Cero Therapeutics Holdings, Inc 10-Q for FY2023 Q3
Cero Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (CERO)
About this 10-Q
Cero Therapeutics Holdings, Inc filed this 10-Q on November 9, 2023, covering the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (FY2023 Q3).
Headline figures
Quarter ended September 30, 2023, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Net loss
- $334.03K
- compared with net income of $84.51K a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
For
the quarterly period ended
For the transition period from to
Commission
File No.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name
of each exchange | ||
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405
of Regulation S-T(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ||
| Emerging growth company |
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes
As
of November 9, 2023 there were
PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
| September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ||||||||
| Money market funds held in Trust Account | ||||||||
| Restricted cash held in Trust Account | ||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
| Income tax payable | ||||||||
| Shareholder redemption liability | ||||||||
| Working capital loan – related party | ||||||||
| Franchise tax payable | ||||||||
| Excise tax payable | ||||||||
| Due to Affiliate | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| LONG TERM LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Deferred underwriting fee payable | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||||
| REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK | ||||||||
| Class A Common stock subject to possible redemption, $ | ||||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $ | ||||||||
| Class A common stock; $ | ||||||||
| Class B common stock; $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
1
PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, | For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Franchise tax | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Other income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ||||||||||||||||
| Total other income | ||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A common stock | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding of Class B common stock | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.
2
PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
| Common stock | Additional | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A | Class B | paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | capital | deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion for Class A Common Stock Subject to Redemption | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2023 | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion for Class A Common Stock Subject to Redemption | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, June 30, 2023 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion for Class A Common Stock Subject to Redemption | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Excise tax liability accrued for Class A common stock redemptions | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock | ( | ) | ( | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, September 30, 2023 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
| Common stock | Additional | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A | Class B | paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | capital | deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2022 | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, June 30, 2022 | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accretion for Class A Common Stock Subject to Redemption | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, September 30, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.
3
PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
| For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Unrealized loss on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
| Interest income earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ||||||||
| Income tax payable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | ||||||||
| Franchise tax payable | ||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Cash withdrawn from Trust Account for taxes | ||||||||
| Investment of cash into Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash withdrawn from Trust Account in connection with Class A common stock redemption | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | ||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from promissory note - related party | ||||||||
| Redemption of Class A common stock | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| NET CHANGE IN CASH | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | ||||||||
| CASH, END OF PERIOD | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities: | ||||||||
| Accretion of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | $ | ||||||
| Conversion of Class B common to Class A common | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Excise tax liability accrued for Class A common stock redemptions | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.
4
PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 (UNAUDITED)
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations and Liquidity
Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on June 8, 2021. The Company was 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 “Business Combination”).
The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As
of September 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through September 30, 2023, relates to the Company’s
formation and initial public offering (“IPO”), which is described below and, since the offering, the search for a prospective
initial Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business
Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income earned on investments from the
proceeds derived from the IPO and placed in the Trust Account (defined below). The registration statement for the Company’s IPO
was declared effective on October 5, 2021. On October 8, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of
Simultaneously
with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of
Simultaneously
with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of
Offering
costs for the IPO and exercise of the overallotment option amounted to $
Following
the closing of the IPO, $
5
The
Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale
of the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating
a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company
must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least
The
Company will provide the holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem
all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder
meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will
seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The Public Stockholders will
be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially $
All
of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s
liquidation, if there is a stockholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s Business Combination and in connection
with certain amendments to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
In accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and its guidance on redeemable equity
instruments, which has been codified in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely
within the control of a company require common stock subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Given that the
Public Shares were issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., public warrants), the initial carrying value of Class A common
stock classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20. The Class A common
stock is subject to ASC 480-10-S99. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to
either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable
that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes
in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the
end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately. The accretion or remeasurement will be treated
as a deemed dividend (i.e., a reduction to retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in capital). While
redemptions cannot cause the Company’s net tangible assets to fall below $
Redemptions of the Company’s Public Shares may be subject to the satisfaction of conditions, including minimum cash conditions, pursuant to an agreement relating to the Company’s Business Combination. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the Business Combination, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination, or such other vote as required by law or stock exchange rule. If a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Certificate of Incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5), Private Placement Shares and any Public Shares purchased during or after the IPO in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Certificate of Incorporation provides that 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 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect
to more than an aggregate of
6
The
Company’s Sponsor, officers and directors (the “Initial Stockholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem
On December 16, 2022, the Company held a special meeting of its stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, our stockholders approved an amendment (the “IMTA Amendment”) to the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “IMTA”), dated October 5, 2021, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”), as trustee, and an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, to extend the date by which we must consummate a business combination transaction by a maximum of six additional months (the “Charter Amendment”).
