and operating requirements of FF, may limit our ability to obtain cash from FF. Thus, we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our Class A Common Stock. Any future dividend payments are within the absolute discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements, financial condition, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions with respect to payment of dividends, business opportunities, anticipated cash needs, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
There can be no assurance that FF will be able to comply with the continued listing standards of NASDAQ.
If NASDAQ delists FF’s shares from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the applicable listing standards, we and our shareholders could face significant material adverse consequences including:
● | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
● | reduced liquidity for our securities; |
● | a determination that our Common Stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Common Stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for shares of our Common Stock; |
● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
FF may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, or FF may be subject to restructuring, impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on FF’s business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and the trading price of FF’s securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Factors outside of FF’s control may, at any time, arise. As a result of these factors, FF may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure its operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in FF reporting losses. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and therefore not have an immediate impact on FF’s liquidity, the fact that FF reports charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about FF or its securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause FF to be unable to obtain future financing on favorable terms or at all.
If the Business Combination’s benefits do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of FF’s securities may decline.
If the perceived benefits of the Business Combination do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of FF’s securities (including the Class A Common Stock) may decline.
In addition, fluctuations in the trading price of FF’s securities could contribute to the loss of all or part of your investment. Prior to the Business Combination, there was not a public market for Legacy FF’s ordinary shares. Accordingly, the valuation ascribed to Legacy FF may not be indicative of the price that will prevail in the trading market following the Business Combination. If an active market for FF’s securities develops and continues, the trading price of FF’s securities could be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond FF’s control.
Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on your investment in FF’s securities, and FF’s securities may trade at prices significantly below the price paid by you. In such circumstances, the trading price of FF’s securities may not recover and may experience a further decline. Factors affecting the trading price of FF’s securities may include:
● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in FF’s financial results or the financial results of companies perceived to be similar to it; |
● | changes in the market’s expectations about FF’s operating results; |
28
● | success of competitors; |
● | FF’s operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in a particular period; |
● | FF’s ability to attract and retain senior management or key operating personnel, and the addition or departure of key personnel; |
● | changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning FF or the transportation industry in general; |
● | operating and share price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to FF; |
● | FF’s ability to market new and enhanced products and technologies on a timely basis; |
● | changes in laws and regulations affecting FF’s business; |
● | FF’s ability to meet compliance requirements; |
● | commencement of, or involvement in, threatened or actual litigation and government investigations; |
● | changes in FF’s capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt; |
● | the volume of FF’s Common Stock available for public sale; |
● | any change in FF’s board of directors or management; |
● | actions taken by FF’s directors, executive officers or significant stockholders such as sales of FF’s Common Stock, or the perception that such actions could occur; and |
● | general economic and political conditions such as recessions, interest rates, fuel prices, international currency fluctuations and acts of war or terrorism. |
Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of FF’s securities irrespective of FF’s operating performance. The stock markets in general have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of FF’s securities, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for electric vehicle manufacturers’ stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to FF could depress FF’s share price regardless of FF’s business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations. A decline in the market price of FF’s securities also could adversely affect FF’s ability to issue additional securities and FF’s ability to obtain additional financing in the future.
FF’s ability to use net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes may be limited in connection with the Business Combination or other ownership changes.
Legacy FF has net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal and state, as well as non-U.S., income tax purposes that are potentially available to offset future taxable income, subject to certain limitations (including the limitations described below). If not utilized, U.S. federal net operating loss carryforward amounts generated prior to January 1, 2018 will begin to expire 20 years after the tax year in which such losses originated. Non-U.S. and state net operating loss carryforward amounts may also be subject to expiration. Realization of these net operating loss carryforwards depends on the future taxable income of FF, and there is a risk that the existing carryforwards of FF could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities, which could materially and adversely affect FF’s operating results.
Under Section 382 of the Code, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in the ownership of its equity by certain stockholders over a three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and certain other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. The applicable rules generally operate by focusing on changes in ownership among stockholders considered by the rules as owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the stock of a company, as well as changes in ownership arising from new issuances of stock by the Company. Legacy FF may have experienced ownership changes in the past and FF may have experienced an ownership change as a result of the Business Combination. FF may also experience ownership changes in the future as a result of changes in the ownership of its stock, which may be outside our control. Accordingly, FF’s ability to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards could be limited by such ownership changes, which could result in increased tax liability to FF, potentially decreasing the value of its stock.
29
There are additional limitations found under Sections 269, 383, and 384 of the Code that may also limit the use of net operating loss carryforwards that may apply and result in increased tax liability to FF, potentially decreasing the value of FF’s stock. In addition, a “Separate Return Limitation Year”, or SRLY, generally encompasses all separate return years of a U.S. federal consolidated group member (or predecessor in a Section 381 or other transaction), including tax years in which it joins a consolidated return of another group. According to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-21, net operating losses of a member that arise in a SRLY may be applied against consolidated taxable income only to the extent of the loss member’s cumulative contribution to the consolidated taxable income. As a result, this SRLY limitation may also increase FF’s tax liability (by reducing the carryforward of certain net operating losses that otherwise might be used to offset the amount of taxable gain), potentially decreasing the value of FF’s stock.
As a result of the Business Combination, FF’s tax obligations and related filings may have become significantly more complex and subject to greater risk of audit or examination by taxing authorities, and outcomes resulting from such audits or examinations could adversely impact our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations, including our after-tax profitability and financial results.
FF’s operations are subject to significant income, withholding and other tax obligations in the United States and may become subject to taxes in numerous additional state, local and non-U.S. jurisdictions with respect to our income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. In addition, FF now has international supplier and customer relationships and may expand operations to multiple jurisdictions, including jurisdictions in which the tax laws, their interpretation or their administration may not be favorable. Additionally, future changes in tax law or regulations in any jurisdiction in which FF operates or will operate could result in changes to the taxation of FF’s income and operations, which could cause our after-tax profitability to be lower than anticipated. FF’s after-tax profitability could be subject to volatility or affected by numerous factors, including (a) the availability of tax deductions, credits, exemptions, refunds (including refunds of value added taxes) and other benefits to reduce FF’s tax liabilities, (b) changes in the valuation of FF’s deferred tax assets and liabilities, (c) expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances, (d) tax treatment of stock-based compensation, (e) changes in the relative amount of our earnings subject to tax in the various jurisdictions in which FF operates or has subsidiaries, (f) the potential expansion of FF’s business into or otherwise becoming subject to tax in additional jurisdictions, (g) changes to FF’s existing intercompany structure (and any costs related thereto) and business operations, (h) the extent of FF’s intercompany transactions and the extent to which taxing authorities in the relevant jurisdictions respect those intercompany transactions and (i) FF’s ability to structure its operations in an efficient and competitive manner. Due to the complexity of multinational tax obligations and filings, FF may have a heightened risk related to audits or examinations by U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxing authorities. Outcomes from these audits or examinations could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations, including our after-tax profitability and financial condition.
FF’s after-tax profitability may also be adversely impacted by changes in the relevant tax laws and tax rates, treaties, regulations, administrative practices and principles, judicial decisions and interpretations thereof, in each case, possibly with retroactive effect. Additionally, the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent BEPS recently entered into force among the jurisdictions that have ratified it, although the United States has not yet entered into this convention. These recent changes could negatively impact FF’s taxation, especially if FF expands its relationships and operations internationally.
FF’s failure to timely and effectively implement controls and procedures required by Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on its business.
The standards required for a public company under Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are significantly more stringent than those required of Legacy FF as a privately-held company. Management may not be able to effectively and timely implement controls and procedures that adequately respond to the increased regulatory compliance and reporting requirements that are now applicable after the consummation of the Business Combination. If FF is not able to implement the additional requirements of Section 404(a) in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, it may not be able to assess whether its internal controls over financial reporting are effective, which may subject it to adverse regulatory consequences and could harm investor confidence and the market price of its securities.
30
The unaudited pro forma condensed financial information included herein may not be indicative of what FF’s actual financial position or results of operations would have been.
The unaudited pro forma condensed financial information included herein is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what FF’s actual financial position or results of operations would have been had the Business Combination been completed on the dates indicated.
We may issue additional shares of Common Stock or preferred shares, which would dilute the interest of our stockholders.
We may, in the future, issue a substantial number of additional shares of Common Stock or preferred stock . The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock or preferred stock:
● | may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors; |
● | may subordinate the rights of holders of Common Stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our Common Stock; |
● | could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and |
● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Common Stock. |
Our Amended and Restated Charter provides, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a chosen judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
Our Amended and Restated Charter requires to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware or, if that court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, another federal or state court situated in the State of Delaware. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our certificate of incorporation. In addition, our Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
In March 2020, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a decision in Salzburg et al. v. Sciabacucchi, which found that an exclusive forum provision providing for claims under the Securities Act to be brought in federal court is facially valid under Delaware law. It is unclear whether this decision will be appealed, or what the final outcome of this case will be. We intend to enforce this provision, but we do not know whether courts in other jurisdictions will agree with this decision or enforce it.
This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our Amended and Restated Charter to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm its business, operating results and financial condition.
Charter documents and Delaware law could prevent a takeover that stockholders consider favorable and could also reduce the market price of our stock.
Our Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in control of FF. These provisions could also make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions. These provisions include:
● | authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could discourage a takeover attempt or delay changes in control; |
● | prohibiting cumulative voting in the election of directors; |
31
● | limiting the adoption, amendment or repeal of our Amended and Restates Bylaws or the repeal of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation regarding the election and removal of directors without the required approval of at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors; |
● | prohibiting stockholder action by written consent; and |
● | limiting the persons who may call special meetings of stockholders. |
These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management. In addition, the provisions of Section 203 of the “DGCL” govern FF. These provisions may prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with FF for a certain period of time without the consent of its board of directors. These and other provisions in our Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws and under Delaware law could discourage potential takeover attempts, reduce the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of Class A Common Stock and result in the market price of Class A Common Stock being lower than it would be without these provisions. For more information, see the section of this registration statement captioned “Description of Securities — Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law.”
Claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.
Our Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws provides that we will indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and our indemnification agreements that we entered into with our directors and officers provide that:
● | We will indemnify our directors and officers for serving FF in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful; |
● | We may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law; |
● | We will be required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification; |
● | The rights conferred in our Amended and Restated Bylaws are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons; and |
● | We may not retroactively amend our amended and restated bylaw provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents. |
Concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.
Legacy FF’s stakeholders collectively own 217,954,597 shares or 67.2% of our outstanding Common Stock as of August 16, 2021. In addition, FF Top Holding LLC (f/k/a FF Top Holding Ltd.) (“FF Top”), which holds 19.7% of our outstanding Common Stock as of the same date, has entered into voting agreements with certain FF stockholders pursuant to which FF Top will vote as a proxy of all of the Class A Common Stock owned by such FF stockholders subject to certain limitations. As a result, FF Top exercises voting power over 37.4% of our outstanding Common Stock as of August 16, 2021. Under the Shareholder Agreement, FF Top is also entitled to nominate a number of directors based on its voting power with respect to FF’s outstanding Common Stock, entitling FF Top to nominate four out of nine directors to the board of FF. As a result, FF’s equity holders, particularly FF Top, may have the ability to determine the outcome of corporate actions of FF requiring stockholder approval. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might adversely affect the market price of our Class A Common Stock.
32
Upon FF achieving an equity market capitalization of $20 billion, the Class B Common Stock held by FF Top will convert from one vote per share to ten votes per share, which will entitle it to have substantial influence over FF’s corporate matters.
FF has adopted a dual-class share structure such that its common shares consist of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, and FF Top, an entity controlled by FF’s existing management and employees, beneficially own, directly or indirectly all of the Class B Common Stock, representing 67.2% of FF’s outstanding common shares and the voting power of such shares. In respect of matters requiring the votes of shareholders, each share of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote and each share of Class B Common Stock will initially be entitled to one vote until FF’s volume weighted average total equity market capitalization achieves $20 billion for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, after which each share of Class B Common Stock will be entitled to ten votes. If FF Top obtains such enhanced voting rights, it would have considerable influence over matters such as decisions regarding mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of FF, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. FF Top could take actions that are not in the best interest of FF or its other shareholders. This mechanism may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control, which could have the effect of depriving other shareholders of FF of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our Company.
Upon the conversion of Class B Common Stock held by FF Top from one vote per share to ten votes per share, NASDAQ may consider FF to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards and, as a result, FF may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
So long as more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors of FF is held by an individual, a group or another company, FF will qualify as a “controlled company” under NASDAQ listing requirements. While FF does not currently qualify as a controlled company, after such time as FF at the end of any 20 consecutive trading days, has a volume weighted average total equity market capitalization of at least $20 billion, holders of shares of the Class B Common Stock will be entitled to ten votes for each such share, which will cause Legacy FF stakeholders to own 88.2% of the voting control of FF and FF may qualify as a controlled company. As a controlled company, FF would be exempt from certain NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, including those that would otherwise require the board of FF to have a majority of independent directors and require that FF establish a compensation committee comprised entirely of independent directors, or otherwise ensure that the compensation of FF’s executive officers and nominees for directors are determined or recommended to the board of directors by the independent members of the board of directors. While FF does not currently intend to rely on any of these exemptions, the board of FF following the market capitalization event may elect to rely on such exemptions if FF is considered a “controlled company,” and to the extent it relies on one or more of these exemptions, holders of FF’s capital stock will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of NASDAQ s corporate governance requirements.
