RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS [Abstract]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

NOTE 5. - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On February 12, 2021, the Company issued 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor (the “Founder Shares”) in exchange for the payment of $25,000 of the Company’s offering expenses. Founder Shares and the associated amounts reflect: (i) the surrender of 2,875,000 Class B ordinary shares to the Company at no consideration on October 25, 2021; and (ii) the share capitalization of Class B ordinary shares on November 17, 2021; resulting in a decrease in the total number of Class B ordinary shares outstanding to 6,900,000 Class B ordinary shares. The holders of the Founder Shares agreed to forfeit and cancel up to an aggregate of 900,000 Founder Shares, on a pro rata basis, to the extent that the option to purchase additional Units was not exercised in full by the underwriters, so that the Founder Shares would represent approximately 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering. On November 22, 2021, the underwriters consummated the exercise in full of the over-allotment; thus, these 900,000 Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture.

The Sponsor agreed that upon and subject to the completion of the initial Business Combination, 25% of the Founder Shares then held by the Sponsor shall be considered to be newly unvested shares, one-half of which (or 12.5% of the shares then held by the Sponsor) will vest only if the closing price of Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq equals or exceeds $12.50 for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period (the “First Share Price Level”) on or after the first anniversary of the closing of the initial Business Combination but before the fifth anniversary; and one-half of which (or 12.5% of the shares then held by the Sponsor) will vest only if the closing price of Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq equals or exceeds $15.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period (the “Second Share Price Level”), on or after the first anniversary of the closing of the initial Business Combination but before the fifth anniversary. The Sponsor agreed, subject to exceptions, not to transfer any unvested Founder Shares prior to the date such securities become vested. Founder Shares, if any, that remain unvested at the fifth anniversary of the closing of the initial Business Combination will be forfeited.

In May 2021, the Sponsor transferred 40,000 Founder Shares to each of the two independent director nominees. The transfer of the Founder Shares 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 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 September 30, 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 completion of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of Founder Shares that ultimately vest multiplied times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founder Shares.

The Initial Shareholders agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the closing price of Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.

Related Party Loans

The Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 pursuant to a promissory note, dated February 12, 2021, which was later amended and restated on July 30, 2021 (the “2021 Note”). The 2021 Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and due upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Company borrowed approximately $167,000 under the 2021 Note. The Company partially repaid approximately $166,000 owed under the 2021 Note upon closing of the Initial Public Offering and repaid the remaining balance of approximately $1,000 on November 24, 2021.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, members of the Company’s management team or any of their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay 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. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be converted into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into a convertible promissory note (the “2022 Note”) with the Sponsor, a related party of the Company. Pursuant to the 2022 Note the Company may borrow from the Sponsor, from time to time, up to an aggregate of $1,500,000.  Borrowings under the 2022 Note do not bear interest. The 2022 Note will mature on the earlier to occur of (i) 18 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or up to any Extension Period, if applicable) or (ii) the effective date of the Company’s initial Business Combination. If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company will repay the 2022 Note out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the 2022 Loan will be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into Private Placement Warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the Sponsor. The 2022 Note contains customary events of default, including those relating to the Company’s failure to repay the principal amount due upon maturity of the 2022 Note and certain bankruptcy events. In March 2023 and July 2022, the Company borrowed approximately $474,000 and $300,000 under the 2022 Note, respectively. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $774,000 and $300,000 was outstanding under the 2022 Note, respectively.

Administrative Services Agreement

On November 17, 2021, the Company agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team through the earlier of consummation of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred expenses of $25,000 and $85,000, respectively, under this agreement. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company incurred expenses of $30,000 and $90,000, respectively, under this agreement. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there was $30,000 and $5,000 in accrued expenses for services in connection with such agreement, respectively.

In addition, the Sponsor, officers and directors, or their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by the Company to the Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account.