UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE) 

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2024

 

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                    to                       

 

Commission file number: 001-41168

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware		86-2170416
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703, Philadelphia, PA		19104
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

 

(215) 701-9555

(Issuer’s telephone number)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share		EMLD		Nasdaq Global Market
Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock		EMLDW		Nasdaq Global Market
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one- half of one redeemable warrant		EMLDU		Nasdaq Global Market

 

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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. Yes ☒ No ☐

 

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). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

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 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	☐
Non-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 ☒  No ☐

 

As of May 11, 2024, there were 14,349,106 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 0 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, issued and outstanding. 

 

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

 

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.	Interim Financial Statements	1
	Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2023	1
	Condensed Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)	2
	Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)	3
	Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)	4
	Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)	5
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	24
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	24
Part II. Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	25
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	25
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	25
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	26
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	26
Item 5.	Other Information	26
Item 6.	Exhibits	26
Part III. Signatures		27

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Interim Financial Statements.

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

		March 31, 2024				December 31,
		(Unaudited)				2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash		$	136,954			$	29,844
Prepaid expenses			221,582				192,712
Prepaid income taxes			—				83,503
Total current assets			358,536				306,059
Investments held in Trust Account			51,171,024				165,653,149
TOTAL ASSETS		$	51,529,560			$	165,959,208
Liabilities, Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	124,224			$	114,659
Due to related party			376,451				286,451
Excise tax payable			2,122,813				967,916
Income tax payable			127,082				—
Promissory note, net of discount			141,940				—
Related party loans			2,425,000				2,025,000
Total current liabilities			5,317,510				3,394,026
Deferred advisory fee			1,155,000				1,155,000
Total liabilities			6,472,510				4,549,026
Commitments and Contingencies
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value; 4,757,884 and 15,630,150 issued and outstanding shares at a redemption value of $10.72 and $10.60 per share as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively			51,024,842				165,721,882
Stockholders’ Deficit
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023			—				—
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 42,000,000 shares authorized; 9,591,222 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively (net of 4,757,884 and 15,630,150 shares subject to possible redemption as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)			959				959
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023			—				—
Additional paid-in capital			7,307,063				6,984,216
Accumulated deficit			(13,275,814	)			(11,296,875	)
Total stockholders’ deficit			(5,967,792	)			(4,311,700	)
Total Liabilities, Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption and Stockholders’ Deficit		$	51,529,560			$	165,959,208

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
General and administrative expenses		$	726,755			$	872,897
Loss from operations			(726,755	)			(872,897	)
Other income (expense):
Interest income earned on investments held in Trust Account			1,020,688				2,696,526
Interest expense			(68,565	)			—
Non-redemption agreement expense			(838,825	)			—
Total other income, net			113,298				2,696,526
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes			(613,457	)			1,823,629
Provision for income taxes			(210,585	)			(555,770	)
Net income (loss)		$	(824,042	)		$	1,267,859
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock			16,858,090				25,845,423
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common stock, Class A common stock		$	(0.05	)		$	0.04
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock			—				8,615,141
Basic and diluted net income per common stock, Class B common stock		$	—			$	0.04

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

 

		Class A								Class B								Additional								Total
		Common Stock								Common Stock								Paid-in				Accumulated				Stockholders’
		Shares				Amount				Shares				Amount				Capital				Deficit				Deficit
Balance as of December 31, 2023			9,591,222			$	959				—			$	—			$	6,984,216			$	(11,296,875	)		$	(4,311,700	)
Accretion of common stock subject to possible redemption			—				—				—				—				(792,603	)			—				(792,603	)
Contribution from the Sponsor			—				—				—				—				838,825				—				838,825
Discount on note payable related to subscription shares			—				—				—				—				276,625				—				276,625
Excise taxes on stock redemption			—				—				—				—				—				(1,154,897	)			(1,154,897	)
Net loss			—				—				—				—				—				(824,042	)			(824,042	)
Balance as of March 31, 2024 (Unaudited)			9,591,222			$	959				—			$	—			$	7,307,063			$	(13,275,814	)		$	(5,967,792	)

 

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023

 

