AltEnergy Acquisition Corp 10-Q/A for FY2023 Q1
AltEnergy Acquisition Corp (AEAE)
About this 10-Q/A
AltEnergy Acquisition Corp filed this 10-Q/A on April 16, 2024, covering the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (FY2023 Q1).
Headline figures
Quarter ended March 31, 2023, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Net income
- $1.71M
- down 79.3% from net income of $8.26M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $0.06
Table of Contents
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
one-half of one redeemable warrant |
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Large accelerated filer |
☐ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ | |||
| ☒ | Smaller reporting company | |||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||
Table of Contents
ALTENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 1 | |||||
| Item 1. | 1 | |||||
| Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 (unaudited) (restated) and December 31, 2022 (audited) |
1 | |||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited) (restated) |
5 | |||||
| Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (restated) |
18 | ||||
| Item 3. | 22 | |||||
| Item 4. | 22 | |||||
| PART II —OTHER INFORMATION | 23 | |||||
| Item 1. | 23 | |||||
| Item 1A. | 23 | |||||
| Item 2. | 23 | |||||
| Item 3. | 23 | |||||
| Item 4. | 23 | |||||
| Item 5. | 23 | |||||
| Item 6. | 24 | |||||
Table of Contents
| • | Part I, Item 1-Condensed Financial Statements |
| • | Part I, Item 2-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
| • | Part I, Item 4-Controls and Procedures |
| • | Part II, Item 6-Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer provided new certifications dated as of the date of the filing of this Form 10Q/A Amendment No. 1. |
March 31, 2023 (unaudited) |
December 31, 2022 (audited) |
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(as restated see Note 2) |
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ASSETS |
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Current Assets: |
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Cash |
$ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses |
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Total Current Assets |
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Investments held in the Trust Account |
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Other assets |
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Total Assets |
$ |
$ |
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LIABILITIES, COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE REDEMPTION AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
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Current Liabilities: |
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | $ | ||||||
Accrued Tax Payable – Franchise Tax |
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Accrued Tax Payable – Income Tax |
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Other accrued expenses – deferred |
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Due to related party |
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Loan payable- Sponsor |
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Total Current Liabilities |
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Derivative warrant liabilities |
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Deferred underwriting commission |
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Total liabilities |
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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6) |
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Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; |
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Stockholders’ deficit: |
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Preference shares, $ |
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Class A common stock, $ (excluding |
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Class B common stock, $ outstanding |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated deficit |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Total Stockholders’ Deficit |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
Total Liabilities, Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption and Stockholders’ Deficit |
$ |
$ |
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For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2023 |
2022 |
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(as restated in Note 2) |
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EXPENSES |
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Administrative fee — related party |
$ | $ | ||||||
Consulting fees – related party |
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General and administrative |
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TOTAL EXPENSES |
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OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |
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Income earned on investments held in Trust Account |
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Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
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TOTAL OTHER INCOME, NET |
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Net income before income tax provision |
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Income tax provision |
( |
) | ||||||
Net income |
$ | $ | ||||||
Weighted average number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding, basic and diluted |
$ | |||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share of Class A common stock |
$ | $ | ||||||
Weighted average number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding, basic and diluted |
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Basic and diluted net income per share of Class B common stock |
$ | $ | ||||||
Class B Common Stock |
Additional Paid-In Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Stockholders’ Deficit |
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Shares |
Amount |
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Balance as of January 1, 2023 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | |||||||||||
Remeasurement of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption to redemption amount |
— |
— |
— |
( |
) |
( |
) | |||||||||||||
Net income |
— |
— |
— |
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Balance as of March 31, 2023 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | |||||||||||
Class B Common Stock |
Additional Paid-In Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Stockholders’ Deficit |
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Shares |
Amount |
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Balance as of January 1, 2022 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Net income |
— | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2022 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 |
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(as restated See Note 2) |
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Cash Flows From Operating Activities: |
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Net income (loss) |
$ | $ | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Investment income earned on investments held in the Trust Account |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Loss (Gain) on change in fair value of derivative liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses |
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Other assets |
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Other deferred expenses |
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Consulting Fees Payable - related party |
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Accrued Income Taxes Payable |
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
( |
) | ||||||
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Cash Flows From Investing Activities: |
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Taxes paid from trust |
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Net Cash (Used In) Provided by Investing Activities |
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Cash Flows From Financing Activities: |
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Proceeds from related party advances |
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Repayment of related party payable |
( |
) | ||||||
Payments of offering costs |
( |
) | ||||||
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities |
( |
) | ||||||