Our dual-class structure may depress the trading price of our Class A Common Stock.
We cannot predict whether our dual-class structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A Common Stock or in adverse publicity or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple-class share structures in certain of their indexes. S&P Dow Jones and FTSE Russell have announced changes to their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices, including the S&P 500, pursuant to which companies with multiple classes of shares of common stock are excluded. In addition, several stockholder advisory firms have announced their opposition to the use of multiple-class structures. As a result, the dual-class structure of our Common Stock may cause stockholder advisory firms to publish negative commentary about our corporate governance practices or otherwise seek to cause FF to change our capital structure. Any such exclusion from indices or any actions or publications by stockholder advisory firms critical of our corporate governance practices or capital structure could adversely affect the value and trading market of our Class A Common Stock.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or publish negative reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our Class A Common Stock will depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. Currently, we do not have any analyst coverage and may not obtain analyst coverage in the future. In the event we obtain analyst coverage, we will not have any control over such analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover FF downgrade our shares or change their opinion of our shares, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of FF or fail to regularly publish reports on FF, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
33
FF’s ability to pay dividends in the future will be subject to its subsidiaries’ ability to distribute cash to it.
We do not anticipate that FF’s board of directors will declare dividends in the foreseeable future. If FF decides to declare dividends in the future, as a holding company, it will require dividends and other payments from its subsidiaries to meet such cash requirements. In addition, minimum capital requirements may indirectly restrict the amount of dividends paid upstream, and repatriations of cash from FF’s subsidiaries may be subject to withholding, income and other taxes in various applicable jurisdictions. If FF’s subsidiaries are unable to distribute cash to it and it is unable to pay dividends, the Class A Common Stock may become less attractive to investors and the price of its shares of Common Stock may become volatile.
FF will incur significant increased expenses and administrative burdens as a public company, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Following the consummation of the Business Combination, FF now faces increased legal, accounting, administrative and other costs and expenses as a public company that Legacy FF did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including the requirements of Section 404, to the extent applicable to FF, as well as rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the rules and regulations promulgated and to be promulgated thereunder, the PCAOB and the securities exchanges, impose additional reporting and other obligations on public companies. Compliance with public company requirements will increase costs and make certain activities more time consuming. A number of those requirements will require that we carry out activities Legacy FF has not done previously. For example, FF will create new board committees and adopt new internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. In addition, expenses associated with SEC reporting requirements will be incurred. Furthermore, if any issues in complying with those requirements are identified (for example, if FF identifies additional material weaknesses or significant deficiency in the internal control over financial reporting), we could incur additional costs rectifying those issues, and the existence of those issues could adversely affect our reputation or investor perceptions of it. It may also be more expensive to obtain director and officer liability insurance. Risks associated with our status as a public company may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. The additional reporting and other obligations imposed by these rules and regulations will increase legal and financial compliance costs and the costs of related legal, accounting and administrative activities. These increased costs will require us to divert a significant amount of money that could otherwise be used to expand the business and achieve strategic objectives. Advocacy efforts by stockholders and third parties may also prompt additional changes in governance and reporting requirements, which could further increase costs.
Furthermore, the need to establish the corporate infrastructure demanded of a public company may divert management’s attention from implementing our growth strategy, which could prevent us from improving our business, results of operations and financial condition. We have made, and will continue to make, changes to our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and accounting systems to meet our reporting obligations as a publicly traded company. However, the measures we take may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations as a publicly traded company.
For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” We may remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) the last day of our fiscal year following July 24, 2025 (the fifth anniversary of the consummation of PSAC’s initial public offering), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which the market value of our shares of Common Stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of June 30 of that fiscal year, (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more during such fiscal year (as indexed for inflation) or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt in the prior three-year period. Further, there is no guarantee that the exemptions available to us under the JOBS Act will result in significant savings. To the extent we choose not to use exemptions from various reporting requirements under the JOBS Act, we will incur additional compliance costs, which may impact earnings.
34
The JOBS Act permits “emerging growth companies” like us to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. The reduced reporting requirements applicable to use may make our shares of Common Stock less attractive to investors.
FF qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, FF is eligible for and intends to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies for as long as it continues to be an emerging growth company, including, but not limited to, (a) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act, (b) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in FF’s periodic reports and proxy statements and (c) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, FF’s stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. FF will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of our fiscal year following July 24, 2025 (the fifth anniversary of the consummation of PSAC’s initial public offering), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which the market value of our shares of Common Stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of June 30 of that fiscal year, (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more during such fiscal year (as indexed for inflation) or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt in the prior three-year period. We cannot predict whether investors will find FF’s securities less attractive because it will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find FF’s securities less attractive as a result of its reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of FF’s securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for FF’s securities and the trading prices of FF’s securities may be more volatile.
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 a 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. We have 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, we, 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 FF’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares of Common Stock less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our shares of Common Stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active market for our shares of Common Stock and our share price may be more volatile.
If we do not develop and implement all required accounting practices and policies, we may be unable to provide the financial information required of a U.S. publicly traded company in a timely and reliable manner.
If we fail to develop and maintain effective internal controls and procedures and disclosure procedures and controls, we may be unable to provide financial information and required SEC reports that a U.S. publicly traded company is required to provide in a timely and reliable fashion. Any such delays or deficiencies could penalize us, including by limiting our ability to obtain financing, either in the public capital markets or from private sources and hurt our reputation and could thereby impede our ability to implement our growth strategy. In addition, any such delays or deficiencies could result in our failure to meet the requirements for listing of our shares of Common Stock on a national securities exchange.
35
USE OF PROCEEDS
All of the Class A Common Stock and Warrants offered by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders for their respective accounts. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales.
The Company will receive up to an aggregate of approximately $284 million from the exercise of the Warrants, assuming the exercise in full of all of the Warrants for cash. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants for general corporate purposes, which may include temporary or permanent repayment of our outstanding indebtedness. The Company will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants. There is no assurance that the holders of the Warrants will elect to exercise any or all of such Warrants.
The Selling Securityholders will pay any underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions incurred by such Selling Securityholders in disposing of their Class A Common Stock. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into by the Company and certain stockholders of the Company, the Company will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the Class A Common Stock covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, NASDAQ listing fees and fees and expenses of counsel and independent registered public accountants.
36
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The offering price of the shares of the Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants offered hereby is determined by reference to the exercise price of the Public Warrants and Private Warrants of $11.50 per share and the exercise price of the ATW NPA Warrants of $10.00 per share. The Public Warrants are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “FFIEW.”
We cannot currently determine the price or prices at which shares of our Class A Common Stock may be sold by the Selling Securityholders under this prospectus.
37
MARKET INFORMATION FOR CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Market Information
Our shares of Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are currently listed on the NASDAQ under the symbols “FFIE” and “FFIEW,” respectively. Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, our common stock and warrants were listed on the NASDAQ under the symbols “PSACU,” “PSAC,” and “PSACW,” respectively. As of August 16, 2021, there were 233 holders of record of our Class A Common Stock, two holders of record of our Public Warrants, one holder of Private Warrants and four holders of ATW NPA Warrants.
Dividend Policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Class A Common Stock or the Warrants to date. Our board of directors may from time to time consider whether or not to institute a dividend policy. It is our present intention to retain any earnings for use in our business operations and accordingly, we do not anticipate our board of directors declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition. The payment of any cash dividends will be within the discretion of our board of directors. Further, our ability to declare dividends will also be limited by restrictive covenants contained in our debt agreements.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Incentive Plan
At the special meeting of PSAC’s stockholders held on July 20, 2021, the stockholders of the Company considered and approved the Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). The Incentive Plan was previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, by the PSAC board of directors. The Incentive Plan became effective immediately upon the consummation of the Business Combination on July 21, 2021. Pursuant to the Incentive Plan, 49,573,570 shares of Class A Common Stock have been reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan.
38
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Unless the context indicates otherwise, for purposes of this section only, “FF” refers to FF Intelligent Mobility Global Holdings Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, prior to the Business Combination.
The Company is providing the following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to aid you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Business Combination and related transactions. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presents the combination of the financial information of PSAC and FF adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and related transactions. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.”
The historical financial information of PSAC was derived from the unaudited condensed financial statements of PSAC as of June 30, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through June 30, 2020, and from the audited financial statements of PSAC as of December 31, 2020 and for the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical financial information of FF was derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of FF as of June 30, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and from the audited consolidated financial statements of FF as of December 31, 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, included elsewhere in this prospectus. This information should be read together with PSAC’s and FF’s unaudited condensed financial statements and audited financial statements and related notes, and other financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The Business Combination has been accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, PSAC has been treated as the “accounting acquiree” and FF as the “accounting acquirer” for financial reporting purposes. FF was determined to be the accounting acquirer primarily because FF stakeholders collectively own a majority of the outstanding shares of the combined company as of the closing of the merger (67.2% after redemptions of public stockholders of PSAC, see the pro forma common shares table below), FF management have nominated seven of the nine board of directors as of the closing of the merger, and FF’s management continue to manage the combined company. Additionally, FF’s business comprised the ongoing operations of the combined company immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination has been treated as the equivalent of FF issuing shares for the net assets of PSAC, followed by a recapitalization. Accordingly, the consolidated assets, liabilities, and results of operations of FF has become the historical financial statements of the Company, and PSAC’s assets, liabilities and results of operations has been consolidated with FF beginning on the acquisition date.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 assumes that the Business Combination and related transactions occurred on June 30, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and related transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2020. FF and PSAC have not had any historical relationship prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
These unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are for informational purposes only. They do not purport to indicate the results that would have been obtained had the Business Combination and related transactions actually been completed on the assumed date or for the periods presented, or which may be realized in the future. The pro forma adjustments are based on the information currently available and the assumptions and estimates underlying the pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions within the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. FF will incur additional costs after the Business Combination in order to satisfy its obligations as an SEC-reporting public company.
The Business Combination and Related Transactions
The aggregate merger consideration for the Business Combination was $2,286.0 million, payable in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock valued at $10.00 per share, as well as contingent consideration of up to 25,000,000 additional shares of Class A Common Stock in the aggregate in two equal tranches upon the occurrence of each Earnout Triggering Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the “Earnout Shares”):
● | The minimum earnout of 12,500,000 additional shares is triggered if the surviving company common stock VWAP is greater than $13.50 for any period of twenty (20) trading days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days (the “Minimum Target Shares”) during the five-year period following the Closing; |
● | The maximum earnout of an additional 12,500,000 additional shares is triggered if the surviving company common stock VWAP is greater than $15.50 for any period of twenty (20) trading days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days during the five-year period following the Closing, (the “Maximum Target Shares”) plus the Minimum Target Shares, if not previously issued. |
39
The Earnout Shares have been recognized at fair value upon the closing of the Business Combination and classified in stockholders’ equity. Because the Business Combination is accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, the issuance of the Earnout Shares has been treated as a deemed dividend and since FF does not have retained earnings, the issuance is recorded within additional-paid-in-capital (“APIC”) and has a net nil impact on APIC. FF determined the fair value of the Earnout Shares to be $293.9 million based on a valuation using a Monte Carlo simulation with key inputs and assumptions such as stock price, term, dividend yield, risk-free rate, and volatility. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not reflect pro forma adjustments related to the recognition of the Earnout Shares because there is no net impact on stockholders’ equity on a pro forma combined basis.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the Closing, PSAC, Merger Sub and Legacy FF caused Merger Sub to be merged with and into Legacy FF (the “Merger”), with Legacy FF continuing as the surviving company under the Companies Act (which is sometimes hereinafter referred to for the periods at and after the Effective Time as the “Surviving Company”) following the Merger, being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub has ceased. The Merger has been consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement and the Companies Act. The pro forma adjustments giving effect to the Business Combination and related transactions are summarized below, and are discussed further in the footnotes to these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements:
● | the merger of Merger Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSAC, with and into Legacy FF, with Legacy FF continuing as the surviving company; |
● | the consummation of the Business Combination and reclassification of cash held in PSAC’s trust account to cash and cash equivalents, net of redemptions (see below); |
● | the consummation of the Private Placement; |
● | the repayment of FF liabilities and the conversion of certain FF liabilities to equity; |
● | the conversion of the Redeemable Preference Shares and Class B Preferred Shares (“FF Preferred Stock”) to permanent equity; |
● | the accounting for transaction costs incurred by both PSAC and FF; and |
● | the issuance of equity awards to FF employees. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also reflects the redemption into cash of PSAC’s common stock by public stockholders of PSAC who elected to exercise their redemption rights for a total of 20,600 shares and an aggregate payment of $0.2 million.