In
connection with the Special Meeting, our sponsor agreed that if the Charter Amendment and the IMTA Amendment were approved at the Special
Meeting, our sponsor, or one or more of its affiliates, members or third-party designees (in such capacity, the “Lender”),
would lend to the Company up to $
In
connection with the approval of the extension, holders of
On
March 31, 2023, May 8, 2023 and June 30, 2023, the Company deposited $
On
July 3, 2023, the Sponsor delivered notice of conversion of an aggregate of
On July 7, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of its stockholders at which the Company’s stockholders approved a proposal to amend (the “Trust Agreement Amendment”) the IMTA, as amended by the IMTA Amendment, and a proposal to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended by the Charter Amendment (the “Second Charter Amendment”), to extend the business combination period up to six times for one month each time from July 8, 2023 to August 8, 2023, September 8, 2023, October 8, 2023, November 8, 2023, December 8, 2023 or January 8, 2024.
On
July 7, 2023, July 28, 2023, September 1, 2023 and October 4 2023, the Company deposited $
In
connection with the adoption of the Second Charter Amendment, holders of
As
a result of the deposits described above, such payments and accrual of interest, the balance in the Trust Account as of September 30,
2023 is approximately $
If
the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by
7
The
Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares if
the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Initial Stockholders should acquire
Public Shares in or after the IPO, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public
Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriter has agreed to waive its
rights to the deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business
Combination within the Combination Period, and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account
that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share
value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $
The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
NASDAQ Notice
On
April 3, 2023, the Company received a letter (the “Letter”) from the staff at The Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”)
notifying the Company that, for the 30 consecutive trading days prior to the date of the Letter, the Company’s common stock had
traded at a value below the minimum $
In
order to bring the Company into compliance with the MVLS requirement, on July 3, 2023, the Sponsor elected to effect the Conversion.
As of the date hereof, there are
On September 7, 2023, the Company received a written notice (the “Notice”) from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5450(a)(2), which requires the Company to have at least 400 public holders for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Minimum Public Holders Rule”). The Notice is only a notification of deficiency, not of imminent delisting, and has no current effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s securities on Nasdaq Global Market. The Notice states that the Company has 45 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Public Holders Rule. The Company has submitted a plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Public Holders Rule. If Nasdaq accepts the Company’s plan, Nasdaq may grant the Company an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice to evidence compliance with the Minimum Public Holders Rule. If Nasdaq does not accept the Company’s plan, the Company will have the opportunity to appeal the decision in front of a Nasdaq Hearings Panel.
The MVLS deficiency was cured by the conversion of the Class B into Class A because the Class A shares held by Sponsor count towards satisfying such requirement. We submitted a “plan of compliance” to NASDAQ indicating that we are aiming to be able to cure the deficiency upon closing of the business combination. Nasdaq has not responded.
8
Risks and Uncertainties
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a pandemic which continues to spread throughout the United States and the world. Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that COVID-19 could have a negative effect on consummating a Business Combination, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of the financial statements. These unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”)
On
August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides
for, among other things, a new U.S. federal
Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination.
On
July 17, 2023, the Company redeemed
Liquidity and Going Concern
As
of September 30, 2023, the Company had $
On
May 9, 2023, the Company received a notice from the IRS stating an additional $
The Company currently projects that it will not have sufficient funds to cover its expenses over a one-year period from the date these financial statements are available to be issued. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
9
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 24, 2023. The interim results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023, or for any future interim periods.
Reclassifications
Certain
prior year amounts have been reclassified due to an immaterial correction of an error and for consistency with the current period presentation.
These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations. An adjustment for $
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
10
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Restricted Cash
The
Company considers all cash to be held for a specific purpose restricted cash. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the
Company had $
| September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Total cash and restricted cash | $ | $ | ||||||
Money market funds Held in Trust Account
At September 30, 2023, the assets held in Trust Account were held in money market funds that invested in U.S. Treasury securities. At December 31, 2022, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held as cash. The Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of investments held in the Trust Account and interest earned on marketable securities are included in the accompanying unaudited condensed statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.
