UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
For
the quarterly period ended
For the transition period from to
Commission
File Number
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (IRS Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |
| ||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| The | ||||
| The | ||||
| The |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ||
| Emerging growth company | |||
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
As of November 14, 2023, there were
i
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Deferred offering costs | ||||||||
| Marketable Securities held in Trust Account | ||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit): | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses - related party | ||||||||
| Accrued offering costs | ||||||||
| Promissory note - related party | ||||||||
| Income tax payable | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Deferred underwriting fee payable | ||||||||
| Forward Purchase Agreement | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | ||||||||
| Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, $ | ||||||||
| Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit): | ||||||||
| Preference shares, $ | ||||||||
| Class A ordinary shares, $ | ||||||||
| Class B ordinary shares, $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Subscription receivable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | For the 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Operating and formation costs | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income on investments held in Trust Account | ||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of Forward Purchase Agreement | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense) | ||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | ( | ) | — | ( | ) | — | ||||||||||
| Net Income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(UNAUDITED)
| THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A Ordinary Shares | Class B Ordinary Shares | Additional Paid-in | Subscription | Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Receivable | Deficit | (Deficit) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2023 | — | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Placement Units | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Representative Shares | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allocation of Issuance Costs | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion Redemption Value of Class A Ordinary Shares | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash received for stock subscription receivable | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion Redemption Value of Class A Ordinary Shares | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2023 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward Purchase Agreement | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion Redemption Value of Class A Ordinary Shares | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | — | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 11, 2022 (INCEPTION) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class
A Ordinary Shares | Class
B Ordinary Shares | Additional Paid-in | Subscription | Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Receivable | Deficit | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 11, 2022 (inception) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2022 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2022 | — | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | For the Period From March 11, 2022 (inception) Through September 30, 2022 | |||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Interest income on investments held in Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
| Change in fair value of Forward Purchase Agreement | ||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses - related party | ||||||||
| Income tax payable | ||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
| Investment of cash in Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor | ||||||||
| Proceeds from promissory note - related party | ||||||||
| Advance from Sponsor for payment of formation costs | ||||||||
| Repayment to Sponsor for payment of formation costs | ( | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of Placement Units | — | |||||||
| Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriting discount paid | ||||||||
| Proceeds from stock subscriptions received | ||||||||
| Repayment of Promissory note - related party | ( | ) | ||||||
| Payment of offering costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
| Net Change in Cash | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash - Beginning of period | ||||||||
| Cash - End of period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
| Initial measurement of forward purchase options liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accretion of Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption value | $ | $ | ||||||
| Valuation of Representative Shares | $ | $ | ||||||
| Offering costs included in Accrued offering costs | $ | $ | ||||||
| Deferred underwriting fee payable | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN
Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 11, 2022. On October 14, 2022, the Company redomiciled in the Cayman Islands. The Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a 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.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity from inception through September 30, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The
registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 9, 2023. On February 14,
2023, 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 February 14, 2023, an amount of $
Transaction
costs related to the issuances described above 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 Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating
a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company
must complete a Business Combination with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least
5
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The
Company will 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 either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting
called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder
approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders
will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated
to be $
The
Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $
If a shareholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
The Sponsor has agreed (a) to vote its Class B ordinary shares, the ordinary shares included in the Placement Units and the Public Shares purchased in the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company provides dissenting Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment; (c) not to redeem any shares (including the Class B ordinary shares) and Placement Units (including underlying securities) into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or to sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination if the Company does not seek shareholder approval in connection therewith) or a vote to amend the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to shareholders’ rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the Class B ordinary shares and Placement Units (including underlying securities) shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the Sponsor will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased in the Initial Public Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination.
6
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The
Company will have until 12 months (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering at the election of the Company
pursuant to six one month extensions subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the deposit of up to $
The
Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company, if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products
sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce
the amounts in the Trust Account to below $
Going Concern and Liquidity
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31,
2022, the Company had $
7
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which contemplates continuation of the Company as a going concern and the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of the Company’s financing and acquisition plans. Management plans to address this uncertainty with the successful closing of the Business Combination. The Company will have until February 14, 2024 (or up to August 14, 2024, as applicable) to consummate a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by February 14, 2024, less than one year after the date these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. The Company’s balance of cash held outside of the Trust Account as of September 30, 2023, in conjunction with the mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution, raises 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 February 14, 2024. The Company intends to complete the initial Business Combination before the mandatory liquidation date. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate any Business Combination by February 14, 2024.