Net change in cash |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Cash at beginning of period |
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Cash at end of period |
$ |
$ |
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Remeasurement of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption to redemption amount |
$ |
$ | ||||||
As previously reported |
Adjustments |
As revised |
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| Due to related party |
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| Accrued tax payable – Income tax |
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| Total current liabilities |
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| Class A common stock subject to redemption |
( |
) |
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| Total liabilities |
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| Accumulated deficit |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ deficit |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
As previously reported |
Adjustments |
As revised |
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| Consulting fees – related party |
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| Total expenses |
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| Net income before income tax provision |
( |
) |
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| Income tax provision |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
| Net income |
( |
) |
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| Basic and diluted net income per share of Class A common stock |
( |
) |
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| Basic and diluted net income per share of Class A common stock |
( |
) |
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For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
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Class A |
Class B |
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| Basic and diluted net income per share of common stock |
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| Numerator: |
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| Allocation of net income |
$ | $ | ||||||
| Denominator: |
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| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
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| Basic and diluted net income per share of common stock |
$ | $ | ||||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 |
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Class A |
Class B |
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| Basic and diluted net income per share of common stock |
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| Numerator: |
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| Allocation of net income |
$ | $ | ||||||
| Denominator: |
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| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
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| Basic and diluted net income per share of common stock |
$ | $ | ||||||
| • | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; |
| • | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and |
| • | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
| • | in whole and not in part; |
| • | at a price of $ |
| • | upon a minimum of 30-day redemption period to each warrant holder; and |
| • | if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $ |
Level 1: |
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
Level 2: |
Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. |
Level 3: |
Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
Description: |
Level |
March 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
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| Assets: |
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| Investments held in Trust Account |
1 | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities: |
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| Warrant liability – Private Placement Warrants |
3 | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Warrant liability – Public Warrants |
1 | $ | $ | |||||||||
Fair Value |
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Measurement |
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Using Level 3 |
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Inputs Total |
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| Balance, fair value at December 31, 2022 |
$ | |||
| in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities |
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| Balance, fair value at March 31, 2023 |
$ | |||
March 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
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| Risk-free interest rate |
% | % | ||||||
| Expected volatility of underlying shares |
% | % | ||||||
| Dividend yield |
% | % | ||||||
| Probability of business combination |
% | % | ||||||
Private Placement Warrants |
Public Warrants |
Total |
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| Fair value at December 31, 2022 |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| in fair value |
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| Fair value at March 31, 2023 |
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Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (restated).
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of AltEnergy Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”). Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Restatement
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company determined that there were errors related to the failure to reflect as an expense the deferred consulting payments due to our chief financial officer if the Company completes its initial business combination in the previously issued financial statement for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. In accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin NO. 99, “Materiality” and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin NO. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” the Company determined that the errors were material to its previously issued financial statements. Therefore, the Company concluded that the previously issued financial statements should be restated.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report including, without limitation, statements in this “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. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31. 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 11, 2023, and in our other SEC filings. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward- looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “initial business combination”). We intend to effectuate an initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) that closed on November 2, 2021 (the “Closing Date”) and the private placement warrants sold in a private placement (the “Private Placement Warrants”) that closed simultaneously with the completion of the Public Offering, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
The issuance of additional shares in connection with an initial business combination to the owners of the target or other investors:
| • | may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in the initial public offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock; |
| • | may subordinate the rights of holders of our common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock; |
| • | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; |
| • | may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and |
| • | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A common stock and/or warrants. |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or the owners of a target, it could result in:
| • | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; |
| • | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
| • | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand; |
| • | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding; |
| • | our inability to pay dividends on our common stock; |
| • | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes; |
| • | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
| • | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; |
| • | limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; and |
| • | other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
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Table of Contents
In the short term, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our initial business combination. There can be no assurance that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.