		Class A								Class B								Additional								Total
		Common Stock								Common Stock								Paid-in				Accumulated				Stockholders’
		Shares				Amount				Shares				Amount				Capital				Deficit				Deficit
Balance as of December 31, 2022			976,081			$	98				8,615,141			$	861			$	—			$	(8,501,776	)		$	(8,500,817	)
Accretion of common stock subject to possible redemption			—				—				—				—				—				(2,048,355	)			(2,048,355	)
Net income			—				—				—				—				—				1,267,859				1,267,859
Balance as of March 31, 2023 (Unaudited)			976,081			$	98				8,615,141			$	861			$	—			$	(9,282,272	)		$	(9,281,313	)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)		$	(824,042	)		$	1,267,859
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Interest income earned on investments held in Trust Account			(1,020,688	)			(2,696,526	)
Non-redemption agreement expense			838,825				—
Interest expense			68,565				—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses			(28,870	)			(2,960	)
Prepaid income taxes			83,503				—
Due to related party			90,000				—
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			9,565				(305	)
Income tax payable			127,082				555,770
Net cash used in operating activities			(656,060	)			(876,162	)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account to pay franchise and income taxes			13,170				—
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account in connection with redemption			115,489,643				120,486
Net cash provided by investing activities			115,502,813				120,486
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from promissory note - related party			400,000				750,000
Proceeds from promissory note			350,000				—
Redemption of common stock			(115,489,643	)			—
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(114,739,643	)			750,000
Net Change in Cash			107,110				(5,676	)
Cash – Beginning of period			29,844				72,753
Cash – End of period		$	136,954			$	67,077
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Excise tax on stock redemption		$	1,154,897			$	—

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements. 

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

 

FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 19, 2021, 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 may pursue an initial Business Combination target in any business or industry.

 

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 19, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2024 relates to the Company’s formation, the Public Offering (the “Public Offering” or “IPO”), and efforts in identifying a target to consummate an 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 from the proceeds derived from the Public Offering placed in the Trust Account.

 

The Company’s Sponsors are Emerald ESG Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Emerald ESG Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Sponsor”).

 

The registration statement for the Company’s Public Offering was declared effective on December 15, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). On December 20, 2021, the Company consummated its Public Offering of 22,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the Class A common stock included in the Units being offered, the “public shares”) at $10.00 per Unit, which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 890,000 placement units (the “Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to the Sponsor, which is discussed in Note 4 (“Private Placement”).

 

The underwriter of the Company’s IPO subsequently provided notice of its election to partially exercise its over-allotment option, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional Units (the “Over-Allotment Option Units”) occurred on January 14, 2022. A total aggregate issuance by the Company of 2,869,342 Over-Allotment Option Units at a price of $10.00 per Over-Allotment Option Unit resulted in total gross proceeds of $28,693,420 to the Company.

 

Simultaneously with the issuance and sale of the Over-Allotment Option Units, the Company consummated the private sale of an additional 86,081 Private Placement Units (the “Additional Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Additional Private Placement Unit to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $860,810.

 

Transaction costs related to the IPO and over-allotment amounted to $14,181,568, consisting of $4,973,868 of underwriting commissions, $8,704,270 in deferred underwriting fees, and $503,430 of other offering costs.

 

The Company must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the Company’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete an initial Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.

 

Following the closing of the Public Offering, the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of the Private Placement Units, a total of $251,180,354 ($10.10 per Unit) was initially placed in a Trust Account (“Trust Account”). The proceeds are invested only in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Except for any interest income released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, none of the funds held in trust will be released from the Trust Account until the earlier of (i) the consummation of the initial Business Combination; (ii) the redemption of the public shares if the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination by December 20, 2024 (the “Completion Window”); or (iii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of the public shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the public shares if the Company has not consummated the initial Business Combination within the Completion Window, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the public stockholders.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

On September 19, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of its stockholders (the “Meeting”) at which the Company’s stockholders approved (A) an amendment (the “Charter Amendment”) to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from September 20, 2023 to January 19, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors); and (B) an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement dated December 15, 2021, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the “Trust Agreement”), to allow the trustee to liquidate the Trust Account established in connection with the IPO at such time as may be determined by the Company as set forth in the Charter Amendment. In connection with the Meeting the holders of 9,239,192 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.4762 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $96,791,644. Following the redemptions, 15,630,150 shares of redeemable Class A common stock remained outstanding.

 

On January 19, 2024, the Company held a special meeting of its stockholders (the “January Meeting”) at which the Company’s stockholders approved (A) an amendment (the “January Charter Amendment”) to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from January 19, 2024 to December 20, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors); and (B) an amendment (the “January Trust Amendment”) to the Trust Agreement to allow the trustee to liquidate the Trust Account established in connection with the IPO at such time as may be determined by the Company as set forth in the January Charter Amendment. In connection with the January Meeting the holders of 10,872,266 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.6224 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $115,489,643. Following the redemptions, 4,757,884 shares of redeemable Class A common stock remain outstanding.