Risks and Uncertainties
As a result of the military action commenced in February 2022 by the Russian Federation and Belarus in the country of Ukraine and related economic sanctions, the Company’s ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which the Company ultimately consummates a Business Combination, may be materially and adversely affected. Further, the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by these events, including as a result of increased market volatility, or decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. The impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy and the specific impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and/or ability to consummate a Business Combination are not yet determinable. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Business Combination Agreement
On August 15, 2023, the Company, entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, Pono Three Merger Acquisitions Corp., a British Columbia company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”) and Robinson Aircraft Ltd., d/b/a Horizon Aircraft (“Horizon”). Horizon is an innovative aerospace company building an operationally ready eVTOL (hybrid-electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”), the Company will redomesticate as a British Columbia company (the “SPAC Continuance”), and at the Closing, Merger Sub will amalgamate (the “Amalgamation,” together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Business Combination”) with Horizon (the resulting company, “Amalco”), with Amalco being the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
As
consideration for the Amalgamation, the holders of Horizon common shares collectively will be entitled to receive from the Company, in
the aggregate, a number of Company Class A ordinary shares equal to (the “Exchange Consideration”) the quotient derived from
dividing (a) the difference of (i) Ninety-six Million Dollars ($
8
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The
Exchange Consideration otherwise payable to Horizon shareholders is subject to the withholding of a number of Company ordinary shares
equal to (i) three percent (
The Exchange Consideration is subject to adjustment after the Closing based on confirmed amounts of the Closing Net Indebtedness as of the Closing Date. If the adjustment is a negative adjustment in favor of the Company, the escrow agent shall distribute to the Company a number of Company Class A ordinary shares with a value equal to the absolute value of the adjustment amount. If the adjustment is a positive adjustment in favor of Horizon, the Company will issue to the Horizon shareholders an additional number Company Class A ordinary shares with a value equal to the adjustment amount.
Unless
waived by Horizon, the obligations of Horizon to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following
Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (a) the representations and warranties of the
Company being true and correct as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse
Effect); (b) the Company having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with
their respective covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior
the date of the Closing; (c) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date of the Business Combination
Agreement which is continuing and uncured; (d) minimum cash available after payment of SPAC expenses and redemptions of $
Unless waived by the Company, the obligations of the Company and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (a) the representations and warranties of Horizon being true and correct as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect); (b) Horizon having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with its covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior the date of the Closing; (c) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to Horizon as a whole since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; and (d) each Lock-Up Agreement, the Non-Competition Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and employment agreements with specified employees being executed and delivered.
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated under certain customary and limited circumstances at any time prior to the Closing, including:
| ● | by mutual agreement; |
| ● | for the other party’s uncured breach; |
| ● | if there is a government order preventing the Closing; |
| ● | by either party if the Closing does not occur by February 14, 2024, subject to extension by the Company in connection with an Extension of the time period for it to close a business combination transaction; |
9
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| ● | by the Company if there has been an event after the signing of the Business Combination Agreement that has had a Material Adverse Effect on Horizon that is continuing and uncured; |
| ● | by Horizon if there has been an event after the signing of the Business Combination Agreement that has had a Material Adverse Effect on the Company that is continuing and uncured; |
| ● | by the Company or Horizon if the Company’s shareholders vote and do not approve the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; and |
| ● | by the Company if a fairness opinion or third-party valuation is required by SEC rules or regulations, and the Company is unable to obtain such opinion or valuation supporting the terms contemplated hereunder after commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain such opinion or valuation. |
In
connection with the Business Combination, the Company and Horizon entered into an agreement with (i) Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”),
(ii) Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO”) and (iii) Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (“MSC”)
(with MCP, MSTO and MSC collectively referred to as the “Seller” or “Meteora”) (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”
or “Confirmation”) for OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transactions. Pursuant to the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement,
the Seller intends, but is not obligated, to purchase up to
On
August 15, 2023, the Company entered into a subscription agreement (the “FPA Funding Amount Subscription Agreement”) with
Seller. Pursuant to the FPA Funding Subscription Agreement, Seller agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and the Company agreed to issue
and sell to Seller, on the Closing Date at a price of $
On September 13, 2023, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC relating to the Business Combination with Horizon.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
Principles of Consolidation and Financial Statement Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. 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 comprehensive 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, which 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 Form 10-K as filed with the SEC March 30, 2023. The interim results for three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the period ending December 31, 2023 or for any future periods.
10
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled operating subsidiary after elimination of all intercompany transactions and balances as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
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 (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the unaudited 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 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
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 unaudited 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 from those estimates. Items which involve management to exercise significant judgment include determining the fair value of forward purchase options, warrants, and the allocation of offering cost.
