UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(MARK ONE)
For the quarterly period
ended
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As of June 23, 2023, there were
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Interim Financial Statements.
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
Total current assets | ||||||||
Marketable securities held in Trust Account | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
LIABILITIES, ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION, AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
Advance from related party | ||||||||
Promissory note - related party | ||||||||
Total current liabilities | ||||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 6) | ||||||||
Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, | ||||||||
Shareholders’ Deficit | ||||||||
Preference shares, $ | ||||||||
Ordinary shares, $ | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES, ORDINARY SHARES SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION, AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | $ | $ |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Operating costs | $ | $ | ||||||
Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Other income: | ||||||||
Income earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ||||||||
Total Other Income | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Weighted average shares outstanding, ordinary shares | ||||||||
$ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023
Ordinary Shares | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
Balance — January 1, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Remeasurement for ordinary shares to redemption amount | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022
Ordinary Shares | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
Balance — January 1, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Remeasurement for ordinary shares to redemption amount | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | ( | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Income earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | ||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
Investment of cash into Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Advances from related party | ||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
Net Change in Cash | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash – Beginning of period | ||||||||
Cash – End of period | $ | $ | ||||||
Non-Cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
Remeasurement for Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption | $ | $ |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Nocturne Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on October 28, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”). The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
On December 30, 2022, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) with Nocturne Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nocturne (“Merger Sub”), and Cognos Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Cognos”), with respect to a proposed initial business combination which would involve a domestication of Nocturne as a Delaware corporation, in connection with which Nocturne would also change its name to “Cognos Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.”, followed by a merger of Merger Sub with and into Cognos (the “Merger”), with Cognos continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nocturne.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through March 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of income from the marketable securities held in the Trust Account (as defined below).
The Registration Statement for the Company’s
Initial Public Offering was declared effective on March 29, 2021. On April 5, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering
of
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial
Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering
on April 5, 2021, an amount of $
On April 14, 2021, the underwriters exercised
their over-allotment option in full and purchased an additional
Transaction costs amounted to $
The Company’s management has broad discretion
with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units,
although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There
is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination with Cognos successfully. The Company must complete
its initial Business Combination with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least
5
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
The Company expects to provide its holders of
the outstanding Public Shares (the “public shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public
Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination with Cognos in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business
Combination. The shareholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount held in the Trust Account
(initially $
The Company will proceed with a Business Combination
only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $
Notwithstanding the foregoing, because the Company
has decided to not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules in connection with shareholder approval of the Business Combination,
the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that a public shareholder, together with any
affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined
under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming
its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of
The Sponsor has agreed (a) to waive its redemption
rights with respect to any Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and Public Shares held by it in connection with the completion of
a Business Combination and (b) not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (i) to
modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem
The Company will have until the De-SPAC Deadline,
currently October 5, 2023 (such period ending on the De-SPAC Deadline, as the same may be extended as further described in the March
Proxy Statement, the “Combination Period”), to complete a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the De-SPAC Deadline specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, after giving effect to all prior extensions, was April 5, 2023. However, on April 3, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders to consider the Extension Amendment Proposal (as further described in the March Proxy Statement). The Extension Amendment Proposal was approved by the Company’s shareholders in order to allow the Company more time to complete its initial business combination with Cognos and, accordingly, the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association were amended to further extend the De-SPAC Deadline (as further described in the March Proxy Statement). Currently, the Company’s De-SPAC Deadline is October 5, 2023.
The Sponsor has agreed to waive its liquidation
rights with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within
the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor acquires Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, such Public Shares will
be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination
Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account
in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period; in such event, such amounts will be
included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of
such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial
Public Offering price per Unit ($
6
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable
to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or by a prospective
target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account
to below (1) $
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that, while it is reasonably possible that the COVID-19 virus, its variants, and any similar virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position and/or results of its operations, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
In February 2022, the Russian Federation commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Further, the impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy are not determinable as of the date of these financial statements, and the specific impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is also not determinable as of the date of these financial statements.