 

On January 17, 2024, the Company entered into non-redemption agreements with unaffiliated third parties in exchange for each such party agreeing not to redeem public shares in connection with the January Meeting that was held on January 19, 2024. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem public shares, the Company has agreed to issue or cause to be issued an aggregate of 1,112,500 Investor Shares. In addition, the Company has agreed that it will not utilize any funds from the Trust Account to pay any potential excise taxes that may become due pursuant to the IR Act upon a redemption of public shares, including in connection with the January Charter Amendment, an initial business combination or liquidation of the Company.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $136,954 in cash and a working capital deficit of $4,958,974. Prior to the completion of the Company’s IPO, the Company’s liquidity needs had been satisfied through a capital contribution from the Sponsor of $25,000 and a loan to the Company of up to $300,000 by the Company’s Sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. The outstanding balance under the promissory note of $105,260 was repaid on December 27, 2021, and the promissory note was terminated.

 

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes the initial Business Combination, the Company expects to repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to it. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $2,425,000 and $2,025,000 of Working Capital Loans were outstanding, respectively.

 

Subscription Agreement

 

On January 3, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund (“Polar”), Emerald ESG Sponsor LLC (“ESG Sponsor”), Emerald ESG Advisors, LLC (“ESG Advisors”) and Emerald ESG Funding, LLC (“ESG Funding” and collectively with ESG Sponsor and ESG Advisors, the “Sponsors”), to cover working capital requirements of the Company and costs related to a possible extension of the Company’s trust liquidation date (the “Subscription Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Subscription Agreement, Polar agreed to contribute up to $550,000 to ESG Funding (the “Capital Contribution”). An initial capital call of $350,000 took place within five (5) business days of the signing of the Subscription Agreement, and a second capital call of $200,000 took place on April 2, 2024.

 

The Capital Contribution shall be repaid to Polar by ESG Funding upon the Company’s closing of an initial business combination (the “Closing”). In consideration of the Capital Contribution, the Company has agreed to issue, or to cause the surviving entity following the Closing (the “Surviving Company”) to issue, 1.0 share of common stock of the Surviving Company (“Common Stock”) for each dollar of the Capital Contribution funded as of or prior to the Closing, which shares shall be subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies and shall be registered as part of any registration statement to be filed in connection with the Closing or, if no such registration statement is filed in connection with the Closing, pursuant to the first registration statement to be filed by the Company or the Surviving Company following the Closing. The Capital Contribution is non-interest bearing and shall be repaid by ESG Funding (upon receipt of funds from the Company) to, and at the election of, Polar (i) in Common Stock, at a rate of 1.0 share of Common Stock for each ten dollars ($10.00) of the Capital Contribution funded as of the Closing or (ii) in cash.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

If the Company liquidates without consummating an initial business combination, any amounts remaining in the Sponsors’ or the Company’s cash accounts, not including the Company’s Trust Account, following repayment of all liabilities and wind-down expenses, will be paid promptly to Polar, up to the amount of the Capital Contribution funded. Upon certain events of default under the Subscription Agreement, the Company shall issue to Polar 0.1 shares of Common Stock (“Default Shares”) for each dollar of the Capital Contribution funded as of the date of such default, and for each month thereafter until such default is cured, subject to certain limitations provided for therein.

 

At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $350,000 and $0 was outstanding on the promissory note, gross of the discount, under the subscription agreement, respectively.

 

Going Concern

 

In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” the Company has until December 20, 2024 to consummate a Business Combination. It is uncertain whether the Company will be able to consummate a Business Combination by this time. If a Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Management has determined that the liquidity condition and mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management intends to consummate a Business Combination prior to December 20, 2024. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after December 20, 2024.

 

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 (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a 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 for the period ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on March 26, 2024. The interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024, or for any future periods.

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. 

  

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 condensed financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires 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 expenses during the reporting periods.