The Legacy FF stakeholders hold 217,954,597 of the Class A and Class B public shares immediately after the Business Combination, which approximates a 67.2% ownership level. The following summarizes the pro forma common shares outstanding (excluding the potential dilutive effect of warrants and the Earnout Shares as further described in Note 4):
Class A Shares | Class B Shares | % | ||||||||||
Stockholders | ||||||||||||
Former FF stakeholders | 153,954,009 | 64,000,588 | 67.2 | % | ||||||||
Private Shares(1) | 6,618,943 | — | 2.0 | % | ||||||||
Riverside Management Group (RMG) Fee(2) | 690,000 | — | 0.2 | % | ||||||||
PSAC public stockholders | 22,956,968 | — | 7.1 | % | ||||||||
Private Placement | 76,140,000 | — | 23.5 | % | ||||||||
Total shares of FF common stock outstanding at closing of the Transaction | 260,359,920 | 64,000,588 | 100.0 | % |
(1) | PSAC equity known as the Founder Shares and the private units, which include Representative Shares and Private Placement Units issued by PSAC. |
(2) | Equity issued to RMG in exchange for services as financial partner and advisor to PSAC; but excludes the shares being issued to RMG of which an equal amount of shares of the Sponsor are being forfeited. |
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 are based on the historical financial statements of PSAC and FF. The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based on information currently available, assumptions, and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions used to present the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
40
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands, except share data)
As
of June 30, 2021 | As
of June 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
FF
(Historical) | Property
Solutions Acquisition Corp. (Historical) | Transaction
Accounting Adjustments | Pro
Forma Combined | |||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 52,527 | $ | 18 | $ | 229,789 | 3A | $ | 806,899 | |||||||||||
761,400 | 3D | |||||||||||||||||||
(115,881 | ) | 3E | ||||||||||||||||||
(65,981 | ) | 3I | ||||||||||||||||||
(24,610 | ) | 3I | ||||||||||||||||||
(1,900 | ) | 3J | ||||||||||||||||||
(28,257 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
(206 | ) | 3B | ||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 5,721 | — | 5,721 | |||||||||||||||||
Deposits | 6,574 | — | 6,574 | |||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 5,084 | 108 | 8,380 | 3F | 13,572 | |||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 69,906 | 126 | 762,734 | 832,766 | ||||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, net | 287,718 | — | — | 287,718 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash and marketable securities held in Trust Account | — | 229,789 | (229,789 | ) | 3A | — | ||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets | 11,749 | — | (2,689 | ) | 3I | 9,060 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 369,373 | $ | 229,915 | $ | 530,256 | $ | 1,129,544 | ||||||||||||
Liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 67,486 | $ | — | $ | (17,466 | ) | 3E | $ | 47,694 | ||||||||||
(2,326 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 59,721 | 1,981 | (9,592 | ) | 3E | 50,210 | ||||||||||||||
(1,900 | ) | 3J | ||||||||||||||||||
Related party accrued interest | 47,274 | — | (3,618 | ) | 3E | 9,314 | ||||||||||||||
(34,342 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
Accrued interest | 50,776 | — | (35,080 | ) | 3F | 2,010 | ||||||||||||||
(13,358 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
(328 | ) | 3E | ||||||||||||||||||
Related party notes payable | 207,755 | 500 | (28,112 | ) | 3E | 9,788 | ||||||||||||||
(170,355 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
Notes payable, current portion | 297,454 | — | (56,765 | ) | 3E | 81,771 | ||||||||||||||
(158,918 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
Vendor payables in trust | 109,574 | — | (81,317 | ) | 3F | — | ||||||||||||||
(28,257 | ) | 3F | ||||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 840,040 | 2,481 | (641,734 | ) | 200,787 | |||||||||||||||
Capital leases, less current portion | 38,040 | — | 38,040 | |||||||||||||||||
Other liability, less current portion | 7,880 | — | 7,880 | |||||||||||||||||
Notes payable, less current portion | 36,172 | — | 36,172 | |||||||||||||||||
Convertible note - related party | 480 | (480 | ) | 3F | — | |||||||||||||||
Warrant Liability | 6,606 | 6,606 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 922,132 | $ | 9,567 | $ | (642,214 | ) | $ | 289,485 | |||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 470,588,235 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021; redemption amount of $800,000 as of June 30, 2021 | 724,823 | — | (724,823 | ) | 3G | — | ||||||||||||||
Class A-1 convertible preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 87,617,555 shares authorized and 57,513,413 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 | 96,048 | — | (96,048 | ) | 3G | — | ||||||||||||||
Class A-2 convertible preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 158,479,868 shares authorized and 19,546,600 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 | 38,311 | — | (38,311 | ) | 3G | — |
41
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET — (Continued)
(in thousands, except share data)
As of June 30, 2021 | As of June 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
FF (Historical) | Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. (Historical) | Transaction Accounting Adjustments | Pro Forma Combined | |||||||||||||||
Class B convertible preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized, 452,941,177 issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021; redemption amount of $1,106,988 as of June 30, 2021 | 697,643 | — | (697,643 | ) | 3G | — | ||||||||||||
Common stock subject to possible redemption, 22,977,568 shares at redemption value | — | 229,776 | (229,776 | ) | 3C | — | ||||||||||||
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity: | ||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Class A Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 750,000,000 shares authorized | 1 | 2 | 3C | 7 | ||||||||||||||
1 | 3F | |||||||||||||||||
1 | 3H | |||||||||||||||||
2 | 3G | |||||||||||||||||
Class B Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized | — | — | 1 | 3F | 1 | |||||||||||||
Class A ordinary stock, $0.00001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 65,022,387 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Class B ordinary stock, $0.00001 par value; 180,000,000 shares authorized; 150,052,834 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 | 1 | — | (1 | ) | 3H | — | ||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 416,504 | 5,817 | 724,822 | 3G | 3,499,603 | |||||||||||||
697,642 | 3G | |||||||||||||||||
96,048 | 3G | |||||||||||||||||
38,311 | 3G | |||||||||||||||||
229,774 | 3C | |||||||||||||||||
(15,246 | ) | 3H | ||||||||||||||||
761,400 | 3D | |||||||||||||||||
(68,670 | ) | 3I | ||||||||||||||||
504,554 | 3F | |||||||||||||||||
6,900 | 3K | |||||||||||||||||
14,046 | 3L | |||||||||||||||||
87,907 | 3M | |||||||||||||||||
(206 | ) | 3B | ||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (6,650 | ) | — | (6,650 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit | (2,519,439 | ) | (15,246 | ) | 15,246 | 3H | (2,652,902 | ) | ||||||||||
(24,610 | ) | 3I | ||||||||||||||||
(14,046 | ) | 3L | ||||||||||||||||
(6,900 | ) | 3K | ||||||||||||||||
(87,907 | ) | 3M | ||||||||||||||||
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity | (2,109,584 | ) | (9,428 | ) | 2,959,071 | 840,059 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities, preferred stock, and stockholders’ (deficit) equity | 369,373 | 229,915 | 530,256 | 1,129,544 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
42
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
FF (Historical) | Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. (Historical) | Transaction Accounting Adjustments | Pro Forma Combined | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating costs | $ | — | $ | 1,327 | $ | — | $ | 1,327 | ||||||||||
Research and development | 15,394 | 15,394 | ||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | 4,267 | 4,267 | ||||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 27,423 | — | — | 27,423 | ||||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 47,084 | 1,327 | — | 48,411 | ||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (47,084 | ) | (1,327 | ) | (48,411 | ) | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities | (35,912 | ) | — | 35,912 | 3GG | — | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation | (1,735 | ) | — | 1,735 | 3GG | — | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of convertible note | — | (280 | ) | — | (280 | ) | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrants | — | (5,975 | ) | — | (5,975 | ) | ||||||||||||
Transaction costs | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Other expense, net | (1,835 | ) | — | 1,590 | 3JJ | (245 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | — | 38 | (38 | ) | 3AA | — | ||||||||||||
Related party interest expense | (12,798 | ) | — | 11,599 | 3BB | (1,199 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (28,933 | ) | — | 17,172 | 3BB | (11,761 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss before income taxes | (128,297 | ) | (7,544 | ) | 67,970 | (67,871 | ) | |||||||||||
Income tax provision | (3 | ) | — | — | 3DD | (3 | ) | |||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (128,300 | ) | $ | (7,544 | ) | $ | 67,970 | $ | (67,874 | ) | |||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Common stock subject to possible redemption | 22,195,523 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share of common stock – basic and diluted | $ | (1.03 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding – basic and diluted | 7,320,988 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share – Class A and Class B – basic and diluted | $ | (0.60 | ) | $ | (0.21 | ) | ||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – Class A and Class B – basic and diluted | 213,329,158 | 111,031,350 | 4 | 324,360,508 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
43
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS — (Continued)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31, 2020 | Period From February 11, 2020 (Inception) Through December 31, 2020 | Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
FF (Historical) | Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. (Historical Restated) | Transaction Accounting Adjustments | Pro Forma Combined | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating costs | $ | — | $ | 2,218 | $ | — | $ | 2,218 | ||||||||||
Research and development | 20,186 | 20,186 | ||||||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | 3,672 | 3,672 | ||||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 41,071 | — | 24,610 | 3CC | 86,627 | |||||||||||||
6,900 | 3EE | |||||||||||||||||
14,046 | 3FF | |||||||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 64,939 | 2,218 | 45,556 | 112,713 | ||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (64,939 | ) | (2,218 | ) | (45,556 | ) | (112,713 | ) | ||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable and notes payable | (8,948 | ) | — | 8,948 | 3GG | — | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation | 3,872 | (3,872 | ) | 3HH | — | |||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net | 2,107 | (90,014 | ) | 3II | (87,907 | ) | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrants | (476 | ) | (476 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other expense, net | (5,455 | ) | — | 4,055 | 3JJ | (1,400 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | — | 100 | (100 | ) | 3AA | — | ||||||||||||
Unrealized gain on marketable securities held in Trust Account | — | 9 | (9 | ) | 3AA | — | ||||||||||||
Related party interest expense | (38,995 | ) | — | 38,625 | 3BB | (370 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (34,724 | ) | — | 28,044 | 3BB | (6,680 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss before income taxes | (147,082 | ) | (2,585 | ) | (59,879 | ) | (209,546 | ) | ||||||||||
Income tax provision | (3 | ) | — | — | 3DD | (3 | ) | |||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (147,085 | ) | $ | (2,585 | ) | $ | (59,879 | ) | $ | (209,549 | ) | ||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Common stock subject to possible redemption | 21,779,604 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share of common stock – basic and diluted | $ | (0.40 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding – basic and diluted | 6,452,794 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share – Class A and Class B – basic and diluted | $ | (2.99 | ) | $ | (0.65 | ) | ||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – Class A and Class B – basic and diluted | 49,261,411 | 275,099,097 | 4 | 324,360,508 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
44
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The Business Combination has been accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, PSAC has been treated as the “accounting acquiree” and FF as the “accounting acquirer” for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination has been treated as the equivalent of FF issuing shares for the net assets of PSAC, followed by a recapitalization. The net assets of PSAC have been stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination have been those of FF.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 assumes that the Business Combination and related transactions occurred on June 30, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been completed on January 1, 2020. These periods are presented on the basis that FF is the acquirer for accounting purposes.
The pro forma adjustments reflecting the consummation of the Business Combination and related transactions are based on certain currently available information and certain assumptions and methodologies that PSAC believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited condensed pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. PSAC believes that its assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Business Combination and related transactions based on information available to management at the time and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information assumes that PSAC’s Private Warrants have been classified as liabilities and PSAC’s Public Warrants have been classified as a component of equity upon completion of the Business Combination.
The Vendor Trust contains interests held by vendors related to approximately $8.4 million of purchase orders for goods and services not yet provided. Management is currently evaluating with its suppliers and contractors whether these interests will be settled with PSAC equity. Due the uncertainly resulting from the ongoing negotiations, no adjustment has been made in the pro forma financial statements.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings, or cost savings that may be associated with the Business Combination. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations and financial position would have been had the Business Combination and related transactions taken place on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the post-combination company. They should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto of PSAC and FF.
NOTE 2 — ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management has performed a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. Based on its analysis, the Company’s management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.
45
NOTE 3 — ADJUSTMENTS TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Business Combination and related transactions and has been prepared for informational purposes only.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.” Release No. 33-10786 replaces the existing pro forma adjustment criteria with simplified requirements to depict the accounting for the transaction (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”) and present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). PSAC elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. FF and PSAC did not have any historical relationship prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
The pro forma combined provision for income taxes does not necessarily reflect the amounts that would have resulted had the post-combination company filed consolidated income tax returns during the periods presented. The Company has not reflected the income tax benefit in the pro forma statement of operations, as the Company does not believe that the income tax benefit is realizable and records a full valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not reflect pro forma adjustments related to the recognition of the Earnout Shares because there is no net impact on stockholders’ equity on a pro forma combined basis.
The pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations are based upon the number of FF’s shares outstanding, assuming the Business Combination and related transactions occurred on January 1, 2020.