Cash
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 September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
11
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Investments Held in Trust Account
As
of September 30, 2023 the assets held in the Trust Account were held in money market funds, which were invested in U.S. Treasury
securities. All of the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Such trading securities
are presented on the unaudited condensed consolidated 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 Trust Account are included in interest and dividend income on investments
held in Trust Account in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. The estimated fair values of investments
held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information. The Company had $
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC Topic 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 unaudited condensed financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established 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 unaudited condensed 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, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. Based on the Company’s evaluation, it has been concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of September 30, 2023. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals, or material deviation from its position. The Company is considered an exempted Cayman Islands Company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands. As the company redomiciled from Delaware to the Cayman Islands, the company remains taxable as a U.S. corporation under Internal Revenue Code Section 7874. Consequently, income taxes are reflected in the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject To Possible Redemption
All of the Class A ordinary shares sold as part
of the Units in the Initial Public Offering contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection
with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Business Combination and in
connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Association. In accordance with ASC 480, conditionally
redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A 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 the Company’s control) are classified
as temporary equity. Ordinary liquidation events, which involve the redemption and liquidation of all of the entity’s equity instruments,
are excluded from the provisions of ASC 480. Although the Company did not specify a maximum redemption threshold, its charter provides
that currently, the Company will not redeem its Public Shares in an amount that would cause its net tangible assets (shareholders’
equity) to be less than $
12
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| Gross proceeds | $ | |||
| Less: | ||||
| Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants | ( | ) | ||
| Issuance costs allocated to Class A ordinary shares | ( | ) | ||
| Plus: | ||||
| Accretion of Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption to redemption amount | ||||
| Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption | $ |
Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering
The
Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A - Expenses of Offering.
Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to
the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs directly attributable to the issuance of an equity contract to be classified in equity are
recorded as a reduction in equity. Offering costs for equity contracts that are classified as assets and liabilities are expensed immediately.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred offering costs amounting to $
Net Income (loss) Per Share
Net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number ordinary shares outstanding for the period. Therefore, the income (loss) per share calculation allocates income (loss) shared pro rata between Class A and Class B ordinary shares. As a result, the calculated net income (loss) per share is the same for Class A and Class B ordinary shares. The calculation of diluted income (loss) per share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and Placement Warrants (as defined in Note 4) since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | |||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
13
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | For the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through September 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | |||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Ordinary Shares | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary shares | $ | $ | $ | $ | ) | |||||||||||
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution
which, at times may exceed the Federal depository insurance coverage of $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company applies ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework. ASC 820 defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the Company’s principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 generally requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions based on market data and the entity’s judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are to be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheet for current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
Level 1 — Assets and liabilities with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. Inputs to the fair value measurement are observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are determined using prices for recently traded assets and liabilities with similar underlying terms, as well as direct or indirect observable inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
Level 3 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are unobservable inputs, such as estimates, assumptions, and valuation techniques when little or no market data exists for the assets or liabilities.
See Note 8 for additional information on assets and liabilities measured at fair value.
14
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. For derivative instruments that are classified as equity, the derivative instruments are initially measured at fair value (or allocated value), and subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the contracts continue to be classified in equity.
The Forward Purchase Agreement (described in Note 1) is recognized as a derivative liability in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, the Company recognizes the instrument as an asset or liability at fair value and with changes in fair value recognized in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The estimated fair value of the Forward Purchase Agreement is measured at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model.
Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815. The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own ordinary shares, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as liabilities at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The warrants are not precluded from equity classification, and are accounted for as such on the date of issuance, and will be on each unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet date thereafter. As the warrants are equity classified, they are initially measured at fair value (or allocated value). The fair value of the public warrants was measured using a Monte Carlo simulation model and the fair value of the private warrants was measured using a Black-Scholes Model. Subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the warrants continue to be classified as equity.