Shareholder Redemption Liability
On
December 20, 2022, in connection with the Company’s special meeting held to consider the Charter Amendment, the Company’s
stockholders redeemed
Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering
Offering
costs, including additional underwriting fees associated with the underwriter’s partial exercise of the over-allotment option,
consist principally of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs directly related to the IPO. Offering costs, including those
attributable to the underwriter’s partial exercise of the over-allotment option, amounted to $
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Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution,
which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
Income Taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals, or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
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Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The
Company accounts for its Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480. Shares
of Class A common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair
value. Conditionally redeemable Class A common stock (including Class A common stock that features redemption rights that are within
the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control)
is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s
Class A common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject
to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022,
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable Class A common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
At
September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022,
| Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2022 | $ | |||
| Plus: Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | ||||
| Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2023 | ||||
| Plus: Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | ||||
| Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, June 30, 2023 | ||||
| Less: Redemption | ( | ) | ||
| Plus: Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | ||||
| Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, September 30, 2023 | $ |
Net (Loss) Income per Common Stock
The
Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock (the “Class
B common stock” or the “Founder Shares”). Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares.
Public Warrants (see Note 3) and Private Placement Warrants (see Note 4) to purchase an aggregate of
| For the Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | Class B Common stock | Class A common stock | Class B Common stock | |||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Allocation of net (loss) income | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||||
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| For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | Class B Common stock | Class A common stock | Class B Common stock | |||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Allocation of net (loss) income | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
Accounting for Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the instruments’ specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The assessment considers whether the instruments are free standing financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the instruments meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the instruments are indexed to the Company’s own common stock and whether the instrument holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, was conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent period end date while the instruments are outstanding. Management has concluded that the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement qualify for equity accounting treatment.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 –Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). This update requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Since June 2016, the FASB issued clarifying updates to the new standard including changing the effective date for smaller reporting companies. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have an impact on its unaudited condensed financial statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements.
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering and Over-Allotment
Pursuant
to the IPO, the Company sold
14
Note 4 — Private Placement Warrants
On
October 8, 2021, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, the Company consummated the issuance and sale (“Private
Placement”) of
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On
September 18, 2021, the Sponsor provided funds to pay for certain costs totaling $
The
Sponsor has agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earliest of: (a)
On
July 3, 2023, the Sponsor delivered notice of conversion of an aggregate of
Related Party Loans
On
June 18, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $
In
addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor,
or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working
Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the
proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside
the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the
Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital
Loans. The Working Capital Loans will either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s
discretion, up to $
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Consulting Services
The
Company entered into an agreement, commencing on the date of its listing on NASDAQ, to pay the spouse of our Chief Executive Officer
a monthly consulting fee of $
Support Services
The
Company entered into an agreement, commencing on the date of its listing on NASDAQ through the earlier of the consummation of a Business
Combination and the Company’s liquidation, to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor a monthly fee of $
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on October 5, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled to registration rights, requiring the Company to register such securities and any other securities of the Company acquired by them prior to the consummation of a Business Combination for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination. The registration rights agreement does not contain liquidated damages or other cash settlement provisions resulting from delays in registering the securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The
Company granted the underwriter a
The
underwriter was paid a cash underwriting discount of $
Business Combination Agreement
On June 4, 2023, the Company entered into a business combination agreement and plan of reorganization (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, PBCE Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and CERo Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CERo”).