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $136,954 and $29,844 in cash, respectively. 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 March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

 

Investments Held in Trust Account

 

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $51,171,024 and $165,653,149 in investments held in the Trust Account which was invested in BLF Treasury Trust Fund. Net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units were placed in the Trust Account which will only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. 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 these securities is included in interest income earned on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying condensed statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Stock

 

The Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. The Company has not considered the effect of the warrants sold in the Public Offering and the Private Placement to purchase an aggregate of 12,922,712 shares of its Class A common stock in the calculation of diluted net income per share, since their exercise is contingent upon future events. As a result, diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock is the same as basic net income (loss) per share of common stock. The redemption feature for the common shares equals fair value, and therefore does not create a different class of shares or require an adjustment to the earnings per share calculation. The redemption at fair value does not represent an economic benefit to the holders that is different from what is received by other stockholders, because the shares could be sold on the open market. Accretion associated with the redeemable shares of Class A common stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates the fair value. The table below presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for each class of common stock:

 

		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024								2023
		Class A				Class B				Class A				Class B
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock:
Numerator:
Allocation of net income (loss)		$	(824,042	)		$	—			$	950,894			$	316,965
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding			16,858,090				—				25,845,423				8,615,141
Basic and diluted net income per common stock		$	(0.05	)		$	—			$	0.04			$	0.04

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

 

The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are within the control of the holder or subject to possible redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ deficit. The Company’s Class A common stock sold in the IPO and over-allotment features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 4,757,884 and 15,630,150 shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed balance sheets, respectively.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the condensed balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The Company’s financial instruments are classified as either Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3. These tiers include:

 

●

Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets;

 

●

Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and

 

●

Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

Warrant Classification

 

The Company accounts for the warrants issued in connection with the Public Offering and the Private Placement in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 under which the warrants meet the criteria for equity treatment and are recorded as equity.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” ASC 740, Income Taxes, requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the unaudited condensed financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s deferred tax asset had a full valuation allowance recorded against it. The Company’s effective tax rate was 34.33% and (30.48%) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate of 21% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, due to changes in the valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets.

 

ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s condensed financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim period, disclosure and transition.

 

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

The Company has identified the United States as its only “major” tax jurisdiction. The Company is subject to income taxation by major taxing authorities since inception. These examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with federal and state tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution which at times may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition.

 

Recent Accounting Standards

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s condensed financial statements.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Further, the impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy is not determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements and the specific impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is also not determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements.

 

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 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.

 

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 vote 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. 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 September 19, 2023, in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment at the Meeting, the Company’s stockholders exercised their right to redeem 9,239,192 shares for a total of $96,791,644. On January 19, 2024, in connection with the approval of the January Charter Amendment at the January Meeting the Company’s stockholders exercised their right to redeem 10,872,266 shares for a total of $115,489,643. The Company evaluated the classification and accounting of the stock redemptions under ASC 450, “Contingencies”. ASC 450 states that when a loss contingency exists the likelihood that the future event(s) will confirm the loss or impairment of an asset, or the incurrence of a liability can range from probable to remote. A contingent liability must be reviewed at each reporting period to determine appropriate treatment. The Company evaluated the current status and probability of completing a Business Combination as of March 31, 2024, and concluded that it is probable that a contingent liability should be recorded. As of March 31, 2024, the Company recorded $2,122,813 of excise tax liability calculated as 1% of shares redeemed on September 19, 2023 and 1% of the shares redeemed on January 19, 2024.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

 

On December 20, 2021, the Company consummated its IPO of 22,000,000 Units at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”). On January 11, 2022, the underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option, resulting in the sale on January 14, 2022 of an additional 2,869,342 Units.

 

All of the shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the Units in the IPO 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 Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s certificate of incorporation. In accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity,” and with the SEC and its staff’s guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of the Company require common stock subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity.

 

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the common stock subject to possible redemption reflected on the condensed balance sheets is reconciled in the following table:

 

Gross proceeds, including over-allotment		$	248,693,420
Less:
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants			(8,264,360	)
Class A common stock issuance costs			(13,734,146	)
Plus:
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value			27,119,341
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2022			253,814,255
Less:
Redemption of shares			(96,791,644	)
Plus:
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value			8,699,271
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2023		$	165,721,882
Less:
Redemption of shares			(115,489,643	)
Plus:
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value			792,603
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2024 (unaudited)		$	51,024,842

 

NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 890,000 Private Placement Units for a purchase price of $8,900,000, or $10.00 per unit, in a private placement. Additionally, concurrently with the partial exercise of the over-allotment option by the underwriter, the Company issued to the Sponsor 86,081 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit for total proceeds of $860,810. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one Warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock for $11.50, subject to adjustment.