Recent Accounting Standards
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 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
15
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
The
registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 9, 2023. On February 14,
2023, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously
with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On
May 17, 2022, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $
The
Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Class B ordinary shares (except to certain permitted transferees as disclosed
herein) until, with respect to any of the Class B ordinary shares, the earlier of (i) six months after the date of the consummation of
a Business Combination, or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s ordinary shares equals or exceeds $
16
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Promissory Note - Related Party
On
April 25, 2022, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $
Administrative Support Agreement
The
Company’s Sponsor has agreed, commencing from the date of the Initial Public Offering through the earlier of the Company’s
consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to make available to the Company certain general and administrative services,
including office space, utilities and administrative services, as the Company may require from time to time. The Company has agreed to
pay to Mehana Capital LLC, the Sponsor, $
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection
with the initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors
may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required. If the Company completes the initial Business Combination, the
Company will repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion
of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, including the repayment of loans from the Sponsor
to pay for any amount deposited to pay for any extension of the time to complete the initial Business Combination, but no proceeds from
the Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $
17
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement
The holders of the Founder Shares and Placement Units (including securities contained therein) and Units (including securities contained therein) that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and extension loans, and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Warrants and any Class A ordinary shares and warrants (and underlying Class A ordinary shares) that may be issued upon conversion of the Units issued as part of the working capital loans and extension loans and Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed prior on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering, requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Class A ordinary shares). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Underwriting Agreement
Simultaneously
with the Initial Public Offering, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option to purchase an additional
The
underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $
Representative Shares
Upon
closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company issued
The Representative Shares are subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s NASD Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), these securities may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of the Initial Public Offering except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the Initial Public Offering and their bona fide officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates or as otherwise permitted under Rule 5110(e)(2).
The
initial measurement of the fair value of the Representative Shares was determined using the market approach to value the subject interest.
Based on the indication of fair value using the market approach, the Company determined the fair value of the Representative Shares to
be $
18
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Right of First Refusal
For a period beginning on the closing of the Initial Public Offering and ending 12 months from the closing of a Business Combination, the Company has granted EF Hutton a right of first refusal to act as lead-left book running manager and lead left manager for any and all future private or public equity, convertible and debt offerings during such period. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(3)(A)(i), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Preference
shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Class
A ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Class
B ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Warrants
— As of September 30, 2023, there were
The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the Public Warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, Public Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act; provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis.
19
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption:
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant, |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption given after the Public Warrants become exercisable (the “30-day redemption period”) to each Public Warrant holder; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing once the Public Warrants become exercisable and ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Public Warrant holders. |
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise the redemption right if the issuance of Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.
The Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants except that, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, (i) they will not be redeemable by the Company, (ii) they (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of these Placement Warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the Sponsor until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination, (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis and (iv) the holders thereof (including with respect to Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such Placement Warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
The
Company accounts for the
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Description | Amount at Fair Value | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
| September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Marketable Securities held in Trust Account: | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury Securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities - Forward Purchase Agreement | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
20
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| As of September 30, 2023 | As of August 15, 2023 | |||||||
| Redemption Price | $ | | $ | |||||
| Stock price | $ | $ | ||||||
| Volatility | % | % | ||||||
| Term (years) | ||||||||
| Risk-free rate | % | % | ||||||
| Fair value as of (inception) August 15, 2023 | $ | |||
| Change in fair value of derivative liabilities1 | ||||
| Fair value as of September 30, 2023 | $ |
| 1 |
The
estimated fair value of the Forward Purchase Agreement was measured at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which was determined
using Level 3 inputs. Inherent in a Monte Carlo simulation are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, expected life,
risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company estimates the volatility of its warrants based on implied volatility from the
Company’s traded warrants and from historical volatility of select peer company’s shares that matches the expected remaining
life of the warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the grant date for a maturity
similar to the expected remaining life of the warrants. The expected life of the warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining
contractual term. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates remaining at
NOTE 9. INCOME TAX
The Company's effective tax rate for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2023, was
The Company has used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and for the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through September 30, 2022. The Company believes that, at this time, the use of the discrete method is more appropriate than the estimated annual effective tax rate method as the estimated annual effective tax rate method is not reliable due to a high degree of uncertainty in estimating annual pretax earnings.
NOTE 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet date up to the date that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements was issued. Based upon this review, other than the below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.
The Company borrowed $
The Company filed Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4 in connection with the Business Combination with the SEC on October 23, 2023.
21
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 Pono Capital Three, Inc. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Mehana Capital LLC. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited 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, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 including, without limitation, statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Quarterly Report, words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions, as they relate to us or the Company’s management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to the Company’s management. 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. 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 Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 30, 2023. 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 Delaware on March 11, 2022 (subsequently redomiciled in the Cayman Islands on October 14, 2022) formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) and the sale of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the forward purchase agreements (or backstop agreements we may enter into or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing or other sources.
Business Combination Agreement
On August 15, 2023, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, Pono Three Merger Acquisitions Corp., a British Columbia company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pono (“Merger Sub”) and Robinson Aircraft Ltd., d/b/a Horizon Aircraft (“Horizon”).