16
At
the effective time of the Business Combination (the “Effective Time”), (i) each outstanding share of CERo common stock,
par value $
Sponsor Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement,
the Sponsor, as the sole holder of the Class B common stock, and each of the Company’s officers and directors entered into
a support agreement with the Company and CERo (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”). Under the Sponsor Support Agreement, the
Sponsor agreed to vote, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of
the Company, all of its shares of Class B common stock (together with any other equity securities of the Company that it holds of
record or beneficially, as of the date of the Sponsor Support Agreement, or of which it acquires record or beneficial ownership after
the date thereof, the “Subject Company Shares”) (i) in favor of (a) the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby and (b) the other proposals that the Company and CERo agreed in the Business Combination Agreement shall be
submitted at such meeting for approval by the Company’s stockholders (together with the proposal to obtain the Company Stockholder
Approval, the “Required Transaction Proposals”) and (ii) against any proposal that conflicts or materially impedes or
interferes with any Required Transaction Proposals or that would adversely affect or delay the Business Combination. The Sponsor Support
Agreement also prohibits the Sponsor from, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, transferring any Subject Company Shares
held by the Sponsor or taking any action that would have the effect of preventing or materially delaying the Sponsor from performing its
obligations under the Sponsor Support Agreement, until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of the Sponsor Support Agreement
according to its terms. On July 3, 2023, the Sponsor delivered notice of conversion of an aggregate
of
CERo Support Agreements
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, certain CERo stockholders (the “CERo Supporting Stockholders”) entered into support agreements with CERo (the “CERo Support Agreements”). Under the CERo Support Agreements, each CERo Supporting Stockholder agreed as promptly as practicable following the time at which the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement shall have been declared effective and made available to such CERo Supporting Stockholders, to execute and deliver a written consent with respect to all outstanding shares of CERo common stock and CERo preferred stock held by such CERo Supporting Stockholder (the “Subject CERo Shares”) approving the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Business Combination). In addition to the foregoing, each CERo Supporting Stockholder agreed that, at any meeting of the holders of CERo capital stock, each such CERo Supporting Stockholder will appear at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and cause its Subject CERo Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and voted (i) to approve and adopt the Business Combination Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Business Combination), and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by CERo for consummation of the Business Combination, and (ii) against any proposal that conflicts or materially impedes or interferes with, or would adversely affect or delay, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (including the Business Combination).
17
Note 7 — Stockholders’ Deficit
Common Stock
Class A
common stock — The Company is authorized to issue
Class B
common stock — The Company is authorized to issue
Prior to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of shares of Class A common stock and shares of Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.
Preferred
stock — The Company is authorized to issue
Warrants
— At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of a Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Public Warrants:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $ |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption; |
| ● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations), for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading-day period commencing at any time after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders; and |
| ● | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants. |
18
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement.
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the IPO, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable, or salable until after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. The Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger, or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices, other than as set forth below. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
In
addition, if the Company issues additional common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the
closing of a Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $
Note 8 — Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
At September 30, 2023, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in money market funds. All of the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities.
19
September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
| Level | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||
| Money Market Funds | 1 | $ | |||||||||||||
Note 9 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred up to the date the unaudited condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than described below, the Company did not identify any other subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the unaudited condensed financial statements.
On
October 4, 2023, the Sponsor deposited $
20
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
References in this report (this “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Phoenix Biotech Sponsor, LLC. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report 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. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on June 8, 2021. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more target businesses. We intend to effectuate our business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the placement units that occurred simultaneously with the completion of our initial public offering, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.
21
Recent Developments
On June 4, 2023, the Company entered into a business combination agreement and plan of reorganization (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, PBCE Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and CERo Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CERo”).
At the effective time of the Business Combination (the “Effective Time”), (i) each outstanding share of CERo common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “CERo common stock”) will be cancelled and converted into (a) the right to receive a number of shares of PBAX Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A common stock”), equal to $50,000,000, minus the Aggregate Liquidation Preference (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), divided by the Fully Diluted Company Capitalization (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), divided by $10.00 (the “Exchange Ratio”) and (b) the right to receive a portion of up to 1,200,000 additional shares of Class A common stock if certain trading price hurdles are achieved or a Change of Control (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) occurs within four years after the Closing (“Earnout Shares”); (ii) each outstanding option to purchase CERo common stock (each, a “CERo option”) will be converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Class A common stock, equal to (A) the number of shares of CERo common stock subject to such option immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (B) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share equal to the current exercise price per share for such option divided by the Exchange Ratio; in each case, rounded down to the nearest whole share, and rounded up to the nearest whole cent in the case of the exercise price of the CERo options; (iii) each outstanding share of CERo preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “CERo preferred stock”), will be converted into a number of shares of Class A common stock, equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock obtained by dividing the liquidation preference thereof by $10.00 and the contingent right to receive such holder’s Earn-Out Pro Rata Portion (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), and (iv) each warrant to purchase CERo preferred stock (each, a “CERo warrant”) outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into a warrant to acquire a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the number of shares of CERo preferred stock subject to the corresponding warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by the Aggregate Liquidation Preference of such underlying shares of CERo preferred stock, and divided by $10.00, with the exercise price per share for such warrant equal to (A) the current aggregate exercise price of such warrant (the current exercise price per share of CERo preferred stock applicable to the corresponding warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by the number of shares of CERo preferred stock issuable upon exercise thereof), divided by (B) the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof. Subject to certain exceptions, such terms and conditions applicable to a New CERo warrant will be the same terms and conditions as were applicable to a CERo warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time. The Company will issue an aggregate of approximately 5.0 million shares of Class A common stock to the holders of CERo common stock and CERo preferred stock as consideration in the Business Combination.