Extension of Combination Period (restated)
On April 28, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). As of April 10, 2023, the record date of the Special Meeting, there were 28,750,000 issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) comprised of 23,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Shares”), and 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. At the Special Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved the proposal to file an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the “Amendment”) to extend the date from May 2, 2023, to May 2, 2024 (the “Extension,” and such proposal, the “Extension Proposal”) by which the Company must (1) consummate a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (an “initial business combination”) or (2) cease its operations except for the purpose of winding up if it fails to complete such initial business combination, and redeem all of the Class A Shares included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering that was consummated on November 2, 2021. On April 28, 2023, to effectuate the Extension, the Company filed the Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Stockholders holding 21,422,522 Class A Shares exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Company’s trust account (“Trust Account”) in connection with the Extension. As a result, $222,484,624.02 (approximately $10.38 per share) was removed from the Trust Account on or about May 15, 2023 to pay such holders, and an additional $855,761.84 was removed from the Trust Account on or about May 09, 2023. As of May 15, 2023 there was $16,382,973 (or approximately $10.38 per share) held in the Trust Account.
On April 28, 2023, following the Special Meeting, 5,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were converted into Class A Shares.
Results of Operations (restated)
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the initial public offering, and identifying a target company for a 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 marketable securities. 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 in connection with completing a business combination.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we had net income of $1,710,547 and $8,260,876, respectively. Our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 consisted of interest income earned in the amount of $2,423,610 on the funds held in Trust and operating expenses that total $586,289, a gain of $470,000 reflecting the change in fair value of derivative warrant liability associated with the warrants issued as part of the Units sold in the Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants and income tax expense of $596,774 Our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 consisted of interest income earned in the amount of $66,601 on the funds held in Trust and operating expenses that total $390,725, and a gain of $8,585,000 reflecting the change in fair value of derivative warrant liability associated with the warrants issued as part of the Units sold in the Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants.
Going Concern Considerations, Liquidity and Capital Resources (restated)
As of March 31, 2023, we had investments held in the Trust Account of $239.8 million, principally invested in U.S. government securities. Interest income on the balance in the Trust Account may be used by us to pay taxes, and to pay up to $100,000 of any dissolution expenses. At March 31, 2023, we had cash of approximately $88,000 and a working capital deficit of approximately $1.2 million.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company may lack the financial resources it needs to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. Management has also determined that, in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, if the Company is unsuccessful in consummating an initial business combination by May 2, 2024 (after giving effect to the Extension of the Combination Period discussed above) as discussed above, the Company will cease all operations, redeem the public shares and thereafter liquidate and dissolve. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern.
The Company intends to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account, excluding the deferred underwriting commissions, and amounts paid to redeem public shares, to complete an initial business combination. To the extent that capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete an initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance
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the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue growth strategies. If an initial business combination agreement requires the Company to use a portion of the cash in the Trust Account to pay the purchase price or requires the Company to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the Company will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the Trust Account to meet such requirements or arrange for third-party financing.
We may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to completing 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 public shares upon completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such initial business combination. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of our initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash of $87,760 held outside the Trust Account. We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that a business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such working capital loans may be convertible into private placement units at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender.
Per a Commitment Letter, dated March 10, 2022, the Sponsor undertook upon the Company’s written request to make available an aggregate amount of up to $250,000 to provide the Company funds for working capital purposes to ensure that the Company would continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the public filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for calendar year 2021. Pursuant to a request by the Company, on December 22, 2022 the Sponsor made available $175,000 to the Company for working capital purposes. As of December 31, 2022, such funds remained outstanding.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2022. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor a monthly fee of $15,000 for office space, utilities and administrative support to the Company. We began incurring these fees on October 28, 2021. On January 28, 2023 this agreement was amended to provide that, rather than be payable on a monthly basis, the payments due thereunder commencing with the monthly payment payable on or about February 28, 2023 shall accrue and be payable on the completion of a business combination or the Company’s liquidation.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement with B. Riley securities, Inc., upon the consummation of our initial business combination, we will pay B. Riley Securities, Inc. a cash fee in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering (exclusive of any applicable finders’ fees which might become payable). No fee will be due if we do not complete an initial business combination.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of 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 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:
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Common stock subject to possible redemption
The Company accounts for its shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance enumerated in ASC 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”. Common stock subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The shares of the Company’s Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered by the Company to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in the amount of $238,626,268 and $236,385,597 are presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheets.
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.” The Company’s derivative instruments are recorded at fair value as of the closing date of the Initial Public Offering (November 2, 2021) and re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. Derivative assets and liabilities are classified on the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The Company has determined the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants are derivative instruments. As the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants meet the definition of a derivative, the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants are measured at fair value at issuance and at each reporting date in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, with changes in fair value recognized in the statement of operations in the period of change.