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”), the Company will redomesticate as a British Columbia company (the “SPAC Continuance”), and at the Closing, Merger Sub will amalgamate (the “Amalgamation,” together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Business Combination”) with Horizon (the resulting company, “Amalco”), with Amalco being the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
22
As consideration for the Amalgamation, the holders of Horizon common shares collectively will be entitled to receive from the Company, in the aggregate, a number of Company Class A ordinary shares equal to (the “Exchange Consideration”) the quotient derived from dividing (a) the difference of (i) Ninety-six Million Dollars ($96,000,000) minus (ii) the Closing Net Indebtedness, by (b) the Redemption Price (as defined below), with each Horizon shareholder receiving, for each Horizon share held, a number of Company Class A ordinary shares equal to such shareholder’s pro rata portion of the Exchange Consideration. Each outstanding option to purchase Horizon common stock shall be cancelled or exercised prior to the Closing.
The Exchange Consideration otherwise payable to Horizon shareholders is subject to the withholding of a number of Company ordinary shares equal to (i) three percent (3.0%) of the Exchange Consideration to be placed in escrow for post-closing adjustments (if any) to the Exchange Consideration, and (ii) such number of additional number of Company ordinary shares equal a maximum of the quotient derived from dividing (i) Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) by (ii) the redemption price per share (the “Redemption Price”) as defined in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Incentive Shares”), provided such Incentive Shares are allotted and issued on or prior to the Closing Date to such third parties as Horizon and the Company may agree (A) in connection with post-closing financing structures in the form of a PIPE, convertible debt, forward purchase agreement, backstop, or equity line of credit; or (B) to one or more existing holders of Company ordinary shares as an inducement for them not to proceed with a redemption, subject to certain restrictions.
The Exchange Consideration is subject to adjustment after the Closing based on confirmed amounts of the Closing Net Indebtedness as of the Closing Date. If the adjustment is a negative adjustment in favor of the Company, the escrow agent shall distribute to the Company a number of Company Class A ordinary shares with a value equal to the absolute value of the adjustment amount. If the adjustment is a positive adjustment in favor of Horizon, the Company will issue to the Horizon shareholders an additional number of Company Class A ordinary shares with a value equal to the adjustment amount.
Unless waived by Horizon, the obligations of Horizon to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (a) the representations and warranties of the Company being true and correct as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect); (b) the Company having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with their respective covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior the date of the Closing; (c) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; (d) minimum cash available after payment of SPAC expenses and redemptions of $5,000,000; and (e) the Escrow Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement being executed and delivered. “Initial Investments” are the gross proceeds from any subscriptions from Horizon’s current investors or their affiliates to purchase Company Shares prior to Closing.
Unless waived by the Company, the obligations of the Company and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (a) the representations and warranties of Horizon being true and correct as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect); (b) Horizon having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with its covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior the date of the Closing; (c) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to Horizon as a whole since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; and (d) each Lock-Up Agreement, the Non-Competition Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and employment agreements with specified employees being executed and delivered.
23
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated under certain customary and limited circumstances at any time prior to the Closing, including:
| ● | by mutual agreement; |
| ● | for the other party’s uncured breach; |
| ● | if there is a government order preventing the Closing; |
| ● | by either party if the Closing does not occur by February 14, 2024, subject to extension by the Company in connection with an Extension of the time period for it to close a business combination transaction; |
| ● | by the Company if there has been an event after the signing of the Business Combination Agreement that has had a Material Adverse Effect on Horizon that is continuing and uncured; |
| ● | by Horizon if there has been an event after the signing of the Business Combination Agreement that has had a Material Adverse Effect on Pono that is continuing and uncured; |
| ● | by the Company or Horizon if the Company stockholders vote and do not approve the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; and |
| ● | by the Company if a fairness opinion or third-party valuation is required by SEC rules or regulations, and Pono is unable to obtain such opinion or valuation supporting the terms contemplated hereunder after commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain such opinion or valuation. |
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company and Horizon entered into an agreement with (i) Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”), (ii) Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO”) and (iii) Meteora Strategic Capital, LLC (“MSC”) (with MCP, MSTO and MSC collectively referred to as the “Seller” or “Meteora”) (the “Forward Purchase Agreement” or “Confirmation”) for OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transactions. Pursuant to the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Seller intends, but is not obligated, to purchase up to 9.9% of the total Company Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Company outstanding following the closing of the Business Combination concurrently with the Closing pursuant to the Seller’s FPA Funding Amount PIPE Subscription Agreement (as defined below), less the number of Company Common Shares purchased by the Seller separately from third parties through a broker in the open market (“Recycled Shares”). The Forward Purchase Agreement is within the scope of ASC 480-10 due to the obligation to repurchase the issuer’s equity shares and transfer cash. Accordingly, the initial fair value will be booked on the balance sheet and any changes in value will be recognized in earnings in the period of remeasurement.