The Company is subject to other risks and uncertainties, such as risks relating to rising interest rates and systemic bank failures in the United States and the possibility that the Company will not be able to consummate the proposed initial business combination with Cognos, as further described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” contained in our Registration Statement, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Definitive Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A (including the March Proxy Statement), each of which is filed with the SEC, and the corresponding “Risk Factors” section which will be contained in the proxy materials we file with the SEC and disseminate in connection with the approval of our initial business combination with Cognos.
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had approximately
$
The Company’s liquidity needs to date have
been satisfied through a payment of $
On October 27, 2021, our Sponsor committed
to provide us with an aggregate of $
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company with Working Capital Loans (as defined in Note 5). As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
If the Company’s estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to its initial Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete its Business Combination or because the Company has become obligated to redeem a significant number of its Public Shares upon completion of its Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with ASC Subtopic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern,” pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company has until the De-SPAC Deadline to consummate a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by the De-SPAC Deadline, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Although the Company intends to consummate a Business Combination on or before October 5, 2023, the current De-SPAC Deadline (subject to any applicable extensions), it is uncertain that the Company will be able to consummate a Business Combination in time. This uncertainty and the Company’s current liquidity condition raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after the De-SPAC Deadline.
7
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
Extension of the De-SPAC Deadline
The De-SPAC Deadline specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, after giving effect to all prior extensions, was April 5, 2023. However, on April 3, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders to consider the Extension Amendment Proposal (as further described in the March Proxy Statement). The Extension Amendment Proposal was approved by the Company’s shareholders in order to allow the Company more time to complete its initial business combination with Cognos and, accordingly, the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association were amended to further extend the De-SPAC Deadline (as further described in the March Proxy Statement). Currently, the Company’s De-SPAC Deadline is October 5, 2023.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, that are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on May 26, 2023. The interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2023, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023, or for any future periods.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies 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 election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period; this means that, where an issued or revised standard has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
8
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
Offering Costs
Offering costs consist of legal, accounting and
other expenses incurred through the Initial Public Offering that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Upon completion
of the Initial Public Offering, offering costs of $
Marketable Securities Held in Trust Account
At March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held in money market funds, which are invested primarily in U.S. Treasury securities. The Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of investments held in the Trust Account are included in income earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.
However, in order to mitigate the risk that the Company could be deemed to be operating as an unregistered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Company has decided to instruct Continental to liquidate the Company’s investments in money market funds invested primarily in U.S. government treasury securities and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash or in U.S. government treasury securities until the earlier of consummation of the initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation.
Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares featuring redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ deficit. The Company’s ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events.
In connection with the extraordinary general
meeting in lieu of the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held by the Company on October 4, 2022, shareholders holding
Accordingly, at March 31, 2023 and December 31,
2022,
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the remeasurement from initial book value to redemption value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.
At March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the ordinary shares subject to redemption reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, January 1, 2022 | $ | |||
Less: | ||||
Redemption of Ordinary shares | ( | ) | ||
Plus: | ||||
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value | ||||
Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2022 | $ | |||
Plus: | ||||
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value | ||||
Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2023 | $ |
9
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carryforwards. ASC 740 additionally requires the establishment of a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, it must be more likely than not that a tax position will not be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The Company is considered an exempted Cayman Islands Company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the periods presented.
Net Loss per Ordinary Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for the period. The remeasurement associated with the redeemable ordinary shares is excluded from loss per ordinary share as the redemption amount approximates fair value.