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
The adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 are as follows:
(A) | Reflects the reclassification of $229.8 million held in PSAC’s trust account to cash and cash equivalents. |
(B) | Reflects the reduction in cash and PSAC’s additional-paid-in-capital in the amount of $0.2 million related to the redemption of 20,600 PSAC public stockholders. |
(C) | Reflects the reclassification of PSAC’s common stock subject to possible redemption into permanent equity. |
(D) | Reflects cash proceeds from the concurrent Private Placement in the amount of $761.4 million and corresponding offset to additional-paid-in-capital. |
(E) | Reflects the repayment of $115.9 million of FF liabilities at the time of closing are comprised of the following: |
● | related party notes payable of $28.1 million and related accrued interest of $3.6 million; |
● | notes payable of $56.8 million and related accrued interest of $0.3 million; |
● | accrued employee back payments of $9.6 million; and |
● | vendor payments of $17.5 million which reduce accounts payable. |
(F) | Reflects the conversion of $495.7 million of FF liabilities into fully vested shares of PSAC common stock and the settlement of $28.3 million of vendor payables in trust with cash. The liabilities of FF as of June 30, 2021 which will convert to equity at the time of closing are comprised of the following: |
● | related party notes payable of $170.4 million and the related accrued interest of $34.3 million; |
● | notes payable of $158.9 million and the related accrued interest of $35.1 million; |
● | vendor payables in trust of $94.7 million, which represents the vendor payables in trust of $109.6 million, net of $28.3 million of vendor payables in trust that will be settled in cash, including the related accrued interest of $13.4 million; and |
● | critical vendors of $2.3 million. |
46
Additionally, reflects an adjustment to other current assets and additional paid in capital of $8.4 million related to purchase orders in the vendor trust that will be prepaid at the time of closing with fully vested shares of PSAC common stock.
Also, reflects the conversion of a PSAC related party note payable of $0.5 million into fully vested shares of PSAC common stock.
Using an estimated exchange ratio of 0.14130, the $496.2 million of FF and PSAC liabilities will convert into approximately 31.2 million PSAC shares upon the consummation of the Qualified SPAC Merger.
(G) | Reflects the conversion of the FF Preferred Stock into permanent equity in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement. |
(H) | Reflects the elimination of PSAC’s retained earnings and FF’s par value of common shares upon consummation of the Business Combination. |
(I) | Reflects an adjustment of $90.6 million to reduce cash and $2.7 million to reduced deferred offering costs for transaction costs expected to be incurred by PSAC and FF in relation to the Business Combination and Private Placement, including advisory, banking, printing, legal and accounting services. As part of the Business Combination, $24.6 million was expensed and recorded in accumulated deficit, and the remaining $68.7 million was determined to be equity issuance costs and offset to additional-paid-in-capital. |
(J) | Reflects the settlement of $1.9 million of accrued offering cost incurred during the PSAC IPO due upon completion of the business combination. |
(K) | Reflects the issuance of PSAC equity shares to Riverside for management fees. |
(L) | Reflects the issuance of $14.0 million of fully vested equity awards issued to employees upon consummation of the Business Combination as compensation for prior service. |
(M) | Reflects a loss on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net as a result of certain notes payable and vendor payables settled with PSAC common stock as part of the Business Combination. The settlement of these payables including accrued and unpaid interest was treated as an extinguishment that resulted in a loss because the fair value of the PSAC common stock issued to extinguish the debt exceeded the carrying value of the payables. The loss was calculated using the fair value of the PSAC common stock at the July 21, 2021 closing stock price of $13.78. The loss on extinguishment is reflected as an increase to accumulated deficit and APIC. |
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(AA) | Elimination of interest income and unrealized gain on the Trust Account. |
(BB) | Elimination of interest expense which is comprised of ‘third party’ interest expense relating to notes payable and the vendor trust, ‘debt issuance costs’ recorded in interest expense, and related party interest expense on FF liabilities converted to PSAC shares or paid down with cash at the closing of the Business Combination. |
The remaining interest expense in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information relates to notes payable that will remain outstanding, capital lease interest, and interest related to accounts payable invoices.
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | ||||
Third Party Interest Expense | $ | 15,583 | ||
Related Party Interest Expense | 11,599 | |||
Debt Issuance Costs Recorded in Interest Expense | 1,589 | |||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||
Third Party Interest Expense | $ | 23,482 | ||
Related Party Interest Expense | 38,625 | |||
Debt Issuance Costs Recorded in Interest Expense | 4,562 |
47
(CC) | Reflects the estimated transaction costs of $24.6 million as if incurred on January 1, 2020, the date the Business Combination occurred for the purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations. This is a non-recurring item. |
(DD) | The net effect of all adjustments impacting the pro forma statement of operations results in a reduction of the income tax benefit of approximately $15.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $17.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 based on the application of the blended statutory tax rate of 25%. However, the Company has not reflected the income tax benefit in the pro forma statement of operations, as the Company does not believe that the income tax benefit is realizable and records a full valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets. |
(EE) | Reflects the expense of $6.9 million related to the issuance of new equity awards related to Riverside management fees. 690,000 Class A shares of PSAC were issued to Riverside in exchange for services as financial partner and advisor to PSAC at $10.00 per share. This is a non-recurring item. |
(FF) | Reflects the expense of $14.0 million related to the issuance of new equity awards granted to employees upon consummation of the Business Combination. The new equity awards are fully vested and are intended to compensate employees for temporary reductions in salary that occurred prior to the Business Combination. The $14.0 million amount will convert at $10.00 per share into Class A shares of PSAC resulting in the issuance of 1.4 million shares. This is a non-recurring item. |
(GG) | Elimination of change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable and notes payable. |
(HH) | Elimination of change in fair value measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation. |
(II) | Reflects the following adjustments to gain (loss) on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net: |
● | Elimination of historical gain on extinguishment of $2.1 million of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net; |
● | Reflects a loss on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net in the amount of $87.9 million as a result of certain notes payable and vendor payables, including accrued and unpaid interest being extinguished with PSAC common stock as part of the Business Combination (See 3M). |
(JJ) | Elimination of change in foreign currency loss related to related party notes payable, notes payable, and vendor payables in trust from other expense. |
NOTE 4 — EARNINGS PER SHARE
Represents the net earnings per share calculated under the two-class method using the historical weighted average outstanding shares and the issuance of additional shares in connection with the Business Combination and Private Placement, assuming the shares were outstanding since January l, 2020. The Company used the two-class method to compute net income per common share, because it had issued multiple classes of common stock. The two-class method requires earnings for the period to be allocated between multiple classes of common stock based upon their respective rights to receive distributed and undistributed earnings. As the Business Combination and Private Placement are being reflected as if they had occurred at the beginning of the period presented, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net loss per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the Business Combination and Private Placement have been outstanding for the entire period presented. If the maximum number of shares are redeemed, this calculation is retroactively adjusted to eliminate such shares for the entire period.
48
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared for the six months ended June 30, 2021:
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||
Class A Shares | Class B Shares | |||||||
Stockholders | ||||||||
Numerator | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (54,482 | ) | $ | (13,392 | ) | ||
Denominator(1) | ||||||||
Former FF stakeholders | 153,954,009 | 64,000,588 | ||||||
Private Shares(3) | 6,618,943 | — | ||||||
Riverside Management Group (RMG) Fee(2) | 690,000 | — | ||||||
PSAC public stockholders | 22,956,968 | — | ||||||
Third party investors in PIPE Investment | 76,140,000 | — | ||||||
Total shares of FF common stock outstanding at closing of the Transaction | 260,359,920 | 64,000,588 | ||||||
Net loss per share | ||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.21 | ) | $ | (0.21 | ) |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared for the year ended December 31, 2020:
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||
Class A Shares | Class B Shares | |||||||
Stockholders | ||||||||
Numerator | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (168,202 | ) | $ | (41,347 | ) | ||
Denominator(1) | ||||||||
Former FF stakeholders | 153,954,009 | 64,000,588 | ||||||
Private Shares(3) | 6,618,943 | — | ||||||
Riverside Management Group (RMG) Fee(2) | 690,000 | — | ||||||
PSAC public stockholders | 22,956,968 | — | ||||||
Third party investors in PIPE Investment | 76,140,000 | — | ||||||
Total shares of FF common stock outstanding at closing of the Transaction | 260,359,920 | 64,000,588 | ||||||
Net loss per share | ||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.65 | ) | $ | (0.65 | ) |
(1) | Due to the uncertain timing of the Earnout Triggering Events, the denominator excludes the effect of the Earnout Shares. |
(2) | Equity issued to RMG in exchange for services as financial partner and advisor to PSAC but excludes the shares being issued to RMG of which an equal amount of shares of the Sponsor are being forfeited. |
(3) | PSAC equity known as the Founder Shares and the private units, which include Representative Shares and Private Placement Units issued by PSAC. |
PSAC had 23,572,119 warrants as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at $11.50 per one share. These warrants are not exercisable until 30 days after the closing of the Business Combination. As the combined company is in a loss position in 2021 and 2020, any shares issued upon exercise of these warrants would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share and, therefore, have not been considered in the calculation of pro forma net loss per common share.
FF had 10,198,958 warrants as of June 30, 2021 and 1,930,147 warrants as of December 31, 2020. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at $2.72 per one share. As the combined company is in a loss position in 2021 and 2020, any shares issued upon exercise of these warrants would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share and, therefore, have not been considered in the calculation of pro forma net loss per common share.
49
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis is intended to help the reader understand FF’s results of operations and financial condition. This discussion and analysis is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, FF’s consolidated financial statements and FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, including information with respect to FF’s plans and strategy for FF’s business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. FF’s actual results may differ materially from management’s expectations as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements.” The objective of this section is to provide investors an understanding of the financial drivers and levers in FF’s business and describe the financial performance of the business.
Overview
FF is a California-based, global, shared, intelligent mobility ecosystem company founded in 2014 with a vision to disrupt the automotive industry.
On July 21, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (f/k/a Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. (“PSAC”)), a Delaware corporation, consummated the previously announced business combination pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 27, 2021 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the PSAC, PSAC Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and wholly-owned subsidiary of PSAC (“Merger Sub”), and Legacy FF. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy FF, with Legacy FF surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Business Combination”).
Upon the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), PSAC changed its name from Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. to Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (the “Company”), and the Company’s Class A Common Stock began trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol “FFIE.”
With headquarters in Los Angeles, California, FF designs and engineers next-generation, smart, electric, connected vehicles. FF intends to manufacture vehicles at its production facility in Hanford, California, with additional future production capacity needs addressed through a contract manufacturing partner in South Korea. FF has additional engineering, sales, and operational capabilities in China and plans to develop its manufacturing capability in China through a joint venture.
Since its founding, FF has created major innovations in technology and products, and a user-centered business model. These innovations enable FF to set new standards in luxury and performance that will redefine the future of intelligent mobility.
FF’s innovations in technology include its proprietary Variable Platform Architecture (“VPA”), propulsion system, and Internet Artificial Intelligence (“I.A.I”) system. The following combination of capabilities of FF’s products, technology, team, and business model distinguish FF from its competitors:
● | FF has designed and developed a breakthrough mobility platform — its proprietary VPA. |
● | FF’s propulsion system provides a leading competitive edge in acceleration and range, enabled by an industry-leading inverter design, battery pack gravimetric energy density, and battery pack gravimetric power density. |
● | FF’s advanced I.A.I. technology offers high-performance computing, high speed internet connectivity, Over the Air (“OTA”) updating, an open ecosystem for third party application integration, and a Level 3 autonomous driving-ready system, in addition to several other proprietary innovations that enable FF to build an advanced highly personalized user experience. |
● | Since inception, FF has developed a portfolio of intellectual property, established its proposed supply chain, and assembled a global team of automotive and technology experts and innovators to achieve its goal of redefining the future of the automotive industry. As of the date of this report, FF has filed over 880 patents, and has been granted over 550 patents. |
50
● | FF’s B2C (business-to-consumer) passenger vehicle launch pipeline over the next five years includes the FF 91 series, FF 81 series, and FF 71 series. |
● | FF intends to commercially launch the FF 91 during July 2022. FF believes that the FF 91 is the first fully connected car with individual connectivity that will provide each passenger a unique and personalized experience. |
● | FF plans to commercially launch its second passenger vehicle, the FF 81, in 2023, which will be a premium, mass market electric vehicle positioned to compete against the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, the BMW 5-series, and the Nio ES8. |
● | FF plans to develop a mass market passenger vehicle, the FF 71. FF expects to launch the FF 71 in 2024. The FF 71 will integrate full connectivity and advanced technology into a smaller vehicle size and is positioned to compete against the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, and the BMW 3-series. |
● | FF plans to develop a Smart Last Mile Delivery (“SLMD”) vehicle to address the high-growth, last-mile delivery opportunity, particularly in Europe, China and the U.S. FF’s modular VPA facilitates entry into the last-mile delivery segment, allowing FF to expand its total addressable market and avenues of growth. FF plans to launch the FF SLMD vehicles in 2024. |
FF has adopted a hybrid manufacturing strategy consisting of its refurbished manufacturing facility in Hanford, California as well as collaborating with a reputable contract manufacturing partner in South Korea. FF has established a framework agreement to explore the possibility of additional manufacturing capacity in China through a joint venture. All passenger vehicles as well as the SLMD vehicle are expected to be available for sales in the U.S., China, and Europe.