Warrants Instruments
We evaluated the Warrants in accordance with ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”, and concluded that a provision in the Warrant Agreement related to certain tender or exchange offers as well as provisions that provided for potential changes to the settlement amounts dependent upon the characteristics of the holder of the warrant, precludes the Warrants from being accounted for as components of equity. As the Warrants meet the definition of a derivative as contemplated in ASC 815 and are not eligible for an exception from derivative accounting, the Warrants are recorded as derivative liabilities on the Balance Sheet. Upon consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the Company used a Monte Carlo simulation model to value the Public Warrants and a modified Black-Scholes model to value the Private Placement Warrants. The Company allocated the proceeds received from (i) the sale of Units (which is inclusive of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one Public Warrant), (ii) the sale of Private Placement Warrants, and (iii) the issuance of shares of Class B common stock, first to the warrants based on their fair values as determined at initial measurement, with the remaining proceeds allocated to shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption (temporary equity) and Class B common stock (permanent equity) based on their relative fair values at the initial measurement date. The Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants were classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy at the measurement dates due to the use of unobservable inputs.
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Public Warrants were valued using the publicly available price for the Warrant and are classified as Level 1 on the Fair Value Hierarchy. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company used a modified Black-Scholes model to value the Private Placement Warrants. The Company relied upon the implied volatility of the Public Warrants and the implied volatilities of comparable companies and the closing price as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, per Public Warrant, respectively, to estimate the volatility for the Private Placement Warrants. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Private Placement Warrants were classified within Level 3 of the Fair Value Hierarchy at the measurement dates due to the use of unobservable inputs.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid to transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. US GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:
| • | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; |
| • | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and |
| • | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
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Net income per share
Net income per share is computed by dividing net income (by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The Company applies the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The calculation of diluted income per share of common stock does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the (i) Initial Public Offering, and (ii) the private placement since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As of March 31, 2023, the Company did not have any dilutive securities or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted net income per common share is the same as basic net income per common share for the periods presented. The warrants are exercisable to purchase 23,500,000 shares of Class A common stock in the aggregate.
Recent accounting pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
As of March 31, 2023, we were not subject to any market or interest rate risk.
We have not engaged in any hedging activities since our inception. We do not expect to engage in any hedging activities with respect to the market risk to which we are exposed.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures (restated).
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), such as this quarterly report, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer (our “Certifying Officers”) evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023, pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d- 15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, material weaknesses exist related our accounting for complex financial instruments and our accounting and reporting for the completeness and accuracy of warrant liabilities and the corresponding change in the fair value of the warrant liability, that led to the restatement of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. In addition, management identified a material weakness in relation to the accounting of contractual liabilities which led to errors in our financial statements in the accounting of consulting fees pursuant to a consulting agreement with our chief financial officer that led to the restatement of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023. In addition to the remediation steps discussed below, the Company has added additional steps to its internal financial review process in order to provide reasonable assurance that a reoccurrence of a material misstatement of any item in our financial statements will not occur.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
Effective disclosure controls and internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. We continue to evaluate steps to remediate the material weakness. These remediation measures may be time consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects.
Management has implemented remediation steps to improve our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we expanded and improved our review process for complex securities and related accounting standards. We plan to further improve this process by enhancing access to accounting literature, identification of third-party professionals with whom to consult regarding complex accounting applications and consideration of additional staff with the requisite experience and training to supplement existing accounting professionals.
If we identify any new material weakness in the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price may decline as a result. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that
any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting 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 the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 11, 2023 (“10-K”). 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, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 10-K.
Risks Related to Taxes
New legislation that would change U.S. or foreign taxation of business activities could seriously harm our business, or the financial markets and the market price of our Class A common stock.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) (the “IRAct”), which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on any domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased stock, with certain exceptions. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from the IRS or Congress, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with a merger, unless an exemption is available. Except for franchise taxes and income taxes, we may be prohibited from using the proceeds placed in the Trust Account and the interest earned thereon to pay for fees or taxes that may be levied on the Company pursuant to any current, pending, or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due under the IRAct on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
Based on our preliminary assessment, we do not anticipate a material impact on our financial statements. Management will continue to assess the impact of the IRAct as additional guidance becomes available.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation together with the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | |
| 31.1 | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). | |
| 31.2 | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). | |
| 32.1* | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350. | |
| 32.2* | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350. | |
| 101.INS* | Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | |
| 101.CAL* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
| 101.SCH* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
| 101.DEF* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
| 101.LAB* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | |
| 101.PRE* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |
| 104* | The cover page for the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit101 | |
| * | Furnished. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| ALTENERGY ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Russell Stidolph | |
| Name: | Russell Stidolph | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| (principal executive officer) | ||
| By: | /s/ Jonathan Darnell | |
| Name: | Jonathan Darnell | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| (principal financial officer) |
Dated: April 16, 2024
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Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
of
ALTENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
(Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)
AltEnergy Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”),
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
1. That the name of this corporation is AltEnergy Acquisition Corp., and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the DGCL on February 9, 2021 under the name AltEnergy Acquisition Corp.