 

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants sold in the Public Offering, except that if held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, they (including the common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the consummation of the initial Business Combination. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Founder Shares (defined below), placement shares or warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company does not complete an initial Business Combination.

 

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Founder Shares

 

On June 2, 2021, the Sponsor purchased 7,992,750 shares of Class B common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, and on October 14, 2021, the Company effected a 1.1014-for-1.0 stock split, so that the Sponsor owned an aggregate of 8,803,333 shares of Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”). On November 12, 2021, the Company effected a 0.9955-for-1.0 stock split, so that the Sponsor owned an aggregate of 8,763,333 Founder Shares. All shares and related amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the split (see Note 7). The number of Founder Shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of the Public Offering would be a maximum of 25,300,000 Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option was exercised in full, and therefore that such Founder Shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after the Public Offering. In connection with the partial exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, 148,192 shares of Class B common stock were forfeited. On September 19, 2023, the Company held the Meeting where the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from September 20, 2023 to January 19, 2024. Following the Meeting, the Sponsor, as the holder of 100% of the Founder Shares, determined to convert all of the outstanding Founder Shares into shares of Class A common stock, on a one-for-one basis.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

The Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares (i) with respect to 25% of such shares, until consummation of the initial Business Combination, (ii) with respect to 25% of such shares, until the earlier of the second anniversary of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or the first date at which the closing price of the Class A common stock exceeds $12.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of the initial Business Combination, (iii) with respect to 25% of such shares, until the earlier of the second anniversary of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or the first date at which the closing price of the Class A common stock exceeds $13.50 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of the initial Business Combination, and (iv) with respect to 25% of such shares, until the earlier of the second anniversary of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or the first date at which the closing price of the Class A common stock exceeds $15.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of the initial Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the transfer restrictions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall terminate upon the date following the initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the initial stockholders with respect to any Founder Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with an initial Business Combination, the initial holders may transfer, assign or sell their Founder Shares with the Company’s consent to any person or entity that agrees in writing to be bound by the transfer restrictions set forth above.

 

Promissory Note — Related Party

 

Emerald ESG Sponsor, LLC agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Public Offering. These loans were non-interest bearing, unsecured and were due at the earlier of June 30, 2022 or the closing of the Public Offering. The outstanding balance under the promissory note of $105,260 was repaid on December 27, 2021, and the promissory note was terminated and is no longer available to be drawn upon. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no amounts outstanding under the promissory note.

 

On January 13, 2023, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to $1,500,000 (the “Promissory Note”). The note is non-interest bearing and all outstanding amounts under the Promissory Note will be due on the date on which the Company consummates a Business Combination. If the Company does not consummate a Business Combination, the Company may use a portion of any funds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Promissory Note; however, no proceeds from the Trust Account may be used for such repayment. If such funds are insufficient to repay the Promissory Note, the unpaid amounts would be forgiven. No portion of the amounts outstanding under the Promissory Note may be converted into units at a price of $10.00 per unit, which would have been permissible as described in the prospectus filed in connection with the IPO. On October 16, 2023, the Company and the Lender amended the Promissory Note to increase the aggregate principal amount of the Promissory Note from $1,500,000 to $3,000,000. All other material terms of the Promissory Note remain in full force and effect. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there was $2,425,000 and $2,025,000 outstanding under the Promissory Note, respectively.

 

Related Party Loans

 

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes the initial Business Combination, the Company expects to repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. On January 13, 2023, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 pursuant to the Promissory Note (as amended on October 16, 2023) described above. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $2,425,000 and $2,025,000 of such Working Capital Loans were outstanding, respectively.

 

Administrative Services Agreement

 

The Company has entered into an administrative services agreement as of the effective date of the registration statement for the Public Offering pursuant to which the Company will pay the Sponsor or its designee a total of $30,000 per month for office space, administrative and shared personnel support services. Upon completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or its liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred $90,000 and $90,000 for the administrative support services, respectively. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $376,451 and $286,451 of administrative support services was included in Due to related party in the accompanying condensed balance sheets, respectively.