Emerging Growth Company Status
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 are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can choose not to take advantage of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, and any such election to not take advantage of the extended transition period is irrevocable.
The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has elected to take advantage of the benefits of the extended transition period for new or revised financial accounting standards. Following the Closing Date, the Company expects to remain an emerging growth company at least through the end of 2021 and the Company expects to continue to take advantage of the benefits of the extended transition period, although it may decide to early adopt such new or revised accounting standards to the extent permitted by such standards. This may make it difficult or impossible to compare our financial results with the financial results of another public company that is either not an emerging growth company or is an emerging growth company that has chosen not to take advantage of the extended transition period exemptions because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Segment Information
FF has determined that FF operates as one reportable segment, which is the design, development, manufacturing, engineering, sale and distribution of electric vehicles and related products in the global market.
Impact of COVID-19 on FF’s Business
There continues to be worldwide impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 includes changes in consumer and business behavior, pandemic fears, market downturns, restrictions on business, and individual activities have created significant volatility in the global economy and have led to reduced economic activity. The spread of COVID-19 has also created a disruption in the manufacturing, delivery and overall supply chain of vehicle manufacturers and suppliers and has led to a global decrease in vehicle sales in markets around the world.
51
The pandemic has resulted in government authorities implementing numerous measures to try to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, and business shutdowns. For example, FF’s employees based in California have been subject to stay-at-home orders from state and local governments. These measures may adversely impact FF’s employees and operations, the operations of FF’s suppliers and business partners, and could negatively impact the construction schedule of FF’s manufacturing facility and the production schedule of the FF 91. In addition, various aspects of FF’s business and manufacturing facility cannot be conducted remotely. These measures by government authorities may remain in place for a significant period of time and could adversely affect FF’s construction and manufacturing plans, sales and marketing activities, and business operations.
In response to the pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) administered by the United States Small Business Administration. In 2020, FF received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan in the amount of $9.2 million. Under the terms of the CARES Act, recipients can apply for and receive forgiveness for all or a portion of loans granted under the PPP. Such forgiveness is determined, based on the use of the loan proceeds for certain permissible purposes as set forth in the PPP, including, but not limited to, payroll costs (as defined under the PPP), mortgage interest, rent or utility costs (collectively, “Qualifying Expenses”), and on the maintenance of employment and compensation levels during the eight-week period following the funding of the PPP Loan. No assurance is provided that we will be able to obtain forgiveness of the PPP Loan in whole or in part.
The vaccine is currently being administered. Any resurgence may slow down FF’s ability to ramp-up FF’s production program on time to satisfy investors and potential customers. Any delay to production will delay FF’s ability to launch the FF 91 and begin generating revenue. The COVID-19 pandemic could limit the ability of FF’s suppliers and business partners to perform, including third party suppliers’ ability to provide components and materials used in the FF 91. FF may also experience an increase in the cost of raw materials. FF does not anticipate any material impairments as a result of COVID-19; however, FF will continue to evaluate conditions on an ongoing basis. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, FF may continue to experience an adverse impact to its business as a result of the global economic impact and any lasting effects on the global economy, including any recession that has occurred or may occur in the future. Refer to the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors” for a full discussion of the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Business Combination
On January 27, 2021, Legacy FF, PSAC, and PSAC Merger Sub Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSAC (“Merger Sub”) entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”).
On July 21, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), the Company consummated the Business Combination pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy FF, with Legacy FF surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSAC. Upon the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), PSAC changed its name from Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. to Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. Upon completion of the Business Combination, Legacy FF became the successor registrant with the SEC, meaning that Legacy FF’s financial statements for previous periods will be disclosed in the registrant’s future periodic reports filed with the SEC. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination and the PIPE Financing on July 21, 2021, the Company received cash aggregating $991.1 million.
Concurrently with the Merger Agreement, PSAC entered into Subscription Agreements on January 27, 2021 (collectively and as amended, the “Subscription Agreements”) with certain accredited investors or qualified institutional buyers (collectively, the “Subscription Investors”). Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, the Subscription Investors purchased, and PSAC sold to such Subscription Investors, an aggregate of 76,140,000 shares of Company Class A Common Stock for a purchase price of $10 per share, or an aggregate of $761.4 million in gross cash proceeds (the “Private Placement”). Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, PSAC gave certain registration rights to the Subscription Investors with respect to the shares issued and sold in the Private Placement. The closing of the Private Placement occurred immediately prior to the Closing Date.
As part of the Closing, total direct and incremental transaction costs aggregated $93.3 million, of which $24.6 million was expensed as part of the Business Combination and the remaining $68.7 million was recorded to additional paid in capital as equity issuance costs.
52
In conjunction with the Closing, and through the date that the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements were available to be issued, the Company paid $144.9 million in cash and issued 25,869,594 shares of Company Class A Common Stock to settle liabilities of the Company, including: (i) notes payable principal amounts of $116.5 million and accrued interest of $12.4 million; (ii) related party notes payable principal amounts of $60.1 million and accrued interest of $8.6 million; (iii) interest in the Vendor Trust of $130.7 million, including payables of $110.0 million and purchase orders in the amount of $8.4 million related to goods and services yet to be received, and accrued interest thereon of $14.5 million; (iv) $19.8 million of amounts due to vendors; and (v) $23.6 million due to active and former employees. The Company concluded that the settlement of the related party notes payable and notes payables with shares of Company Class A Common Stock is substantive and therefore was accounted as an extinguishment. Accordingly, the Company will record a loss upon extinguishment of the notes payable and related party notes payable of $90.5 million in its condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2021.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the outstanding shares of Legacy FF held by FF Top Holding LLC (f/k/a FF Top Holding Ltd.) (“FF Top”)) converted into 64,000,588 shares of Company Class B Common Stock following the Business Combination. All other outstanding shares of Legacy FF converted into 128,084,555 shares of Company Class A Common Stock following the Business Combination.
Holders of 20,600 shares of PSAC common stock exercised their right to have such shares redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the trust account holding the proceeds from PSAC’s initial public offering, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, which was approximately $10 per share, or $0.2 million. At Closing, each non-redeemed outstanding share of PSAC common stock was converted into one share of Company Class A Common Stock.
In conjunction with the Closing, the outstanding warrants issued to a US-based investment firm in conjunction with notes payable issued on various dates were adjusted to increase the shares allowed to be purchased from 10,198,958 shares of Company Class A Common Stock to 19,016,865 shares of Company Class A Common Stock in accordance with the anti-dilution provision included in the warrant agreements, as described in Note 9. Notes Payable to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
While the legal acquirer in the Merger Agreement was PSAC, for financial accounting and reporting purposes under GAAP, Legacy FF was the accounting acquirer and the Business Combination was accounted for as a “reverse recapitalization.” A reverse recapitalization does not result in a new basis of accounting, and the financial statements of the combined entity represent the continuation of the financial statements of Legacy FF in many respects. Under this method of accounting, PSAC was treated as the “acquired” company. For accounting purposes, Legacy FF was deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction was treated as a recapitalization of Legacy FF (i.e., a capital transaction involving the issuance of stock by PSAC for the stock of Legacy FF). Accordingly, the consolidated assets, liabilities, and results of operations of Legacy FF became the historical financial statements of the Company, and PSAC’s assets, liabilities, and results of operations were consolidated with Legacy FF’s on July 21, 2021. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be presented as those of FF in future reports. The net assets of PSAC were recognized at historical cost (which is expected to be consistent with carrying value), with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
In addition, until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date of the Business Combination, Legacy FF shareholders are entitled under the Merger Agreement to contingent consideration of up to 25,000,000 additional shares of Company Class A Common Stock in the aggregate in two equal tranches upon the occurrence of each earnout triggering event (the “Earnout Shares”), defined as follows in the Merger Agreement:
● | The minimum earnout of 12,500,000 additional shares is triggered if the Company’s Class A Common Stock volume weighted average price (“VWAP”), as defined in the Merger Agreement, is greater than $13.50 per share for any period of twenty (20) trading days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days (the “Minimum Target Shares”); and |
● | The maximum earnout of an additional 12,500,000 additional shares is triggered if the Company Class A Common Stock VWAP is greater than $15.50 for any period of twenty (20) trading days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days, plus the Minimum Target Shares, if not previously issued. |
The Earnout Shares have been recognized at fair value upon the closing of the Business Combination and classified in Stockholders’ Deficit. Because the Business Combination is accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, the issuance of the Earnout Shares will be treated as a deemed dividend and since the Company does not have retained earnings, the issuance will be recorded within APIC. The Company determined the fair value of the Earnout Shares at the Closing Date to be $293.9 million based on a valuation using a Monte Carlo simulation with key inputs and assumptions such as stock price, term, dividend yield, risk-free rate, and volatility.
53
As a result of the Business Combination, FF became the successor to an SEC-registered and NASDAQ-listed company which will require FF to hire additional personnel, implement procedures and processes to address public company regulatory requirements and customary practices. FF expects to incur additional annual expenses as a public company for, among other things, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, internal and external accounting, legal and administrative resources, including increased audit and legal fees.
On June 24, 2021, the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-255027), initially filed on April 5, 2021, relating to the Business Combination was declared effective by the SEC, and on July 20, 2021, PSAC held a special meeting of PSAC stockholders at which the Business Combination was approved.
Recent Developments
FF accomplished the following major milestones during the six months ended June 30, 2021:
1. | Strengthened FF’s leadership team and announced post-closing of the Business Combination Board of Directors: |
a. | Named global post-closing Board of Directors following the recent signing of the Merger Agreement with PSAC. |
b. | Appointed industry veteran Xuefeng (“Chris”) Chen as CEO of FF China to solidify US-China dual home market strategy. |
2. | Notes payable financing: |
a. | FF raised net proceeds of $111.6 million in notes payable financing to help advance the Company’s efforts towards FF 91 delivery. |
3. | Conversion of related party notes and notes payable to equity: |
a. | Legacy FF converted $90.9 million of its related party notes payable and notes payable to equity. |
4. | Product development: |
a. | Completed winter testing activities in Michigan and Minnesota to validate various vehicle systems. |
b. | Selected NVIDIA Drive Orin to power its flagship FF 91 luxury EV for next generation autonomous driving. |
5. | Joint Venture opportunities: |
a. | FF entered into a cooperation framework agreement and a license agreement with Geely that set forth the major commercial understanding of the proposed cooperation among the parties in the areas of potential investment into the JV, engineering, technology, and contract manufacturing support. |
6. | Capacity Reservation Agreement: |
a. | The Company entered into a Capacity Reservation Agreement with a certain vendor, under which the vendor will reserve sufficient resources, facilities, and capacity to manufacture and supply up to 250,000 FF-81 electric vehicles between 2023-2030. |
54
Subsequent to June 30, 2021, the Company accomplished the following milestones:
a. | The Company Announced 300 invite-only, limited-edition FF 91 Futurist Alliance Edition model and new reservation plan for FF 91 Futurist model, with a fully-refundable deposit of $5,000 and $1,500, respectively. New FF Intelligent App and FF.com will be the online reservation platforms; |
b. | The Company raised approximately $1 billion in gross proceeds as part of the Business Combination to promote FF 91’s delivery which is anticipated to be during July 2022, marking the last sprint towards production for manufacturing, supply chain, user ecosystem, and other related areas with the goal to be the leader in its market segment; and |
c. | Legacy FF converted: (i) related party notes payable with an aggregate principal balance of $130.5 million and accrued interest of $30.0 million, notes payable with principal balance of $56.0 million and accrued interest of $17.2 million into 119,191,029 shares of Class A-2 Preferred Stock; (ii) notes payable with an aggregate principal balance of $17.6 million and accrued interest of $5.4 million into 15,792,771 shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock; and (iii) notes payable with a principal balance of $1.5 million and accrued interest of $0.7 million into 1,281,976 shares of Class A-3 Preferred Stock. |
d. | In conjunction with the Business Combination and through the date that the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements were available to be issued, the Company paid $144.9 million in cash and issued 25,869,594 shares of Company Class A Common Stock to settle liabilities of the Company, including: (i) notes payable principal amounts of $116.5 million and accrued interest of $12.4 million; (ii) related party notes payable principal amounts of $60.1 million and accrued interest of $8.6 million; (iii) interest in the Vendor Trust of $130.7 million, including payables of $110.0 million and purchase orders in the amount of $8.4 million related to goods and services yet to be received, and accrued interest thereon of $14.5 million; (iv) $19.8 million of amounts due to vendors; and (v) $23.6 million due to active and former employees. |
Components of FF’s Results of Operations
Key Factors Affecting Operating Results
FF’s performance and future success depend on several factors that present significant opportunities but also pose risks and challenges, including those discussed below and in the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors.”
Faraday Future Vehicle Launch
FF expects to derive revenue from the FF 91, which is anticipated to launch during July 2022. FF plans to build out and manufacture the FF 91 in its own manufacturing facility in Hanford, California. Additionally, the FF 81, the FF 71, and the SLMD electrical vehicle models are in development and are planned to be released after the FF 91.