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate”) was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 103, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.
RESOLVED, that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is AltEnergy Acquisition Corp. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED AGENT
The street address of the initial registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s initial registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
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ARTICLE IV ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 111,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 110,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), including (i) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”) and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the respective classes of the Corporation’s capital stock or the holders thereof and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are set forth below.
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock.
(a) The Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series from time to time, with each such series to consist of such number of shares and to have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and included in a certificate of designations (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority, to the full extent now or hereafter provided by law, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
(b) The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders of Preferred Stock is required pursuant to another provision of this Certificate, including any Preferred Stock Designation.
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
(1) Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(2) Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.
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(3) Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
(b) Class B Common Stock.
(1) Shares of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”) (A) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holder thereof and (B) automatically on the business day following the closing of the Business Combination (as defined below).
(2) Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”) and related to or in connection with the closing of the Corporation’s initial merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), all issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the closing of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the ratio for which the shares of Class B Common Stock shall convert into shares of Class A Common Stock will be adjusted so that the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B Common Stock will equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the sum of (a) the total number of all shares of Common Stock outstanding upon the completion of the Offering (not including the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the private placement warrants sold in connection with the Offering) plus (b) all shares of Class A Common Stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares of Class A Common Stock or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination, any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to AltEnergy Acquisition Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”) or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to the Corporation).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or equity-linked securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding consenting or agreeing separately as a single class in the manner provided in Section 4.3(a)(3), and (ii) in no event shall the Class B Common Stock convert into Class A Common Stock at a ratio that is less than one-for-one.
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The foregoing conversion ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of this Certificate without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
Each share of Class B Common Stock shall convert into its pro rata number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.3(b). The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Common Stock will be determined as follows: Each share of Class B Common Stock shall convert into such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as is equal to the product of one (1) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which all of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be converted pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) and the denominator of which shall be the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock at the time of conversion.
(3) Voting. Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long as any shares of Class B Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other or special rights of the Class B Common Stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B Common Stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B Common Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Class B Common Stock were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt written notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the holders of Class B Common Stock shall, to the extent required by law, be given to those holders of Class B Common Stock who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders of Class B Common Stock to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
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(c) Dividends. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(d) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis with respect to the Class B Common Stock) held by them.
Section 4.4 Rights and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
ARTICLE V
DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Certificate or the By Laws (the “By Laws”) of the Corporation, the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Certificate and any By Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By Laws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
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(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate, the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate, and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitute the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the By-Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
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Section 5.4 Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock—Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this ARTICLE V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.
ARTICLE VI
BY LAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws. The By Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1 Limitation of Personal Liability. No person who is or was a director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. If the DGCL is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, then the liability of a director to the Corporation or its stockholders shall be limited or eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of this Section 7.1 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Section 7.1 will, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors) and shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
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Section 7.2 Indemnification.
(a) Each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or, while a director or officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter a “Covered Person”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. The right to indemnification conferred by this Section 7.2 shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition.
(b) The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Section 7.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights which any Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Certificate, the By Laws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 7.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Section 7.2, will, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 7.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons.
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ARTICLE VIII
BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE
Section 8.1 General.
(a) The provisions of this Article VIII shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article VIII shall be effective prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.
(b) Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 6, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay franchise and income taxes, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 18 months from the closing of the Offering and (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 8.7). Holders of shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are the Sponsor or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.”
Section 8.2 Redemption Rights.
(a) Prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Section 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 8.2(b) hereof (the “Redemption Price”); provided, however, that the Corporation shall not redeem Offering Shares in an amount that would cause the Corporation to have net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of the initial Business Combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.