On July 3, 2023, the Sponsor delivered notice of conversion of an aggregate of 4,596,250 shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock (the “Conversion”).
On July 7, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders to approve a proposal to amend (the “Trust Agreement Amendment”) the IMTA, as amended by the IMTA Amendment, and a proposal to adopt the Second Charter Amendment, to extend the business combination period up to six times for one month each time from July 8, 2023 to August 8, 2023, September 8, 2023, October 8, 2023, November 8, 2023, December 8, 2023 or January 8, 2024. On July 7, 2023, the Company and CST entered into the Trust Agreement Amendment.
22
On July 7, 2023, the Sponsor deposited $37,051.83 in the Trust Account in connection with the extension of the business combination deadline, of which $22,948.71 was required in connection with the extension to August 8, 2023 and the remainder was credited towards a portion of the extension payment for the period from August 8, 2023 to September 8, 2023. On July 28, 2023, September 1, 2023 and October 4 2023, the Sponsor deposited $8,845.59, $22,949 and $22,949 in the trust account in connection with the extension of the business combination deadline.
In connection with the approval of the Second Charter Amendment, holders of 523,341 shares of Class A common stock exercised redemption rights. On July 18, 2023, the Company made a series of payments of an aggregate of $5,638,879.48 to holders of redeemed Class A Shares (an aggregate of $10.77 per redeemed Class A Share). As a result of the deposit described above, such payments and accrual of interest, the balance in the Trust Account as of September 30, 2023 is approximately $8.3 million.
Results of Operations
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity through September 30, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation, the initial public offering (the “IPO”), and since the IPO, the search for a prospective initial Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the IPO placed in the Trust Account (defined below).
For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $334,028, which consisted of general and administrative expenses and franchise taxes of $429,801and provision for income taxes of $25,751, partially offset by interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $121,524.
For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had net income of $84,505, which consisted of unrealized gain on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $661,176 and interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $320,475, partially offset by general and administrative expenses and franchise taxes of $836,685.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $2,253,473, which consisted of general and administrative expenses and franchise taxes of $2,563,647 and provision for income taxes of $70,409, partially offset by interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $380,583.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had a net loss of $405,061, which consisted of general and administrative expenses and franchise taxes of $1,618,042, partially offset by unrealized gain on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $915,859 and interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account of $357,583.
Liquidity and Going Concern
On October 8, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 17,500,000 Units, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, which included the partial exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option in the amount of 2,000,000 Units, generating gross proceeds of $175,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated the sale of 885,000 Placement Units to the Sponsor, Cantor Fitzgerald and CCM at a price of $10.00 per Placement Unit generating gross proceeds of $8,850,000.
Following the IPO, the partial exercise of the over-allotment option and the sale of the Placement Units, a total of $178,500,000 was placed in the Trust Account ($10.20 per Unit). We incurred $12,729,318 in transaction costs, including $2,635,000 of underwriting fees, $9,150,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $944,318 of other offering costs.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $119,014 in its operating bank accounts, $8,329,792 in money market funds held in Trust Account to be used for a Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem its Public Shares in connection therewith and a working capital deficit of $4,568,584.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there was $1,336,995 of cash used in operating activities.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there was $719,147 of cash used in operating activities.
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We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less taxes payable), to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our 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 may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into units of the post Business Combination entity, at a price of $10.00 per unit, at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the Placement Units. On December 13, 2022, the Company entered into a promissory note with the Sponsor. In order to fund ongoing operations, the Sponsor will loan up to $1,500,000 to the Company. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there was $1,395,000 and $650,000 of outstanding borrowings under the working capital loan arrangement, respectively.
We monitor the adequacy of our working capital in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business prior to our initial business combination. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our Public Shares upon completion of our business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. 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.