 

NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Registration Rights

 

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on December 15, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units and units that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Units and units 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 (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Class A common stock). 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.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

Warrant Amendments

 

The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any stockholder or warrant holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision or to make any amendments that are necessary in the good faith determination of the board of directors of the Company (taking into account then existing market precedents) to allow for the warrants to continue to be classified as equity in the Company’s condensed financial statements, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants. Accordingly, the Company may amend the terms of the Public Warrants (i) in a manner adverse to a holder of Public Warrants if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants approve of such amendment or (ii) to the extent necessary for the warrants in the good faith determination of the board of directors of the Company (taking into account then existing market precedents) to allow for the warrants to continue to be classified as equity in the Company’s condensed financial statements without the consent of any stockholder or warrant holder. Although the Company’s ability to amend the terms of the Public Warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or shares, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

The underwriter earned a cash underwriting discount of two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and exercise of the over-allotment, or $4,973,868. Additionally, the underwriter was initially entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds, or $8,704,270, of the Public Offering and exercise of the over-allotment upon the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination. On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with the underwriter in which the underwriter waived any entitlement it may have to the deferred underwriting discount in respect of any Business Combination. As a result, the Company recorded $8,704,270 to additional paid-in capital in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriter fee in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.

 

Financial Advisory Fee

 

The Company engaged Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a related party and a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC (“CCM”), to provide financial advisory services in connection with the Public Offering. The Company paid CCM a fee in an amount equal to 0.3% of the aggregate proceeds of the Public Offering (excluding the proceeds of the exercise of the over-allotment option) net of underwriter’s expenses, which was paid to CCM upon the closing of the Public Offering.

 

The Company also intends to engage CCM as an advisor in connection with the Business Combination for which it will earn an advisory fee of 0.525% of the proceeds of the Public Offering (excluding the proceeds of the exercise of the over-allotment option) payable at closing of the Business Combination.

 

CCM will also be entitled to an advisory fee equal to 0.825% of the aggregate proceeds of the exercise of the over-allotment option, payable at the closing of the Business Combination. The underwriter had agreed to reimburse the Company for the fee to CCM as it becomes payable out of the underwriting commission. Accordingly, a reimbursement receivable and deferred advisory fee of $1,155,000 had been recorded. On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with the underwriter in which the underwriter waived any entitlement it may have to the deferred underwriting discount in respect of any Business Combination.

  

Non-redemption Agreements

 

Between September 7 and 15, 2023, the Company entered into non-redemption agreements with unaffiliated third parties in exchange for each such party agreeing not to redeem public shares in connection with the Meeting that was held on September 19, 2023. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem public shares, the Company has agreed to issue or cause to be issued an aggregate of 1,610,000 Class A Shares at the time of the Company’s initial business combination (“Investor Shares”). In addition, the Company has agreed that it will not utilize any funds from the Trust Account to pay any potential excise taxes that may become due pursuant to the IR Act upon a redemption of public shares, including in connection with the Charter Amendment, an initial business combination or liquidation of the Company. The Company evaluated the classification and accounting of the issuance of the Class A Shares under ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”. The Company concluded that the monetary value of the obligation is a known and fixed amount at inception as the monetary value of the obligation will be defined and provided to each investor with the final number of Investor Shares stated in the non-redemption agreements. Therefore, the settlement terms of the non-redemption agreement (i.e., number of shares held by the holder) is considered an input into a fixed-for-fixed contract and the shares issued will be recorded in equity. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of the 1,610,000 Investor Shares attributable to the non-redeeming shareholders to be $708,400 or $0.44 per share. The fair value of the Investor Shares was recorded as an expense with a corresponding credit to additional paid-in capital.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

On January 17, 2024, the Company entered into non-redemption agreements with unaffiliated third parties in exchange for each such party agreeing not to redeem public shares in connection with the January Meeting that was held on January 19, 2024. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem public shares, the Company has agreed to issue or cause to be issued an aggregate of 1,112,500 Investor Shares. In addition, the Company has agreed that it will not utilize any funds from the Trust Account to pay any potential excise taxes that may become due pursuant to the IR Act upon a redemption of public shares, including in connection with the January Charter Amendment, an initial business combination or liquidation of the Company. The Company evaluated the classification and accounting of the issuance of the Class A Shares under ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”. The Company concluded that the monetary value of the obligation is a known and fixed amount at inception as the monetary value of the obligation will be defined and provided to each investor with the final number of Investor Shares stated in the non-redemption agreements. Therefore, the settlement terms of the non-redemption agreement (i.e., number of shares held by the holder) is considered an input into a fixed-for-fixed contract and the shares issued will be recorded in equity. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of the 1,112,500 Investor Shares attributable to the non-redeeming shareholders to be $838,825 or $0.754 per share. The fair value of the Investor Shares was recorded as an expense with a corresponding credit to additional paid-in capital.