On August 15, 2023, the Company entered into a subscription agreement (the “FPA Funding Amount Subscription Agreement”) with Seller. Pursuant to the FPA Funding Subscription Agreement, Seller agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and Pono agreed to issue and sell to Seller, on the Closing Date at a price of $10.00 per share, an aggregate of up to the Maximum Amount, less the Recycled Shares in connection with the Forward Purchase Agreements.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 were organizational activities, and since the closing of our Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on investments held in our trust account after the Initial Public Offering. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
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For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net income of $112,662, which resulted from an unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $1,562,141, partially offset by $80,000 of change in fair value of forward purchase options liabilities, income tax expense of $757,011 and formation and operating costs of $612,468.
For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net loss of $1,420, which consisted of formation and operating costs of $1,420.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net income of $1,729,250, which resulted from an unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $3,604,815, partially offset by $80,000 of change in fair value of forward purchase options liabilities, income tax expense of $757,011 and formation and operating costs of $1,038,554.
For the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through September 30, 2022, we had a net loss of $2,847, which consisted of formation and operating costs of $2,847.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $767,778, which was due to unrealized gain on investments in the Trust Account of $3,604,815, partially offset by $80,000 of change in fair value of Forward Purchase Agreement, our net income of $1,729,250, and changes in working capital of $1,027,787.
For the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through September 30, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $5,729, which was due to our net loss of $2,847, and changes in working capital of $2,882.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in investing activities was $117,875,000 which was due to the investment of cash in the Trust Account.
There were no cash flows from investing activities for the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through September 30, 2022.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was 118,622,783, which was due to the proceeds from sale of Placement Units of $5,653,750, proceeds from the sale of units, net of underwriting discount paid of $113,735,000, proceeds from stock subscriptions received of $206, partially offset by the payment of offering costs of $466,173, and repayment of the Promissory Note of $300,000.
For the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through September 30, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $212,649, which was due to the proceeds from the promissory note - related party of $300,000 and the proceeds from the issuance of Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor of $25,000, partially offset by the payment of offering costs of $112,351.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 9, 2023. On February 14, 2023, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 11,500,000 units, (the “Units” and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), including 1,500,000 Units issued pursuant to the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option in full, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000, which is discussed in Note 3.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 565,375 units (the “Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement to Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”), including 54,000 Placement Units issued pursuant to the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option in full, generating gross proceeds of $5,653,750, which is described in Note 4.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on February 14, 2023, an amount of $117,875,000 ($10.25 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Placement Units was placed in a trust account.
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We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and excluding deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay our taxes, if any. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. We expect the only taxes payable by us out of the funds in the trust account will be income and franchise taxes, if any. To the extent that our ordinary shares or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business prior to our initial business combination. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, 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 initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. The Company cannot provide any assurance that additional financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which contemplates continuation of the Company as a going concern and the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of the Company’s financing and acquisition plans. Management plans to address this uncertainty with the successful closing of the Business Combination. The Company will have until February 14, 2024 (or up to August 14, 2024, as applicable) to consummate a Business Combination. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will have access to sufficient capital to extend the deadline to consummate an initial business company. If an initial business combination is not consummated by February 14, 2024 (or up to August 14, 2024, as applicable), less than one year after the date these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. The Company’s balance of cash held outside of the Trust Account as of September 30, 2023, in conjunction with the mandatory liquidation, should an initial business combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution, raises 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 February 14, 2024. The Company intends to complete the initial business combination before the mandatory liquidation date. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate any business combination by February 14, 2024 (or up to August 14, 2024, as applicable).
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
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Contractual Obligations
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares and Placement Units (including securities contained therein) and Units (including securities contained therein) that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and extension loans, and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Placement Warrants and any Class A ordinary shares and warrants (and underlying Class A ordinary shares) that may be issued upon conversion of the Units issued as part of the working capital loans and extension loans and Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed prior on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering, requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Class A ordinary shares). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Promissory Notes - Related Party
On April 25, 2022, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”). This loan is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) March 31, 2023 or (ii) the date on which Company consummates the Initial Public Offering. Prior to the Initial Public Offering, the Company had borrowed $300,000 under the Promissory Note. On February 15, 2023, the Company repaid the outstanding balance under the Promissory Note of $300,000 that was borrowed prior to our initial public offering. As of September 30, 2023, there was no borrowings outstanding under the Promissory Note. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance under the Promissory Note was $300,000. The Company no longer has the ability to borrow under the Promissory Note.