Production and Operations
FF expects to incur significant operating costs that will impact its future profitability, including research and development expenses as it introduces new models and improves existing models; capital expenditures for the expansion of its manufacturing capacities; additional operating costs and expenses for production ramp-up; raw material procurement costs; general and administrative expenses as it scales its operations; interest expense from debt financing activities; and selling and distribution expenses as it builds its brand and markets its vehicles. In addition, it may incur significant costs in connection with its services once it delivers the FF 91, including servicing and warranty costs. FF’s ability to become profitable in the future will depend on its ability to successfully market its vehicles and control its costs.
To date, FF has not yet sold any electric vehicles. As a result, FF will require substantial additional capital to develop products and fund operations for the foreseeable future. Until FF can generate sufficient revenue from product sales, FF expects to finance operations through a combination of existing cash on hand, public offerings, private placements, and debt financings. The amount and timing of future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including the pace and results of development efforts. Any delays in the successful completion of manufacturing facilities will impact FF’s ability to generate revenue. For additional discussion of FF’s ability to continue as a going concern, see the section titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Note 2 of the notes to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus and for further details on liquidity, please see the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section below.
55
Revenues
FF is a development stage company and has not generated any revenue to date. FF’s anticipated introduction of the FF 91, its first vehicle launch, is expected to generate the majority of FF’s future revenue while other vehicles are in development.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development
Research and development activities represent a significant part of FF’s business. FF’s research and development efforts focus on the design and development of FF’s electric vehicles and continuing to prepare its prototype electric vehicles to exceed industry standards for compliance, innovation, and performance. Additionally, research and development expenses consist of personnel-related costs (including salaries, bonuses, benefits, and stock-based compensation) for FF’s employees focused on research and development activities, other related costs, depreciation, and an allocation of FF’s general overhead. FF expects research and development expenses to increase as FF continues to develop its vehicles. FF anticipates an increase in activities in the U.S. and China, where FF’s research and development operations are primarily located.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs (including salaries, bonuses, benefits, and stock-based compensation) for FF’s employees focused on sales and marketing, costs associated with sales and marketing activities, and an allocation of FF’s general overhead. Marketing activities are those related to introducing FF’s brand and its electric vehicle prototypes to the market. FF expects selling and marketing expenses to continue to increase as FF brings its electric vehicles to market and seeks to generate sales.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, (including salaries, bonuses, benefits, and stock-based compensation) for employees associated with administrative services such as legal, human resources, information technology, accounting and finance, other related costs, and legal loss contingency expenses, which are FF’s estimates of future legal settlements. These expenses also include certain third-party consulting services, certain facilities costs, and any corporate overhead costs not allocated to other expense categories. FF expects its general and administrative expenses to increase as FF continues to grow its business. FF also anticipates that it will incur additional costs for employees and third-party consulting services related to its preparations to become and operate as a public company.
Change in Fair Value Measurement of Related Party Notes Payable, Notes Payable, and Warrant Liabilities
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable, notes payable and warrant liabilities consists of the charges and gains to fair value measurements of certain financial instruments which FF has elected to hold at fair value. FF expects changes in fair value measurement of related party notes payable and notes payable activity to decrease with the Business Combination as the majority of the liabilities converted to equity or were paid in cash.
Related Party Interest Expense
Related party interest expense consists of interest expense on notes payable with related parties. FF expects related party interest expense to decrease significantly, as the majority of related party notes payable converted to equity upon completion of the Business Combination.
Interest Expense
Interest expense primarily consists of interest on outstanding notes payable, capital leases, certain supplier payables, and vendor payables in trust. FF expects interest expense to decrease significantly, as the majority of notes payable and all of the vendor payables in trust converted to equity upon completion of the Business Combination.
56
Other Expense, net
Other expense, net consists of foreign currency transaction gains and losses and other expenses such as bank fees and late charges. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are generated by revaluation of debt denominated in foreign currency and the settlements of invoices denominated in currencies other than the functional currency. FF expects other expense to fluctuate as FF continues to transact internationally.
Results of Operations (in thousands)
To date, FF has not generated any revenue from the design, development, manufacturing, engineering, sale, or distribution of its electric vehicles. Please refer to the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors” for a full discussion on the risks and uncertainties related to costs.
Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Research and development | $ | 8,673 | $ | 4,222 | ||||
Sales and marketing | 2,585 | 166 | ||||||
General and administrative | 16,430 | 11,952 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 27,688 | 16,340 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (27,688 | ) | (16,340 | ) | ||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities | (10,730 | ) | 585 | |||||
Interest expense | (9,077 | ) | (7,281 | ) | ||||
Related party interest expense | (3,728 | ) | (8,388 | ) | ||||
Other expense, net | (1,552 | ) | (278 | ) | ||||
Loss before income taxes | (52,775 | ) | (31,702 | ) | ||||
Income tax provision | — | — | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (52,775 | ) | $ | (31,702 | ) |
Research and Development
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 8,673 | $ | 4,222 | $ | 4,451 | 105.4 | % |
The increase in research and development expense for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to increases in personnel and compensation related expenses of $5,872 due to increased headcount and an increase of $1,493 primarily related to professional services, employee benefits, and depreciation of headquarters facilities. These increases were partially offset by a vendor refund of $2,002 received during the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Sales and Marketing
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | $ | 2,585 | $ | 166 | $ | 2,419 | 1,457.2 | % |
The increase in sales and marketing expense for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to increases in personnel and compensation related expenses of $1,435, employee benefit expenses of $121 due to increases in headcount, and an increase of $426 primarily related to professional services, employee benefits, and depreciation of headquarters facilities.
57
General and Administrative
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
General and administrative | $ | 16,430 | $ | 11,952 | $ | 4,478 | 37.5 | % |
The increase in general and administrative expense for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to an increase in accrued legal expense related to a settlement agreement in the amount $6,309, expenses for professional services consisting of general corporate compliance and other legal matters related to the merger aggregating $1,693, and personnel and compensation related expenses of $1,457 due to increases in headcount. This increase was partially offset by an employee bonus program of $4,683 that was recorded in general and administrative expense for the three months ended June 30, 2020 with no such charges occurring in the same period in 2021.
Change in Fair Value Measurement of Related Party Notes Payable, Notes Payable, and Warrant Liabilities
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities | $ | (10,730 | ) | $ | 585 | $ | (11,315 | ) | (1,934.2 | )% |
The decrease in the change in the adjustment to fair value for related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities for the three months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, related to the remeasurements of certain notes payable, which FF elected to account for using the fair value option. The Company uses the yield method when valuing the related party notes payable and notes payable and the decrease in the fair value is primarily due to a change in the credit spreads of the Company. During the three months ended June 30, 2020 the Company experienced liquidity difficulties, when compared to the same period in 2021, which delayed the execution of its strategic plans, causing the liability to slightly decrease. Additionally, debt issuance costs increased $664 due to new notes and warrants issued during the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Interest Expense
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (9,077 | ) | $ | (7,281 | ) | $ | (1,796 | ) | 24.7 | % |
The increase in interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily due to an increase in the Company’s notes payable principal balance of $301,172 as of June 30, 2021 compared to a balance of $142,714 as of June 30, 2020. The debt issuance costs were expensed because Legacy FF elected the fair value option on the notes issued during the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Related Party Interest Expense
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Related party interest expense | $ | (3,728 | ) | $ | (8,388 | ) | $ | 4,660 | (55.6 | )% |
The decrease in related party interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 was primarily due to certain related party notes payable ceasing to accrue interest on March 31, 2021. These related party notes payable of $90,869 and related party accrued interest of $43,490 converted into 57,513,413 shares of Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock and 19,546,600 Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock.
58
Other Expense, Net
Three Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Other expense, net | $ | (1,552 | ) | $ | (278 | ) | $ | (1,274 | ) | 458.3 | % |
The increase in other expense, net for the three months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 was primarily due to the loss on foreign exchange related to a note payable held in Chinese Renminbi (RMB) that is remeasured at the end of each period.
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Research and development | $ | 15,394 | $ | 11,184 | ||||
Sales and marketing | 4,267 | 1,470 | ||||||
General and administrative | 27,423 | 18,732 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 47,084 | 31,386 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (47,084 | ) | (31,386 | ) | ||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities | (35,912 | ) | 8,662 | |||||
Change in fair value measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation | (1,735 | ) | — | |||||
Interest expense | (28,933 | ) | (15,672 | ) | ||||
Related party interest expense | (12,798 | ) | (16,650 | ) | ||||
Other expense, net | (1,835 | ) | (751 | ) | ||||
Loss before income taxes | (128,297 | ) | (55,797 | ) | ||||
Income tax provision | (3 | ) | — | |||||
Net loss | $ | (128,300 | ) | $ | (55,797 | ) |
Research and Development
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 15,394 | $ | 11,184 | $ | 4,210 | 37.6 | % |
The increase in research and development expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to increases in personnel and compensation related expenses of $4,378 due to increases in headcount and an increase of $2,027 primarily related to professional services, employee benefits, and depreciation of headquarters facilities. These increases were partially offset by a vendor refund of $2,002 received during the six months ended June 30,2021.
Sales and Marketing
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | $ | 4,267 | $ | 1,470 | $ | 2,797 | 190.3 | % |
The increase in sales and marketing expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to an increase in personnel and compensation related expenses of $1,631 related to increases in headcount and an increase of $585 primarily related to professional services, employee benefits, and depreciation of headquarters facilities.
59
General and Administrative
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
General and administrative | $ | 27,423 | $ | 18,732 | $ | 8,691 | 46.4 | % |
The increase in general and administrative expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to accrued legal expense related to a settlement agreement of $6,309, an increase in professional services consisting of general corporate compliance and other legal matters of $2,436, and an increase in personnel and compensation related expenses of $2,795 due to increases in headcount. This increase was partially offset by an employee bonus program in the amount of $4,683 that was recorded in general and administrative expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020 with no such charges occurring in the same period in 2021.
Change in Fair Value Measurement of Related Party Notes Payable and Notes Payable and Warrant Liabilities
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities | $ | (35,912 | ) | $ | 8,662 | $ | (44,574 | ) | (514.6 | )% |
The change in fair value of related party notes payable, notes payable, and warrant liabilities for six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 related to the remeasurements of certain term notes payable agreements, which FF elected to measure using the fair value option. Legacy FF uses the yield method when valuing the related party notes payable and notes payable. The increase in the fair value is primarily due to a change in the credit spreads of Legacy FF. Due the increased probability of the close of the Business Combination, the credit spreads tightened, causing the liability to increase. In addition, there was a change in the fair value of the warrant liabilities of $2,880 and debt issuance costs of $10,204 related to notes issued and fair valued during the six months ended June 30, 2021. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, Legacy FF experienced liquidity difficulties when compared to the same period in 2021, which delayed the execution of its strategic plans, causing the liability to decrease in that period.
Change in Fair Value Measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation | $ | (1,735 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,735 | ) | (100.0 | )% |
The change in fair value of The9 Conditional Obligation for the six months ended June 30, 2021, was due to a fair value adjustment to The9 Conditional Obligation of $1,735. For the six months period ended June 30, 2020, there was no comparable activity.
Interest Expense
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (28,933 | ) | $ | (15,672 | ) | $ | (13,261 | ) | 84.6 | % |
The increase in interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 was primarily due to the issuance of new notes at higher interest rates and an increase in unpaid principal balance of $158,458. Approximately $70,000 of notes issued during the six months ended June 30, 2021 bore interest ranging from 12.75% to 14%. In addition, Legacy FF recorded the fair value of the warrant liability at inception of $5,000.
60
Related Party Interest Expense
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Related party interest expense | $ | (12,798 | ) | $ | (16,650 | ) | $ | 3,852 | (23.1 | )% |
The decrease in related party interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 was due certain related party notes payable ceasing to accrue interest on March 31, 2021. These related party notes payable of $90,869 and related party accrued interest of $43,490 converted into 57,513,413 shares of Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock and 19,546,600 Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock.
Other Expense, Net
Six Months Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Other expense, net | $ | (1,835 | ) | $ | (751 | ) | $ | (1,084 | ) | 144.3 | % |
The increase in other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020, was primarily due to an increase of loss on foreign exchange related to a note payable held in RMB that is remeasured at the end of each period.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Research and development | $ | 20,186 | $ | 28,278 | ||||
Sales and marketing | 3,672 | 5,297 | ||||||
General and administrative | 41,071 | 71,167 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of asset held for sale | — | 12,138 | ||||||
Gain on cancellation of land use rights | — | (11,467 | ) | |||||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 10 | 4,843 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 64,939 | 110,256 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (64,939 | ) | (110,256 | ) | ||||
Gain on expiration of put option | — | 43,239 | ||||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable and notes payable | (8,948 | ) | (15,183 | ) | ||||
Change in fair value measurement of The9 conditional obligation | 3,872 | — | ||||||
Gain on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net | 2,107 | — | ||||||
Other expense, net | (5,455 | ) | — | |||||
Related party interest expense | (38,995 | ) | (34,074 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | (34,724 | ) | (25,918 | ) | ||||
Loss before income taxes | (147,082 | ) | (142,192 | ) | ||||
Income tax provision | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
Net loss | $ | (147,085 | ) | $ | (142,195 | ) |
61
Research and Development
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 20,186 | $ | 28,278 | $ | (8,092 | ) | (28.6 | )% |
The decrease in research and development expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in personnel expenses of $7,804 due to a decrease in headcount and temporary salary reductions, a decrease in materials of $200 and a decrease of other expenses such as depreciation expense, software subscriptions, freight and delivery costs and repairs and maintenance of $153.
Sales and Marketing
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Sales and marketing | $ | 3,672 | $ | 5,297 | $ | (1,625 | ) | (30.7 | )% |
The decrease in sales and marketing expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in personnel expense of $1,653 related to a decrease in headcount and temporary salary reductions.
General and Administrative
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
General and administrative | $ | 41,071 | $ | 71,167 | $ | (30,096 | ) | (42.3 | )% |
The decrease in general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to a decrease of personnel expenses of $9,211 due to a decrease in headcount and temporary salary reductions; professional services consisting of general corporate compliance and other legal matters of $6,010; a decrease in rent and related expenses of $5,907 and a decrease in other administrative expenses which include information technology, software subscriptions, travel and entertainment and depreciation expense, of $6,546.
Loss on Disposal of Asset Held for Sale
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of asset held for sale | — | 12,138 | (12,138 | ) | (100.0 | )% |
In 2019, land and related improvements for property owned in Las Vegas, Nevada classified as held for sale with a carrying value of $29,038 was sold for a total of $16,900, which resulted in a $12,138 loss on disposal being recognized. For the year ended December 31, 2020 there was no comparable activity.
62
Gain on Cancellation of Land Use Rights
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Gain on cancellation of land use rights | $ | — | $ | (11,467 | ) | $ | 11,467 | (100.0 | )% |
In 2019, land use rights granted by the government of Zhejiang (China) for use of a parcel of land were cancelled and reverted to the government of Zhejiang. Legacy FF derecognized the land use rights and the land use grant liability of $58,485 and $51,103, respectively. As part of the cancellation, Legacy FF received cash of $15,902 and incurred tax expense of $2,947, resulting in a gain of $11,467. For the year ended December 31, 2020 there was no comparable activity.
Loss on Disposal of Property and Equipment
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | $ | 10 | $ | 4,843 | $ | (4,833 | ) | (99.8 | )% |
In 2019, Legacy FF disposed of property and equipment held by its operations in China at a loss of $4,843. For the year ended December 31, 2020 there was immaterial activity.
Gain on Expiration of Put Option
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Gain on expiration of put option | $ | — | $ | 43,239 | $ | (43,239 | ) | (100.0 | )% |
In 2019, the gain related to the expiration of the related party put options that expired unexercised in 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020 there was no comparable activity.
Change in Fair Value Measurement of Related Party Notes Payable and Notes Payable
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of related party notes payable and notes payable | $ | (8,948 | ) | $ | (15,183 | ) | $ | (6,235 | ) | (41.1 | )% |
The decrease in the change in fair value for related party notes payable and notes payable for the year ended December 31, 2020 relates to the remeasurements of certain term notes payable agreements, which FF elected to measure using the fair value option. In 2019, one of the notes payable held at fair value settled for $21,668 related to a note payable with a $15,000 principal, which accounted for a significant portion of the 2019 fair value adjustment.
Change in Fair Value Measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value measurement of The9 Conditional Obligation | $ | 3,872 | $ | — | $ | 3,872 | 100.0 | % |
The increase in the change in fair value for The9 Conditional Obligation for the year ended December 31, 2020 relates to the remeasurement of the contractual obligation.
63
Gain on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Gain on extinguishment of related party notes payable, notes payable and vendor payables in trust, net | $ | 2,107 | $ | — | $ | 2,107 | 100.0 | % |
The increase in gain on extinguishment for the year ended December 31, 2020 relates to amendments to related party notes payable and notes payable agreements and the vendor trust which were deemed substantive, resulting in the application of extinguishment accounting. For the year ended December 31, 2019 there was no comparable activity.
Other Expense, Net
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Other expense, net | $ | (5,455 | ) | $ | — | $ | (5,455 | ) | 100.0 | % |
The increase in other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to an increase of loss on foreign exchange of $4,108 on a $57,000 note payable held in RMB that is remeasured at the end of each year.
Related Party Interest Expense
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Related party interest expense | $ | (38,995 | ) | $ | (34,074 | ) | $ | (4,921 | ) | 14.4 | % |
The increase in related party interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 is due to interest incurred on the increase in unpaid related party principal balance of $9,508 and an amendment on a related party note payable agreement with a $24,603 principal balance which increased the interest rate from 0% to 12%.
Interest Expense
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Amount | % | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (34,724 | ) | $ | (25,918 | ) | $ | (8,806 | ) | 34.0 | % |
The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 is due to interest incurred throughout the year on the increase in unpaid principal balance of $55,839 and the full year effect of interest on the vendor payables in trust.
Liquidity and Capital Resources (in thousands, except share and per share data)
As described in the “Overview” section of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” the COVID-19 pandemic impacted FF’s ability to raise funds and may have a material impact on future periods as FF prepares to bring its vehicles to market, including its cash flows from financing activities, which funds its operations. The extent of COVID-19’s impact on FF’s liquidity will depend upon, among other things, the duration and severity of the outbreak or subsequent outbreaks and related government responses such as required physical distancing, restrictions on business operations and travel, the pace of recovery of economic activity and the impact to consumers, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict. Refer to section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus for a full discussion of the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
64
The Company has evaluated whether there are certain conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were available to be issued.
Legacy FF started experiencing financial hardship in 2018 and was not able to fulfill all its accounts payable obligations to its suppliers absent a significant financing inflow. Certain suppliers ceased supplying their products and services to Legacy FF and/or initiated legal claims against Legacy FF when Legacy FF failed to make overdue payments. On April 29, 2019, Legacy FF established the Vendor Trust to stabilize Legacy FF’s supplier base by providing suppliers with the ability to exchange their unsecured trade receivables for secured trust interests. All interests in the Vendor Trust are collateralized by a first lien, with third payment priority, pursuant to applicable intercreditor arrangements, on virtually all tangible and intangible assets of Legacy FF. The applicable interest rate for the Vendor Trust principal balance is 6.00%. A total of $109,565 and $111,574 of FF’s trade payables were included in the Vendor Trust with accrued interest of $13,358 and $11,840 as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
The maturity date of the Vendor Trust secured trust interests was originally November 30, 2019, and was subsequently extended to March 5, 2021. On October 30, 2020, following a vote of the holders of the secured trust interests and with the approval of a steering committee of holders of secured trust interests, FF and the trustee of the Vendor Trust amended the trust agreement governing the Vendor Trust to permit the secured trust interests to be satisfied with equity to be issued in connection with a qualified merger with a special purpose acquisition company (including the Business Combination) in lieu of cash. On March 1, 2021, the maturity date was further extended to the earliest to occur of October 6, 2021, the closing of a qualified merger with a special purpose acquisition company (such as the Business Combination), a change in control of Legacy FF or an acceleration of the obligations under certain of Legacy FF’s other secured financing arrangements. Consideration to satisfy these obligations was in the form of equity interests in connection with the Business Combination for an aggregate of 10,456,582 shares of Company Class A Common Stock as well as $28,928 of cash, of which $28,355 was paid as of the date FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus were available to be issued.
With respect to accounts payable obligations outside of the Vendor Trust, some suppliers have continued to work with FF on advance payment terms. Therefore, in the accounts payable obligations, there are deposits (refundable and non-refundable), retainers that are kept at an agreed upon minimum balance and advance payments for services and products. Resolution of open balances for suppliers who did not contribute their trade receivables to the Vendor Trust has been managed on a case-by-case basis, with ongoing negotiation of new payment terms, including cash advances and retainers, as well as repayment plans if needed. FF is also defending against a limited number of civil lawsuits brought by certain suppliers that did not contribute trade receivables to the Vendor Trust.
Since inception, FF has incurred cumulative losses from operations, negative cash flows from operating activities and an accumulated deficit of $2,519,439 as of June 30, 2021. FF has funded its operations and capital needs primarily through the proceeds received from capital contributions and the issuance of related party notes payable and notes payable. The vast majority of notes payable and equity have been funded by entities controlled or previously controlled by FF’s founder and former CEO. Since its formation, FF has devoted substantial effort and capital resources to strategic planning, engineering, design, and development of its planned electric vehicle platform, development of initial electric vehicle models, and capital raising. The aforementioned efforts and capital resources have positioned FF for a commercial launch of its first passenger vehicle, the FF 91, which is anticipated during July 2022.
There can be no assurance that FF will be successful in achieving its strategic plans, that FF’s future capital raises will be sufficient to support its ongoing operations, or that any additional financing will be available in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, if at all. If events or circumstances occur such that FF does not meet its strategic plans, FF will be required to reduce discretionary spending, alter or scale back vehicle development programs, be unable to develop new or enhanced production methods, or be unable to fund capital expenditures. Any such events would have a material adverse effect on FF’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows, and ability to achieve its intended business objectives.
FF’s audit report for the year ended December 31, 2020 from FF’s independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph stating that FF’s recurring losses from operations and cash outflows from operating activities raised substantial doubt about FF’s ability to continue as a going concern. However, FF believes that existing cash along with recent financing activities including the Business Combination, will be sufficient to support working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. As of June 30, 2021, FF was in default on related party notes payable and notes payable with principal amounts of $147,093 and $40,935, respectively. Following the closing of the Business Combination and the PIPE Financing on July 21, 2021, FF received net proceeds aggregating $991,053 and has either settled the related parties notes payable and notes payable in cash or converted them to Company equity. As such, no adverse action was taken or is expected to be taken by the respective note holders. Overall, as part of the closing of the Business Combination, FF settled the majority of its indebtedness by making payments to vendors, related party note payable and note payable holders and active and former employees in an aggregated amount of $144,924 and converted an aggregated amount of $258,696 to Company equity.
65
FF management estimates that it will require approximately $1,400,000 in additional funding prior to achieving expected profitability and positive cash flow in 2024. Such funding will be utilized to execute FF’s business plan, which includes the initial launch of its FF 91 vehicle anticipated during July 2022, followed by FF’s expected introduction of the FF 81 and FF 71 vehicles in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In accordance with its business plan, in order to launch the FF 91 vehicle and continue development of the FF 81 vehicle, by July 2022, FF expects to spend a total of approximately $450,000 to bring its Hanford, California manufacturing facility to full commercial production, including completion of production and manufacturing tooling, execute its supply chain efforts, further its engineering, testing, certification, and validation efforts, and invest in sales, marketing, and the infrastructure necessary to be a public company.
Since 2018, FF has implemented cost reduction initiatives including layoffs and temporary salary reductions. Following the closing of the Business Combination, FF plans on significant increases in operating expenses as noted above including full restoration of salary reductions and significant hiring efforts to execute the business plan. FF expects its headcount to approximately double by July 2022. FF expects to fund these capital requirements through a combination of future equity issuances as well as future issuances of debt.
FF’s continuing short-term and long-term liquidity requirements are expected to be impacted by the following:
● | The timing and costs involved in bringing FF’s products to market; |
● | The expansion of production capacity; |
● | The costs of maintaining, expanding, and protecting FF’s intellectual property portfolio, including potential litigation costs and liabilities; |
● | The costs related to being public company; |
● | FF’s applied for loan forgiveness related to the Paycheck Protection Program Promissory Note, obtained pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act. Please refer to the section titled “Risk Factors”, included elsewhere in this prospectus, for a full discussion on risks related to inability to obtain loan forgiveness; |
● | The results of the Business Combination; |
● | The ability of FF to extend the maturity dates for FF’s existing notes payable and interests in the Vendor Trust to the extent not converted to equity in connection with the Business Combination; and |
● | Issuance of additional notes payable and/or related party notes payable. |
FF believes that existing cash along with recent financing activities including the Business Combination, will be sufficient to support working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. Financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2021, include the issuance of the additional notes payable generating $111,641 of funds and applying for loan forgiveness on the $9,168 Paycheck Protection Program Promissory Note (“PPP Note”). As of June 30, 2021, FF had $52,527 of unrestricted cash. For additional discussion around financing transactions, see Note 9. Notes Payable of the Notes to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
During the next 12 months as of June 30, 2021 FF committed to settle certain liabilities maturing and/or contingent upon the close of the Business Combination, as well as ongoing operating obligations, as follows:
● | Related party notes payable with a principal of $204,098 and accrued interest of $47,274; |
66
● | Notes payable with a principal amount of $261,172 and accrued interest of $38,064; |
● | Amounts owed to employee for wages of $36,624; |
● | Amounts payable to vendors in the Vendor Trust as of June 30, 2021, of $109,565 and accrued interest of $13,358; |
● | An amount of $93,280 for transaction costs incurred by PSAC and Legacy FF in relation to the Business Combination and Private Placement, including advisory, banking, printing, legal and accounting services. Of this amount, $24,610 was expensed as part of the Business Combination and the remaining $68,670 was recorded to additional paid in capital as equity issuance cost upon the close of the Business Combination; and |
● | Capital lease obligations of $3,958. |
Significant Related Party Notes Payable and Notes Payable Facilities
As discussed above, one of FF’s major sources of funding prior to the Business Combination was the issuance of related party notes payable and notes payable. As detailed below, these related parties include employees as well as affiliates and other companies controlled or previously controlled by FF’s founder and former CEO.