 

Subscription Agreement

 

The Company evaluated the accounting for the Subscription Agreement under ASC 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”. The Company concluded that the subscription shares to be issued as part of the bundled transaction are classified and accounted for as equity. Therefore, the proceeds are required to be allocated based on the relative fair values of the base instrument of the investment amount and the Common Stock in accordance with the guidance in ASC 470 “Debt.” At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $350,000 and $0 were outstanding under promissory note of the subscription agreement, respectively.

 

The table below summarizes the outstanding promissory note under the Subscription Agreement as of March 31, 2024:

 

Principal value of promissory note		$	350,000
Debt discount, net of amortization			(208,060	)
Promissory note		$	141,940

 

NOTE 7. STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

  

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

Class A Common Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue 42,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. Following the Meeting on September 19, 2023, the Sponsor determined to convert all the outstanding shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Class B Conversion”). Notwithstanding the Class B Conversion, the Sponsor, as well as the Company’s officers and directors, will not be entitled to receive any funds held in the Trust Account with respect to any shares of Class A common stock issued to such holders as a result of the Class B Conversion, and no additional amounts will be deposited into the Trust Account in respect of shares of Class A common stock held by the Sponsor. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 14,349,106 and 25,221,372 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding, respectively, of which 4,757,884 shares and 15,630,150 shares are subject to possible redemption, respectively, and thus classified as temporary equity.

 

Class B Common Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Class B common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. Holders of Class B common stock will vote on the election of directors prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of stockholders except as required by law. Following the Meeting on September 19, 2023, the Sponsor determined to convert all of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock to shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding, respectively, of which 1,133,333 shares were subject to forfeiture as of December 31, 2021 to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment option was not exercised in full so that the Founder Shares will represent, on an as-converted basis, 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Public Offering. The underwriter subsequently provided notice of its election to partially exercise its over-allotment option, and the closing of the sale of the additional Units occurred on January 14, 2022. As a result of the underwriter exercising its over-allotment option in part, the Company’s initial holders forfeited 148,192 Founder Shares.

 

Warrants

 

As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 12,434,671 Public Warrants and 488,041 Private Placement Warrants issued and outstanding. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company and in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the initial stockholders or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the completion of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume-weighted average trading price of the shares of Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

 

The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the warrant expiration date, which is five years after the completion of the initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to the Company and not placed in the Trust Account.

 

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise for cash of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable, and the Company will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a warrant unless Class A common stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from the registration or qualification requirements of the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants has not been declared effective by the end of 60 business days following the closing of the initial 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.

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In addition to the above, if the Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, it will use its best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” as used in this paragraph shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent.

 

Redemption of warrants

 

Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants:

 

	●	in whole and not in part;
	●	at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
	●	upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, or the 30-day redemption period, to each warrant holder; and
	●	if, and only if, the last sale price of the Class A common stock (or the closing bid price of the Class A common stock in the event the shares of Class A common stock are not traded on any specific trading day) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third trading day before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value: 

 

		March 31, 2024				Quoted Prices In Active Markets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Asset:
Investments held in Trust Account		$	51,171,024			$	51,171,024			$	—			$	—
Liability:
Note payable, net of discount		$	141,940			$	—			$	—			$	141,940

 

 

FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2024

(Unaudited)

 

		December 31, 2023				Quoted Prices In Active Markets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Asset:
Investments held in Trust Account		$	165,653,149			$	165,653,149			$	—			$	—
Liability:
Note payable, net of discount		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—

 

Note payable

 

The note payable was valued using the standard closed-form Black Scholes model which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement.

 

The key inputs into the Black Scholes model for the note payable was as follows at March 31, 2024:

 

Input		March 31, 2024
Risk-free interest rate			3.90	%
Term (in years)			5.0
Probability of de-SPAC			20.0	%
Exercise price		$	11.50
Public Warrant Price		$	0.053

 

There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 during the periods ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

  

NOTE 9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet dates up to the date that the condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than stated below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed financial statements.

 

Subscription Agreement

 

On April 2, 2024, Polar contributed a $200,000 Capital Contribution pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.

 

 

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 FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer collectively to Emerald ESG Sponsor, LLC and Emerald ESG Advisors, 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”, 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

 

We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 19, 2021 and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more 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.