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(b) If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials with the SEC, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2(a) hereof pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Tender Offer Rules”) which it shall commence prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Proxy Solicitation Rules”), even if such information is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2(a) hereof in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 8.2(b). In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares. If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares exercising their Redemption Rights (irrespective of whether they voted in favor or against the Business Combination) shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (b) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
(c) If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 20% of the Offering Shares without the prior consent of the Corporation.
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(d) In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 18 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
(e) If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial Business Combination and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
(f) If the Corporation conducts a tender offer pursuant to Section 8.2(b), the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
Section 8.3 Distributions from the Trust Account.
(a) A Public Stockholder shall be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in Sections 8.2(a), 8.2(b), 8.2(c) or 8.7 hereof. In no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions from the Trust Account, and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.
(b) Each Public Stockholder that does not exercise its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its consent to the release of the remaining funds in the Trust Account to the Corporation, and following payment to any Public Stockholders exercising their Redemption Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to the Corporation.
(c) The exercise by a Public Stockholder of the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions set forth by the Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to the proposed initial Business Combination. Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as practical after the consummation of the initial Business Combination.
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Section 8.4 Share Issuances. Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any initial Business Combination, on any pre-Business Combination activity or on any amendment to this Article VIII.
Section 8.5 Transactions with Affiliates. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the Sponsor, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent accounting firm or an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.
Section 8.6 No Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
Section 8.7 Additional Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 8.1(a), any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated Certificate (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 18 months from the date of the closing of the Offering or to provide for redemption in connection with an initial Business Combination, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares; provided, however, that any such amendment will be voided, and this Article VIII will remain unchanged, if any stockholders who wish to redeem are unable to redeem due to the Redemption Limitation.
ARTICLE IX
INSOLVENCY; SALE; LEASE OR EXCHANGE OF ASSETS
Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 291 of the DGCL or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 279 of the DGCL order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three
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fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate and the DGCL; and except as set forth in ARTICLE VII, all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article.
ARTICLE XI
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 11.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 11.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Additionally, unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers, other employees or agents. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.1.
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Section 11.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 11.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 11.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 11.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this ARTICLE XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this ARTICLE XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this ARTICLE XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE XI.
* * *
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3. That this Certificate, which restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of this Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.
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FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
ALTENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
(Pursuant to Section 242 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
The undersigned, being a duly authorized officer of ALTENERGY ACQUISITION CORP. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is AltEnergy Acquisition Corp.
2. The Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 9, 2021. An Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 28, 2021 and was further updated pursuant to a Certificate of Correction filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 20, 2023 (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”).
2. This First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
3. This First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 65% of the stock entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders in accordance with Article VII of the Amended and Restated Charter and the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).
4. The text of Section 8.1(b) of Article VIII is hereby amended to read in full as follows:
“(b) Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 6, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay franchise and income taxes, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 30 months from the closing of the Offering and (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 8.7). Holders of shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are the Sponsor or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.”.
5. The text of Section 8.2(d) of Article VIII is hereby amended to read in full as follows:
“(d) In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 30 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.”
6. The text of Section 8.7 of Article VIII is hereby amended to read in full as follows:
“Section 8.7 Additional Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 8.1(a), any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated Certificate (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 30 months from the date of the closing of the Offering or to provide for redemption in connection with an initial Business Combination, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares; provided, however, that any such amendment will be voided, and this Article VIII will remain unchanged, if any stockholders who wish to redeem are unable to redeem due to the Redemption Limitation.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AltEnergy Acquisition Corp. has caused this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of this 28th day of April, 2023.
| By: | Russell Stidolph | |
| Russell Stidolph Chief Executive Officer | ||
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Russell Stidolph, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q/A of AltEnergy Acquisition Corp.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) (Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/49313);
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: April 16, 2024
| /s/ RUSSELL STIDOLPH |
| Russell Stidolph |
| Chief Executive Officer and Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) |
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Jonathan Darnell, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q/A of AltEnergy Acquisition Corp.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) (Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/49313);
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: April 16, 2024
| /s/ JONATHAN DARNELL |
| Jonathan Darnell |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A of AltEnergy Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Russell Stidolph, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| /s/ RUSSELL STIDOLPH |
| Russell Stidolph |
| Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
| April 16, 2024 |
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A of AltEnergy Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jonathan Darnell, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| /s/ JONATHAN DARNELL |
| Jonathan Darnell |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| April 16, 2024 |