The Company currently projects that it will not have sufficient funds to cover its expenses over a one-year period from the date the financial statements are available to be issued. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2023. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor a monthly fee of $20,000 for office space, administrative and shared personnel support services to the Company. We began incurring these fees on October 6, 2021 and incurred these fees monthly through December 31, 2022. The payment of these fees was suspended on December 31, 2022 and reinstated on March 31, 2022. As of September 30, 2023, there was a $35,000 outstanding balance owed to the Sponsor.
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The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on the date of its listing on NASDAQ, to pay the spouse of our Chief Executive Officer a monthly consulting fees of $15,000 for assisting the Company in identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets. Payment of the consulting fees ended on December 31, 2022 as part of the Charter Amendment approval.
In addition, we have an agreement to pay the underwriter a deferred fee of $9,150,000. The deferred fee will become payable to the representative from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that we complete a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of unaudited condensed 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:
Accounting for Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the instruments’ specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the instruments are free standing financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the instruments meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the instruments are indexed to the Company’s own common shares and whether the instrument holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, was conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent period end date while the instruments are outstanding. Management has concluded that the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement qualify for equity accounting treatment.
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 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 our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, common stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our condensed balance sheets. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
Net (Loss) Income per Common Share
Net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, [excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor]. At September 30, 2023, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and/or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted net (loss) income per share is the same as basic net (loss) income per share for the period presented.
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Recent Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU 2016-13”) [Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”)]. This update requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Since June 2016, the FASB issued clarifying updates to the new standard including changing the effective date for smaller reporting companies. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have an impact on its financial statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there has been 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
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Unregistered Sale of Securities
None.
Use of Proceeds from IPO
The securities in the IPO were registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-259491). The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective on October 5, 2021. On October 8, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 15,500,000 units (“Units”) (with respect to the Class A common stock included in the Units being offered (the “Public Shares”)) at $10.00 per Unit generating gross proceeds of $155,000,000. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”) acted as sole book-running manager of the IPO.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 845,000 units (“Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, Phoenix Biotech Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”), Cantor and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC (“CCM”), generating gross proceeds of $8,450,000. The issuance was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 2,000,000 additional Units upon receiving notice of the underwriter’s election to partially exercise its over-allotment option (“Over-allotment Units”), generating additional gross proceeds of $20,000,000 and incurring additional offering costs of $1,400,000 in underwriting fees, all of which are deferred until the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination. Simultaneously with the exercise of the over-allotment, the Company consummated the Private Placement of an additional 40,000 Private Placement Units to the Sponsor and CCM, generating gross proceeds of $400,000. The issuance was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Offering costs for the IPO amounted to $12,729,318, consisting of $2,635,000 of underwriting fees (after reimbursement of $465,000 to the Company to pay for additional advisors), $9,150,000 of deferred underwriting fees payable (which are held in the Trust Account (defined below)) and $944,318 of other costs. The $9,150,000 of deferred underwriting fee payable is contingent upon the consummation of a Business Combination by January 8, 2024, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Following the closing of the IPO, $178,500,000 ($10.20 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO, the Over-allotment Units and the Private Placement Units was placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting the conditions of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account. As a result of the redemptions and extension deposits described in this Quarterly Report and accrual of interest, the balance in the Trust Account as of September 30, 2023 is approximately $8.3 million.
For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our IPO, see Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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| * | Filed herewith. |
| ^ | Furnished herewith. |
| (1) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 12, 2021 |
| (2) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-259491) |
| (3) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2022 |
| (4) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2022 |
| (5) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2023 |
| (6) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 10, 2023 |
| (7) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2023 |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| PHOENIX BIOTECH ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
| Date: November 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Chris Ehrlich |
| Name: | Chris Ehrlich | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: November 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Daniel Geffken |
| Name: | Daniel Geffken | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Director | |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
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Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Chris Ehrlich, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Phoenix Biotech 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my 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 the 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: November 9, 2023
/s/ Chris Ehrlich |
|
| Chris Ehrlich | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Daniel Geffken, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Phoenix Biotech 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my 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 the 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: November 9, 2023
| /s/ Daniel Geffken | |
| Daniel Geffken | |
| 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 of Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Chris Ehrlich, 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, to the best of my knowledge:
| 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. |
Dated: November 9, 2023
| /s/ Chris Ehrlich | |
| Chris Ehrlich | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
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 of Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Daniel Geffken, 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, to the best of my knowledge:
| 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. |
Dated: November 9, 2023
| /s/ Daniel Geffken | |
| Daniel Geffken | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |