Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On January 15, 2021, in consideration for the payment of certain of the Company’s offering costs, the Company applied $25,000 of outstanding advances from the Sponsor towards the issuance of 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock. In September 2021, the Company effected a stock dividend of 0.3694 shares for each share of Class B common stock outstanding, resulting in the Sponsor holding 11,810,833 Founder Shares (the “Founder Shares”). The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 1,507,500 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that the holders of the Founder Shares will collectively own, on an as-converted basis, 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (including the Private Placement Shares). As a result of the underwriter’s option not to exercise its over-allotment option, a total of 1,507,500 Founder Shares were forfeited.

The holders of the Founder Shares have agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to our initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.

In connection with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor sold 2,473,864 Founder Shares to certain anchor investors at their original purchase price. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of the Founder Shares attributable to the anchor investors to be $20,656,764, or $8.35 per share. The fair value of the Founder Shares were valued using a binomial/lattice model. The excess of the fair value of the Founder Shares was determined to be an offering cost in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A. Accordingly, the offering cost was allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering based on a relative fair value basis, compared to the total proceeds received. Offering costs related to the Founder Shares amounted to $20,656,764, of which $20,615,450 was charged to stockholders’ deficit upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering and $41,314 was expensed to the statements of operation and included in transaction costs attributable to warrant liabilities.

On October 5, 2021, upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor sold membership interests to each of four directors of the Company. The membership interests entitle each director to 25,000 Founder Shares, for an aggregate of 100,000 shares, to be transferred to the directors if a Business Combination is consummated. The total consideration paid for these membership interests was $200. Three of the directors were also part of the Sponsor group and invested $409,929 for their pro-rata share of the Sponsor

contribution for Founder Shares and Private Placement Units. Each Founder Share will automatically convert to one share of Class A common stock upon consummation of a Business Combination. The Sponsor will retain all voting and dispositive power over all Founder Shares until the consummation of the Business Combination, after which the Sponsor will distribute to each holder of the membership interests its share of the Founder Shares, subject to applicable lock-up restrictions.

The sale of the membership interests to the Company’s directors is in the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The fair value of the 100,000 shares granted to the Company’s directors was $835,000 or $8.35 per share. The Founder Shares were granted subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Compensation expense related to the Founder Shares is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence under the applicable accounting literature in this circumstance. As of December 31, 2023, the Company determined that a Business Combination is not considered probable, and, therefore, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination is considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of Founder Shares multiplied by the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founder Shares.

On June 28, 2023, in connection with the Second Extension Amendment, the Sponsor converted 4,000,000 shares of Class B common stock into 4,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, which represented 40% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A common stock as of the date of such conversion.

Promissory Note – Related Party

On January 15, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of September 30, 2021 or the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The outstanding loan of $186,819 was repaid at the time of the Initial Public Offering.

On March 27, 2022, the Sponsor signed a commitment letter stating that in instances of cash shortfalls, the Sponsor agreed to provide support of up to $600,000 to enable the Company to continue its operations and meet its potential obligations. On June 30, 2022, the Company issued a promissory note to Marblegate Special Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., a member of the Sponsor (“Marblegate SOMF”), for a Working Capital Loan for which the Company may borrow up to the principal sum of $600,000 (the “2022 Note”). The note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company consummates its initial business combination or (ii) the date that the winding up of the Company is effective. At the option of the payee (“Payee”), at any time prior to payment in full of the principal balance of the note, the Payee may elect to convert up to $600,000 of the unpaid principal balance of the note into that number of shares of Class A common stock of the Company (the “Conversion Shares”), equal to (x) the portion of the principal amount of the note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares. The Conversion Shares shall be identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units issued in the Private Placement. On July 1, 2022, the Company borrowed $200,000 under the promissory note for the Working Capital Loan. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were $600,000 and $200,000 outstanding balances under the 2022 Note.

On February 13, 2023, the Company issued a promissory note in the principal amount of up to $1,100,000 to Marblegate SOMF (the “February 2023 Note”). The February 2023 Note was issued in connection with advances Marblegate SOMF has made, and may make in the future, to the Company for working capital expenses. The February 2023 Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Company consummates its initial business combination and (ii) the date that the winding up of the Company is effective. At the election of the Marblegate SOMF, all or a portion of the unpaid principal amount of the February 2023 Note may be converted into shares of Class A common stock of the Company (the “Conversion Shares”), equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of the Note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares. The Conversion Shares will be identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units issued by the Company to its sponsor and the representative of the underwriters in a private placement in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. The Conversion Shares are entitled to the registration rights set forth in the February 2023 Note. As of December 31, 2023, there was $1,100,000 outstanding balances under the February 2023 Note.

On July 20, 2023, the Company issued a promissory note in the principal amount of up to $500,000 to Marblegate SOMF (the “July 2023 Note”). The July 2023 Note was issued in connection with advances Marblegate SOMF has made, and may make in the future, to the Company for working capital expenses. The July 2023 Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Company consummates its initial business combination and (ii) the date that the winding up of the Company is effective. At the election of Marblegate SOMF, all or a portion of the unpaid principal amount of the July 2023 Note may be converted into shares of Class A common stock of the Company (the “Conversion Shares”), equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of the note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares. The Conversion Shares will be identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units issued by the Company to its sponsor and the representative of the underwriters in a private placement in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. The Conversion Shares are entitled to the registration rights set forth in the July 2023 Note. As of December 31, 2023, there was $500,000 outstanding balance under the July 2023 Note.

On December 21, 2023, the Company issued a promissory note in the principal amount of up to $450,000 to Marblegate SOMF (the “December 2023 Note”). The July 2023 Note was issued in connection with advances Marblegate SOMF has made, and may make in the future, to the Company for working capital expenses. The July 2023 Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Company consummates its initial business combination and (ii) the date that the winding up of the Company is effective. At the election of Marblegate SOMF, all or a portion of the unpaid principal amount of the December 2023 Note may be converted into Conversion Shares, equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of the note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares. The Conversion Shares will be identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units issued by the Company to its sponsor and the representative of the underwriters in a private placement in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. The Conversion Shares are entitled to the registration rights set forth in the December 2023 Note. As of December 31, 2023, there was $25,000 outstanding under the December 2023 Note.

Administrative Support Agreement

The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on September 30, 2021 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a total not to exceed $10,000 per month for secretarial and administrative support. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred $120,000 in fees for these services, which fees are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheet. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred $120,000 in fees for these services, which fees are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheet.

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. If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would 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 $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the Private Placement Units.