Underwriters Agreement
Simultaneously with the Initial Public Offering, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option to purchase an additional 1,500,000 Units at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $15,000,000.
The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.11 per Unit, or $1,265,000 in the aggregate, upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.30 per unit, or $3,450,000 in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. 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 Estimates
The preparation of unaudited 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 unaudited 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:
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. For derivative instruments that are classified as equity, the derivative instruments are initially measured at fair value (or allocated value), and subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the contracts continue to be classified in equity.
Forward Purchase Agreement
The Forward Purchase Agreement is recognized as a derivative liability in accordance with ASC 815. Accordingly, we recognize the instrument as an asset or liability at fair value and with changes in fair value recognized in our consolidated statements of operations. The estimated fair value of the Forward Purchase Agreement is measured at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which was determined using Level 3 inputs. Inherent in a Monte Carlo simulation are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. Any changes in these assumptions can change the valuation significantly.
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Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
All of the Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the Units in the Initial Public Offering contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Association. In accordance with ASC 480, conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A 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 the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. Ordinary liquidation events, which involve the redemption and liquidation of all of the entity’s equity instruments, are excluded from the provisions of ASC 480. Although the Company did not specify a maximum redemption threshold, its charter provides that currently, the Company will not redeem its Public Shares in an amount that would cause its net tangible assets (shareholders’ equity) to be less than $5,000,001. However, the threshold in its charter would not change the nature of the underlying shares as redeemable and thus Public Shares would be required to be disclosed outside of permanent equity. 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. Such changes are reflected in additional paid-in capital, or in the absence of additional paid-in capital, in accumulated deficit.
Net Income (loss) Per Share
Net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number ordinary shares outstanding for the period. The calculation of diluted income (loss) per share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and Placement Warrants since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events.
Recent Accounting Standards
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As of September 30, 2023, we were not subject to any market or interest rate risk. Following the consummation of our Initial Public Offering, the net proceeds received into the Trust Accounts, have been invested in U.S. government treasury bills, notes or bonds with a maturity of 185 days or less or in certain money market funds that invest solely in US treasuries. 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
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
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 September 30, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15 (e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this Quarterly Report are any of the risks described in our final prospectus for the Initial Public Offering declared effective by the SEC on February 9, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, other than as described below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our final prospectus of our Initial Public Offering filed with the SEC.
There are no assurances that we will consummate our recently announced Business Combination with Horizon.
On August 15, 2023, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement by and among the Company, Merger Sub and Horizon. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, prior to the Closing, the Company will redomesticate as a British Columbia company, and at the Closing, Merger Sub will amalgamate with Horizon (the “Amalgamation” and the resulting company, “Amalco”), with Amalco being the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As consideration for the Amalgamation, the holders of Horizon common shares collectively will be entitled to receive from the Company, in the aggregate, a number of Company Class A ordinary shares equal to (the “Exchange Consideration”) the quotient derived from dividing (a) the difference of (i) Ninety-six Million Dollars ($96,000,000) minus (ii) the Closing Net Indebtedness, by (b) the Redemption Price (as defined below), with each Horizon shareholder receiving, for each Horizon share held, a number of Company Class A ordinary shares equal to such shareholder’s pro rata portion of the Exchange Consideration. Each outstanding option to purchase Horizon common stock shall be cancelled or exercised prior to the Closing.
The Exchange Consideration otherwise payable to Horizon shareholders is subject to the withholding of a number of Company ordinary shares equal to (i) three percent (3.0%) of the Exchange Consideration to be placed in escrow for post-closing adjustments (if any) to the Exchange Consideration, and (ii) such number of additional number of Company ordinary shares equal a maximum of the quotient derived from dividing (i) Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) by (ii) the redemption price per share (the “Redemption Price”) as defined in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Incentive Shares”), provided such Incentive Shares are allotted and issued on or prior to the Closing Date to such third parties as Horizon and the Company may agree (A) in connection with post-closing financing structures in the form of a PIPE, convertible debt, forward purchase agreement, backstop, or equity line of credit; or (B) to one or more existing holders of Company ordinary shares as an inducement for them not to proceed with a redemption, subject to certain restrictions. The Exchange Consideration is subject to adjustment after the Closing based on confirmed amounts of the Closing Net Indebtedness as of the Closing Date.