The calculation of diluted loss per ordinary
share does not consider the effect of the rights issued in connection with the (i) Initial Public Offering and (ii) the Private Placement,
which rights may convert into
The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share (in dollars, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share | ||||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||
Allocation of net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Denominator: | ||||||||
$ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject
the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times may exceed the Federal
Depository Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC 820”), approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
10
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
Fair Value Measurements
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820 for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period. The Company also follows ASC 820 for non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or that the Company would have paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
Level 2: | Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. |
Level 3: | Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
Recent Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). This update requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Since June 2016, the FASB issued clarifying updates to the new standard including changing the effective date for smaller reporting companies. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3. PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the
Company sold
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously with the closings of the
Initial Public Offering and the sale over the Over-Allotment Units, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of
11
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
In November 2020, the Sponsor paid $
The Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign
or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until, with respect to
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing
on March 30, 2021 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor
a total of $
Promissory Note — Related Party
On November 16, 2020, the Company issued to the
Sponsor an unsecured promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate
principal amount of $
On April 5, 2022, the Company issued a $
On July 5, 2022, an aggregate of $
On July 6, 2022, the Company issued a $
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022,
the Company had an outstanding balance of $
12
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
Advances from Related Party
The Sponsor advanced the Company $
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection
with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s directors and officers may,
but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a
Business Combination, the Company will repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company.
Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans will be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination
does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans; but, no
proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working
Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans
would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $
On October 27, 2021, the Sponsor committed
to provide us with an aggregate of $
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on March 30, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units (and their underlying securities) and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and underlying securities) are entitled to registration rights requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the ordinary shares). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination, as well as rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The registration rights agreement does not contain liquidated damages or other cash settlement provisions resulting from delays in registering the Company’s securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day
option to purchase up to
13
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
Service Provider Agreements
From time to time the Company has entered into and may enter into agreements with various services providers and advisors, including investment banks, to help identify potential target businesses, negotiate terms of potential Business Combinations, consummate a Business Combination and/or provide other services. In connection with these agreements, the Company may be required to pay such service providers and advisors fees in connection with their services to the extent that certain conditions, including the closing of a potential Business Combination, are met. If a Business Combination does not occur, the Company would not expect to be required to pay these contingent fees. There can be no assurance that the Company will complete a Business Combination with Cognos or with another target business.
Right of First Refusal
Subject to certain conditions, the Company will
grant Chardan, for a period of 12 months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, a right of first refusal to act
as book running manager, with at least
Merger Agreement
On December 30, 2022, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) with Nocturne Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), and Cognos Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Cognos”), with respect to a proposed initial business combination which would involve a domestication of the Company as a Delaware corporation, in connection with which the Company would also change its name to “Cognos Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.”, followed by a merger of Merger Sub with and into Cognos (the “Merger”), with Cognos continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
In consideration for and in connection with the
Merger, the current holders of shares of Cognos’ common stock, par value $
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) the Company will domesticate as a Delaware corporation and de-register as a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Domestication”) and (ii) Merger Sub will merge with and into Cognos with Cognos continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nocturne (the “Merger” and together with the Domestication and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”). In connection with the Domestication, the Company will change its name to “Cognos Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.” We refer to the Company following the Business Combination as “Cognos Therapeutics.”
As a result of the Domestication, each issued
and outstanding ordinary share of the Company will be converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of Cognos Therapeutics,
par value $
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions and is subject to customary closing conditions (including the receipt of shareholder approval at the Company extraordinary general meeting described above). The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions and documents contemplated thereby is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company’s sponsor, Nocturne Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”), agreed to forfeit certain equity securities of the Company owned by it (collectively, the “Sponsor Shares”) under certain circumstances pursuant to the Sponsor Forfeiture Agreement, as further described below under “Sponsor Forfeiture Agreement.”
For additional information, refer to the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on January 4, 2023 and January 9, 2023, respectively.
14
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2023
(Unaudited)
NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Preference Shares — The Company
is authorized to issue
Ordinary Shares — The Company
is authorized to issue
Rights — Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of such right redeemed all ordinary shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of Public Rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination, as the consideration related thereto was included in the unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Initial Public Offering. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination under which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Public Rights to receive the same per share consideration that the holders of ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary share basis, and each holder of a Public Right will be required to affirmatively convert its Public Rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) share underlying each Public Right (without paying any additional consideration) upon consummation of a Business Combination. More specifically, the Public Right holder will be required to indicate its election to convert the Public Rights into underlying shares, as well as to return the original rights certificates to the Company.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of Public Rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their Public Rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such Public Rights, and the Public Rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the Public Rights upon consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs that the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||||
Description | Level | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||
Marketable securities held in Trust Account | 1 | $ | $ |
NOTE 9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and, other than described below, there were no other subsequent events identified that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
On April 3, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary
general meeting of its shareholders to consider the Extension Amendment Proposal (as further described in the March Proxy Statement).