As of June 30, 2021, FF’s outstanding unpaid principal balance for related party notes payable and notes payable were $204,098 and $301,172, respectively, with related party and third party accrued interest of $47,274 and $50,776, respectively. On April 9, 2021, Legacy FF signed agreements with its related party notes payable holders to convert related party notes payable with aggregating principal amounts of $194,810 and accrued interest of $71,760 into 57,513,413 Shares of Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, with a conversion price of $1.67 per share, and 87,003,530 Shares of Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock with a conversion price of $1.96 per share. The Class A-1 and A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into shares of the newly registered company after the consummation of the Business Combination using an exchange ratio of 0.14130 (the “Exchange Ratio”). Just prior to the close of the Business Combination, Legacy FF converted: (i) notes payable with principal amount of $56,000 into 37,335,421 shares of Class A-2 Preferred Stock; (ii) notes payable with an aggregate principal balance of $17,600 into 15,792,771 shares of Class A-1 Preferred Stock; (iii) a note payable with a principal balance of $1,500 into 1,281,976 shares of Class A-3 Preferred Stock; and (iv) related party notes payable with an aggregate principal amount of $130,479 into 81,855,608 shares of Class A-2 Preferred Stock. Notes payable with aggregate principal amount of $116,518 and related party notes payable with principal amounts of $60,104 were either converted into equity or repaid in cash as part of the close of the Business Combination. See Note 15. Subsequent Events to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Below is a summary describing notes which were outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. For additional discussion of FF’s outstanding related party and third-party lenders, see Note 8. Related Party Notes Payable and Note 9. Notes Payable of the Notes to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus. FF’s related party notes payable and notes payable facilities were either converted into equity in connection with the Business Combination or will be repaid in cash subsequent to the consummation of the Business Combination. All other notes were converted into equity in connection with the Business Combination or will be paid on the agreed upon maturity date.
Related party notes payable consists of the following as of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019:
June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Note Name | Contractual Date | Contractual Interest Rates | Unpaid Balance | Fair Value Measurement Adjustments | Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||
Related party note(1) | June 30, 2021 | 12.00% | $ | 149,674 | $ | — | $ | 149,674 | ||||||||
Related party note(3) | Due on Demand | 15.00%* | 10,000 | — | 10,000 | |||||||||||
Related party notes – NPA tranche(2) | October 9, 2021 | 10.00% | 18,112 | 3,657 | 21,769 | |||||||||||
Related party notes – China | Due on Demand | 18.00%* | 9,288 | — | 9,288 | |||||||||||
Related party notes – China various other | Due on Demand | 0% coupon, 10.00% imputed | 5,002 | — | 5,002 | |||||||||||
Related party notes – China various other(3) | Due on Demand | 8.99% | 1,410 | — | 1,410 | |||||||||||
Related party notes – Other(3) | June 30, 2021 | 6.99% | 4,160 | — | 4,160 | |||||||||||
Related party notes – Other(3) | June 30, 2021 | 8.00% | 6,452 | — | 6,452 | |||||||||||
$ | 204,098 | $ | 3,657 | $ | 207,755 |
67
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note Name | Contractual Maturity Date | Contractual Interest Rates | Unpaid Balance | Fair Value Measurement Adjustments | 0% Coupon Discount | Loss (Gain) on Extinguishments | Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||||
Related party note | June 30, 2021 | 12.00% | $ | 240,543 | $ | — | $ | (861 | ) | $ | 204 | $ | 239,886 | |||||||||||
Related party note | Due on Demand | 15.00%* | 10,000 | — | — | — | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Related party notes – NPA tranche | October 9, 2021 | 10.00% | 18,112 | 3,515 | — | — | 21,627 | |||||||||||||||||
Related party notes – China | Due on Demand | 18.00%* | 9,196 | — | — | — | 9,196 | |||||||||||||||||
Related party notes – China various other | Due on Demand | 0% coupon, 10.00% imputed | 6,548 | — | (190 | ) | (22 | ) | 6,336 | |||||||||||||||
Related party notes – China various other | Due on Demand | 8.99% | 1,410 | — | — | (3 | ) | 1,407 | ||||||||||||||||
Related party notes – Other | Due on Demand | 0.00% | 424 | — | — | — | 424 | |||||||||||||||||
Related party notes – Other | June 30, 2021 | 6.99% | 4,160 | — | — | (50 | ) | 4,110 | ||||||||||||||||
Related party notes – Other | June 30, 2021 | 8.00% | 6,452 | — | — | (35 | ) | 6,417 | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 296,845 | $ | 3,515 | $ | (1,051 | ) | $ | 94 | $ | 299,403 |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Note Name | Contractual Maturity Date | Contractual Interest Rates | Unpaid Balance | Fair Value Measurement Adjustments | 0% Coupon Discount | Net Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||
Related party note | December 31, 2020 | 12.00% | $ | 215,940 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 215,940 | ||||||||||
Related party note | Due on Demand | 0% coupon, 10.00% imputed | 24,399 | — | (3,557 | ) | 20,842 | |||||||||||||
Related party note | Due on Demand | 15.00%* | 10,000 | — | — | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||
Related party notes – NPA tranche | May 31, 2020 | 10.00% | 18,112 | 3,410 | — | 21,522 | ||||||||||||||
Related party notes – China | Due on Demand | 18.00%* | 8,601 | — | — | 8,601 | ||||||||||||||
Related party notes – China various other | Due on Demand | 0% coupon, 10.00% imputed | 6,125 | — | (607 | ) | 5,518 | |||||||||||||
Related party notes – Other | December 31, 2020 | 6.99% | 4,160 | — | — | 4,160 | ||||||||||||||
$ | 287,337 | $ | 3,410 | $ | (4,164 | ) | $ | 286,583 |
(1) | On April 9, 2021, Legacy FF signed agreements with certain of its related party notes holders to convert their notes with principal amounts of $194,810 and accrued interest of $71,764 into 57,513,413 shares of Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock with a conversion price of $1.67 per share and 87,003,560 shares of A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock with a conversion price of $1.96 per share. Under the agreements, the notes ceased to accrue interest on March 31, 2021. |
On May 13, 2021, related party notes payable with aggregating principal amounts of $90,869 and accrued interest of $43,490 was converted into 57,513,413 Shares of Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock with a conversion price of $1.67 per share and 19,546,600 Shares of Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock with a conversion price of $1.96 per share. The outstanding principal balance subsequent to the conversion was $149,674 as of June 30, 2021. The Class A-1 and A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock converted into Class A Common Stock after the consummation of the Business Combination based on the Exchange Ratio. As of June 30, 2021, $125,071 of the related party notes payable were in default.
(2) | On April 29, 2019, Legacy FF executed the Note Purchase Agreement (“NPA”) with U.S. Bank National Association, as the notes agent, and Birch Lake Fund Management, LP as the collateral agent. The aggregate principal amount that may be issued under the NPA was $200,000. Upon both a FF Preferred Stock offering and prepayment notice by the holder, or on the maturity date of the notes payable, the holder may elect to convert all of the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the notes payable, plus a 20.00% premium, into shares of Class A Convertible Preferred Stock in the offering. FF elected the fair value option for these notes payable. See Note 7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus. |
68
(3) | As of June 30, 2021, FF was in default on twelve of its related party notes with a principal value of $22,022. FF was in compliance with all covenants under its remaining related party notes payable agreements as of June 30, 2021. |
During the six months ended June 30, 2021, FF’s outstanding unpaid principal balance of related party notes payable decreased from $296,845 to $204,098, primarily due the conversion of related party notes aggregating $90,869 of principal balance into equity on April 9, 2021, as mentioned above. Related party notes payable of $18,112 were measured at fair value due to embedded conversion features. Just prior to the Business Combination, Legacy FF converted related party notes payable with an aggregate principal amount of $130,479 into 81,855,608 shares of Class A-2 Preferred Stock. Related party notes payable with principal amounts of $60,104 were either converted into equity or repaid in cash as part of the close of the Business Combination. See Note 15. Subsequent Events to FF’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
During the year-end December 31, 2020, $37,915 of related party notes payable was modified resulting in a gain on extinguishment being recognized with a resulting unaccreted discount of $767. As of December 31, 2020, related party notes payable of $240,543 were modified resulting in a troubled debt restructuring with no gain or loss recognized, and related party notes payable of $18,112 were measured at fair value due to embedded conversion features.
Notes payable consists of the following as of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019:
June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note Name | Contractual Maturity Date | Contractual Interest Rates | Unpaid Balance | Fair Value Measurement Adjustments | Proceeds Allocated to Warrants | Net Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||||
Note payable | Repayment in 10% increments contingent on a specified fundraising event | 12.00 | % | $ | 56,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 56,000 | |||||||||||
Notes payable – NPA tranche | October 6, 2021 | 10.00 | % | 27,117 | 5,473 | — | 32,590 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(1) | October 6, 2021 | 14.00 | % | 55,000 | 11,232 | — | 66,232 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(7) | June 30, 2021 | 12.00 | % | 19,100 | — | — | 19,100 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(7) | June 30, 2021 | 1.52 | % | 4,400 | — | — | 4,400 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(7) | June 30, 2021 | 8.99 | % | 2,240 | — | — | 2,240 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(7) | June 30, 2021 | 8.00 | % | 300 | — | — | 300 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(2) | October 6, 2021 | 8.00 | % | 3,750 | 1,475 | — | 5,225 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(2) | October 6, 2021 | 15.75 | % | 5,600 | 2,202 | — | 7,802 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(3) | October 6, 2021 | 0.00 | % | 18,250 | 5,241 | — | 23,491 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(3) | December 9, 2022 | 0.00 | % | 20,000 | 649 | (2,563 | ) | 18,086 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable(3) | December 9, 2022 | 0.00 | % | 20,000 | 648 | (2,562 | ) | 18,086 | ||||||||||||||
Note payable(4) | March 9, 2022 | 0.00 | % | 15,667 | 4,499 | — | 20,166 | |||||||||||||||
Note payable(5) | October 6, 2021 | 12.75 | % | 15,666 | 6,160 | — | 21,826 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – China various other | Various Dates 2021 | 6.00 | % | 4,917 | — | — | 4,917 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – China various other | Due on Demand | 9.00 | % | 3,715 | — | — | 3,715 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – China various other(6) | Due on Demand | 0.00 | % | 5,387 | — | — | 5,387 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – various other notes(7) | June 30, 2021 | 6.99 | % | 1,260 | — | — | 1,260 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – various other notes(7) | Due on Demand | 8.99 | % | 500 | — | — | 500 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – various other notes(7) | June 30, 2021 | 2.86 | % | 1,500 | — | — | 1,500 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable(7) | June 30, 2021 | 8.00 | % | 11,635 | — | — | 11,635 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable | April 17, 2022 | 1.00 | % | 9,168 | — | — | 9,168 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 301,172 | $ | 37,579 | $ | (5,125 | ) | $ | 333,626 |
69
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note Name | Contractual Date | Contractual Rates | Unpaid Balance | Fair Value Measurement Adjustments | Gain on Extinguishments | Net Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||||
Note payable | Repayment in 10% increments contingent on a specified fundraising event | 12.00 | % | $ | 57,293 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 57,293 | |||||||||||
Notes payable – NPA tranche | October 6, 2021 | 10.00 | % | 27,118 | 5,263 | — | 32,381 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable | June 30, 2021 | 12.00 | % | 19,100 | — | — | 19,100 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable | June 30, 2021 | 1.52 | % | 4,400 | — | (102 | ) | 4,298 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable | June 30, 2021 | 8.99 | % | 2,240 | — | (5 | ) | 2,235 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable | June 30, 2021 | 8.00 | % | 300 | — | (1 | ) | 299 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable – China various other | Various Dates 2021 | 6.00 | % | 4,869 | — | (62 | ) | 4,807 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable – China various other | Due on Demand | 9.00 | % | 3,677 | — | (18 | ) | 3,659 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable – China various other | Due on Demand | 0.00 | % | 4,597 | — | — | 4,597 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable – various other notes | June 30, 2021 | 6.99 | % | 1,380 | — | (10 | ) | 1,370 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable – various other notes | Due on Demand | 8.99 | % | 380 | — | (1 | ) | 379 | ||||||||||||||
Notes payable – various other notes | June 30, 2021 | 2.86 | % | 1,500 | — | (29 | ) | 1,471 | ||||||||||||||
Note payable | March 9, 2022 | 0.00 | % | 15,000 | 2,712 | — | 17,712 | |||||||||||||||
Note payable | October 6, 2021 | 12.75 | % | 15,000 | 5,972 |