The consummation of the Amalgamation and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement is subject to customary Closing conditions unless waived, including: (a) the approval by the shareholders of each of Horizon and Pono; (b) approvals of any required governmental authorities and the expiration or termination of any anti-trust waiting periods; (c) receipt of specified third-party consents; (d) no law or order preventing the transactions; (e) after giving effect to the redemption, Pono shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets as required by its charter; (f) the members of the post-Closing Pono board shall have been elected or appointed as of the Closing; (g) the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing, and no stop order or similar order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement; (h) the shares of Pono common stock issued as Exchange Consideration shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance; and (i) the SPAC Continuance shall have been consummated.
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Unless waived by Horizon, the obligations of Horizon to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (a) the representations and warranties of the Company being true and correct as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect); (b) the Company having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with their respective covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior the date of the Closing; (c) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; (d) minimum cash available after payment of SPAC expenses and redemptions of $5,000,000; and (e) the Escrow Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement being executed and delivered.
Unless waived by the the Company, the obligations of the Company and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (a) the representations and warranties of Horizon being true and correct as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect); (b) Horizon having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with its covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior the date of the Closing; (c) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to Horizon as a whole since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; and (d) each Lock-Up Agreement, the Non-Competition Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and employment agreements with specified employees being executed and delivered.
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated under certain customary and limited circumstances at any time prior to the Closing, including: (a) by mutual agreement; (b) for the other party’s uncured breach; (c) if there is a government order precenting the Closing; (d) by either party if the Closing does not occur by February 14, 2024, subject to extension by the Company in connection with an Extension of the time period for it to close a business combination transaction; (e) by the Company if there has been an event after the signing of the Business Combination Agreement that has had a Material Adverse Effect on Horizon that is continuing and uncured; (f) by Horizon if there has been an event after the signing of the Business Combination Agreement that has had a Material Adverse Effect on the Company that is continuing and uncured; (g) by the Company or Horizon if the Company’s shareholders vote and do not approve the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; and (h) by the Company if a fairness opinion or third-party valuation is required by SEC rules or regulations, and the Company is unable to obtain such opinion or valuation supporting the terms contemplated hereunder after commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain such opinion or valuation.
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Pono’s ability to consummate an initial business combination may be adversely affected by economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, including as a result of the military conflict in Ukraine.
In late February 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine. Russia’s invasion, the responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility and could have adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, including the markets for certain securities and commodities. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and persons, and the freezing of Russian assets. The sanctions include a possible commitment by certain countries and the European Union to remove selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, commonly called “SWIFT,” the electronic network that connects banks globally, and imposed restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. A number of large corporations and U.S. states have also announced plans to curtail business dealings with certain Russian businesses.
The imposition of the current sanctions (and potential imposition of further sanctions in response to continued Russian military activity) and other actions undertaken by countries and businesses may adversely impact various sectors of the Russian economy, and the military action has severe impacts on the Ukrainian economy, including its exports and food production. The duration of ongoing hostilities and corresponding sanctions and related events cannot be predicted and may result in a negative impact on the markets and thereby may negatively impact Pono’s ability to consummate a business combination.
Additionally, in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, central banks have undertaken efforts to combat inflation by raising interest rates, which increase the likelihood of a slowdown in U.S. and global economic growth, and which in turn, have caused, and may continue to cause, declines in the prices of financial assets in the public and private markets as investors react to these and other economic developments. This has also caused, and may continue to cause, market volatility and downward price pressure on the capital markets, which may negatively impact Pono’s ability to raise capital in connection with the consummation of a business combination on attractive terms or at all.
Item 2. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On May 17, 2022, we issued 2,875,000 founder shares to Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”) and on December 22, 2022, our Sponsor acquired an additional 2,060,622 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,206, or approximately $0.005 per share, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On February 14, 2023, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 11,500,000 units (the “Units”), including 1,500,000 Units issued pursuant to the exercise in full of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and one warrant of the Company (each, a “Warrant”), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, pursuant to the Company’s registration statements on Form S-1 (File No. 333-268283). The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000. EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC acted as the sole book-running manager of the offering.
As previously reported on a Form 8-K, on February 14, 2023, simultaneously with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the private placement (the “Private Placement”) of an aggregate of 565,375 units (“Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds of $5,653,750.
A total of $117,875,000 was deposited in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in the Initial Public Offering, see Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report.
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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
(a) None.
(b) None.
(c) Not applicable.
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. |
| † | Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
| Date: November 15, 2023 | /s/ Davin Kazama | |
| Name: | Davin Kazama | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: November 15, 2023 | /s/ Gary Miyashiro | |
| Name: | Gary Miyashiro | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
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