The Extension Amendment Proposal was approved by the Company’s shareholders in order to allow the Company more time to complete
its initial business combination with Cognos and, accordingly, the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association
were amended to further extend the De-SPAC Deadline (as further described in the March Proxy Statement). Currently, the Company’s
De-SPAC Deadline is October 5, 2023. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting, shareholders holding
On April 21, 2023 and May 24, 2023 respectively, the Company received a notification from Nasdaq that it was in violation of a Nasdaq continued listing requirement as it had failed to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (the “Form 10-K”). The notification provided that the Company had until June 20, 2023 to submit a plan to regain compliance with this continued listing requirement. The Company filed its Form 10-K on May 26, 2023.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
References in this report (the “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Nocturne Acquisition Corporation. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Nocturne Sponsor, LLC. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the completion of the proposed Business Combination (as defined below), the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including that the conditions of the proposed Business Combination are not satisfied. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on October 28, 2020 formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination with Cognos using cash derived from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, shares and debt.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a business combination will be successful.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities through March 31, 2023, were organizational activities, activities necessary to prepare for our initial public offering, described below, and subsequent to our initial public offering, activities related to identifying a target company for our initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination, at the earliest. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held in the trust account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as in connection with due diligence related to our initial business combination.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we had a net loss of $308,711, which consisted of operating costs of $585,321, offset by income earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $276,610.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had a net loss of $193,922, which consisted of operating costs of $205,619, offset by interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $11,697.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
On April 5, 2021, we completed our initial public offering of 10,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering, we completed the sale of 450,000 private placement units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to the sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $4,500,000.
On April 14, 2021, in connection with the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full, we consummated the sale of an additional 1,500,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $15,000,000. In addition, we also consummated the sale of an additional 15,000 private placement units at $10.00 per Private Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $150,000.
Following the Initial Public Offering, the full exercise of the over-allotment option and the sale of the Private Placement Units, a total of $116,150,000 was placed in the Trust Account. We incurred $6,597,115 of transaction costs, consisting of $2,000,000 of underwriting fees, $4,025,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $572,115 of other offering costs.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $530,760. Net loss of $308,711 was affected by income earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $276,610. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $54,561 of cash for operating activities.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $281,212. Net loss of $193,922 was affected by interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $11,697. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $75,593 of cash for operating activities.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash of $11,563. We intend to use the funds held outside the trust account primarily to complete our initial business combination with Cognos.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to (except as described below), loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a business combination, we will repay such loaned amounts. In the event that a business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units of the combined company at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The loans would be repaid upon consummation of a business combination, without interest.
On October 27, 2021, our sponsor committed to provide us with an aggregate of $150,000 in loans through April 5, 2023, which was the then-current De-SPAC Deadline. These loans will be non-interest bearing, unsecured and will be repaid upon the consummation of a business combination. If we do not consummate a business combination, all amounts loaned to us will be forgiven except to the extent that we have funds available outside of the trust account to repay such loans.
If our estimate of the costs associated with sourcing, negotiating, and consummating our initial business combination prove to be inaccurate, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination.
To the extent we need to raise additional funds to operate our business, the Company’s management believes that our sponsor will provide working capital loans that will provide sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s working capital needs through the earlier of the consummation of a business combination and one year from the date of this filing. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily include or be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms or at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the date of issuance of the Company’s financial statements if the initial business combination with Cognos is not consummated. The financial statements do not include any adjustments related to recovery of recorded assets or the classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
17
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2023. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay our sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, administrative and support services. We began incurring these fees on March 30, 2021 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of the business combination and our liquidation.
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per unit, or $4,025,000 in the aggregate. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the trust account solely in the event that the Company completes a business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our ordinary shares subject to possible conversion in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. Our ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of our condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Net Loss Per Ordinary Share
Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Accretion associated with the redeemable ordinary shares is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Recent Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). This update requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount. Since June 2016, the FASB issued clarifying updates to the new standard including changing the effective date for smaller reporting companies. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
18
Factors That May Adversely Affect Our Results of Operations
Our results of operations and our ability to complete an initial business combination may be adversely affected by various factors that could cause economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, many of which are beyond our control. Our business could be impacted by, among other things, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, increases in oil prices, inflation, increases in interest rates, systemic bank failures, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including resurgences and the emergence of new variants, geopolitical instability, such as the military conflict in the Ukraine, and the possibility that we may not be able to consummate the proposed initial business combination with Cognos. We cannot at this time fully predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our business and our ability to complete the proposed initial business combination with Cognos. Please refer to the section of this Report titled “Risk Factors” as well as the sections titled “Risk Factors” contained in our Registration Statement, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Definitive Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A (including the March Proxy Statement), each of which is filed with the SEC, and the corresponding “Risk Factors” section which will be contained in the proxy materials we file with the SEC and disseminate in connection with the approval of our initial business combination with Cognos.
In addition, we may not be able complete the business combination should the business combination become subject to review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”). If CFIUS or another U.S. government entity elects to review the business combination, the time necessary to complete such review or a decision to prohibit the business combination could prevent us from completing the business combination and require us to liquidate.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Following the consummation of our initial public offering, the net proceeds of our initial public offering, including amounts in the trust account, have been invested in U.S. government treasury securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in certain money market funds that invest primarily in U.S. government treasury securities. However, in order to mitigate the risk that the Company could be deemed to be operating as an unregistered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Company has decided to instruct Continental to liquidate the Company’s investments in money market funds invested primarily in U.S. government treasury securities and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash or in U.S. government treasury securities until the earlier of consummation of the initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, due solely to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting for complex financial instruments, as previously disclosed in our quarterly reports and our Form 10-K. As a result, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, management believes that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented.
Management intends to implement remediation steps to improve our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we intend to expand and improve our review process for complex securities and related accounting standards. We have improved this process by enhancing access to accounting literature, identification of third-party professionals with whom to consult regarding complex accounting applications and consideration of additional staff with the requisite experience and training to supplement existing accounting professionals.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than as discussed above, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
19
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
To the knowledge of our management team, there is no litigation currently pending or contemplated against us, any of our officers or directors in their capacity as such or against any of our property.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
As of the date of this Report, other than as set forth below, there have been no material changes with respect to those risk factors previously disclosed in our (i) final prospectus for the Company’s Initial Public Offering, as filed with the SEC on April 1, 2021, (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, as filed with the SEC on November 18, 2021, (iii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on May 16, 2022, (iv) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as filed with the SEC on August 22, 2022, and , (v) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on May 26, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risks could arise that may also affect our business or ability to consummate an initial Business Combination. We may disclose changes to such risk factors or disclose additional risk factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.
Changes to laws or regulations or in how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial Business Combination.
We are subject to the laws and regulations, and interpretations and applications of such laws and regulations, of national, regional, state and local governments and applicable non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and potentially other legal and regulatory requirements, and our consummation of an initial Business Combination may be contingent upon our ability to comply with certain laws, regulations, interpretations and applications and any post-Business Combination company may be subject to additional laws, regulations, interpretations and applications. Compliance with, and monitoring of, the foregoing may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time, and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial Business Combination. A failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial Business Combination.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”) relating, among other items, to disclosures in SEC filings in connection with business combination transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) and private operating companies; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. Certain of the procedures that we, Cognos, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, as proposed or as adopted, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs and time of negotiating and completing an initial Business Combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial Business Combination.
Our initial Business Combination with Cognos, may be materially adversely affected by the recent outbreak of hostilities between the Russian Federation and Ukraine and military conflict in Ukraine or elsewhere.
In February 2022, the Russian Federation launched a military campaign against Ukraine. In response to these actions, the United States, the European Union and other governmental authorities have imposed a series of sanctions and penalties upon Russia and certain of its political and business leaders, and may impose additional sanctions and penalties, which restrict the ability of companies throughout the world to do business with Russia. In addition, a number of companies throughout the world that were not directly restricted by those sanctions have voluntarily elected to cease doing business with companies affiliated with Russia, and it is anticipated that Russia will retaliate with its own restrictions and sanctions. It is expected that these events will have an impact upon, among other things, financial markets for the foreseeable future and may lead to increased and price volatility for publicly traded securities, including ours. If the disruptions caused by these events continue for an extended period of time, our initial Business Combination with Cognos, may be materially adversely affected.
Military conflict in Ukraine or elsewhere may lead to increased and price volatility for publicly traded securities, including ours, and to other national, regional and international economic disruptions and economic uncertainty, any of which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial Business Combination on acceptable commercial terms or at all.
20
The SEC has recently issued proposed rules relating to certain activities of SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential Business Combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with such proposals may increase our costs and the time needed to complete our initial Business Combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial Business Combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals (as defined below) may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued the SPAC Rule Proposals relating, among other items, to disclosures in Business Combination transactions between SPACS such as us and private operating companies; the condensed consolidated financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed Business Combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed Business Combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. The SPAC Rule Proposals have not yet been adopted and may be adopted in the proposed form or in a different form that could impose additional regulatory requirements on SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, Cognos, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs and time of negotiating and completing an initial Business Combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial Business Combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose.
If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted. As a result, in such circumstances, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial Business Combination and instead to liquidate the Company.
As described further above, the SPAC Rule Proposals relate, among other matters, to the circumstances in which SPACs, such as the Company, could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target company for a Business Combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its Initial Public Offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The company would then be required to complete its initial Business Combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.
Because the SPAC Rule Proposals have not yet been adopted, there is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC that has not entered into a definitive agreement within 18 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement or that will not complete its Business Combination within 24 months after such date. There is a risk that the Company will not enter into a definitive agreement within 18 months after the effective date of its IPO Registration Statement, and the Company may not be able to complete its Business Combination within 24 months after such date.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities would be severely restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements. We do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial Business Combination and instead to liquidate the Company.
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There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As of March 31, 2023, we had $11,563 in our operating bank account, $21,577,042 in marketable securities held in the trust account to be used for a business combination, or to repurchase or redeem our stock in connection therewith, and a working capital deficit of $5,303,384. As of March 31, 2023, $1,123,521 of the amount on deposit in the trust account represented interest income.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations under applicable accounting standards, management has determined that our possible need for additional financing to enable us to negotiate and complete our initial Business Combination, as well as the deadline by which we may be required to liquidate our Trust Account, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through approximately one year from the date the financial statements included elsewhere in this Report were issued.
We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2023. If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
We have identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting relating to our accounting for complex financial instruments. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. Measures to remediate material weaknesses may be time-consuming and costly and there is no assurance that such initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results. If we identify any new material weaknesses in the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and adversely affect our business and operating results. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
We may not be able to complete the initial Business Combination with Cognos since such initial Business Combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), or ultimately prohibited.
Certain federally licensed businesses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Were we considered to be a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, the proposed Business Combination between us and Cognos could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review. The scope of CFIUS was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”) to include certain non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our initial Business Combination with Cognos falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate the initial Business Combination. In addition, if our initial Business Combination with Cognos falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial Business Combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial Business Combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial Business Combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial Business Combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial Business Combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share, and our rights will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in Cognos and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None. For a description of the use of proceeds generated in our Initial Public Offering and Private Placement, see Part II, Item 5 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on May 26, 2023. There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from the Company’s Initial Public Offering and Private Placement as described in the Registration Statement.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished herewith. |
*** | Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed by the Company on April 5, 2022. |
**** | Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed by the Company on July 5, 2022. |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NOCTURNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
Date: June 23, 2023 | By: | /s/ Henry Monzon |
Name: | Henry Monzon | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Date: June 23, 2023 | By: | /s/ Ka Seng (Thomas) Ao |
Name: | Ka Seng (Thomas) Ao | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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