 

 

Recent Developments

 

On September 19, 2023, we held a special meeting of our stockholders (the “Meeting”) at which the Company’s stockholders approved (A) an amendment (the “Charter Amendment”) to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from September 20, 2023 to January 19, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors); and (B) an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement dated December 15, 2021, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the “Trust Agreement”), to allow the trustee to liquidate the Trust Account at such time as may be determined by the Company as set forth in the Charter Amendment. In connection with the Meeting the holders of 9,239,192 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.4762 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $96,791,644. Following the redemptions, 15,630,150 shares of redeemable Class A common stock remained outstanding. As of March 31, 2024, we recorded $967,916 of excise tax liability calculated as 1% of the shares redeemed on September 19, 2023.

 

Between September 7 and 15, 2023, we entered into non-redemption agreements with unaffiliated third parties in exchange for each such party agreeing not to redeem public shares in connection with the Meeting that was held on September 19, 2023. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem public shares, the Company has agreed to issue or cause to be issued an aggregate of 1,610,000 Class A Shares at the time of the Company’s initial business combination. In addition, the Company has agreed that it will not utilize any funds from the Trust Account to pay any potential excise taxes that may become due pursuant to the IR Act upon a redemption of public shares, including in connection with the Charter Amendment, an initial business combination or liquidation of the Company.

 

Following the Meeting on September 19, 2023, the Sponsor determined to convert all the outstanding shares of Class B common stock to shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Class B Conversion”). Notwithstanding the Class B Conversion, the Sponsor, as well as the Company’s officers and directors, will not be entitled to receive any funds held in the Trust Account with respect to any shares of Class A common stock issued to such holders as a result of the Class B Conversion, and no additional amounts will be deposited into the Trust Account in respect of shares of Class A common stock held by the Sponsor.

  

On January 19, 2024, we held a special meeting of our stockholders (the “January Meeting”) at which the Company’s stockholders approved (A) an amendment (the “January Charter Amendment”) to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from January 19, 2024 to December 20, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors); and (B) an amendment (the “January Trust Amendment”) to the Trust Agreement to allow the trustee to liquidate the Trust Account at such time as may be determined by the Company as set forth in the January Charter Amendment. In connection with the January Meeting the holders of 10,872,266 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.6224 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $115,489,643. Following the redemptions, 4,757,884 shares of redeemable Class A common stock remain outstanding.

  

Between January 9 and 17, 2024, we entered into non-redemption agreements with unaffiliated third parties in exchange for each such party agreeing not to redeem public shares in connection with the January Meeting. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem public shares, we agreed to issue or cause to be issued an aggregate of 1,112,500 Class A Shares at the time of our initial business combination.

 

Results of Operations

 

We have neither engaged in any operations (other than searching for a Business Combination after the Public Offering) nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from inception through March 31, 2024 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Public Offering, described below, and, after the Public Offering, identifying a target company for an initial Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination, at the earliest. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on the marketable securities held in the Trust Account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we had a net loss of $824,042, which consisted of interest income earned on investments held in Trust Account of $1,020,688, offset by general and administrative expenses of $726,755, non-redemption agreement expense of $838,825, interest expense of $68,565 and provision for income tax of $210,585.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we had net income of $1,267,859, which consisted of interest income earned on investments held in Trust Account of $2,696,526, offset by general and administrative expenses of $872,897 and provision for income taxes of $555,770.

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

On December 20, 2021, we consummated the Public Offering of 22,000,000 units generating gross proceeds of $220,000,000. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. On January 11, 2022, the underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option, resulting in the sale on January 14, 2022 of an additional 2,869,342 units for total gross proceeds of $28,693,420.

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 890,000 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $8,900,000. On January 14, 2022, the underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option, resulting in the sale of an additional 86,081 Private Placement Units to our Sponsor for total gross proceeds of $860,810, bringing the total aggregate gross proceeds of the Private Placement to $9,760,810.

 

We incurred $14,181,568 in IPO transaction costs, including $4,973,868 of underwriting fees ($660,000 of which was reimbursed to us to pay the advisory fee due to CCM), $8,704,270 of deferred underwriting fees and $503,430 of other offering costs.

 

Following the Public Offering, the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of the Private Placement Units, a total of $251,180,354 ($10.10 per Unit) was initially placed in the 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 certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by us, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below.

 

As of March 31, 2024, we had $136,954 in cash held outside of trust and a working capital deficit of $4,958,974. Prior to the completion of our Public Offering, our liquidity needs had been satisfied through a capital contribution from the Sponsor of $25,000 and a loan to us of up to $300,000 by our Sponsor under an unsecured promissory note which was repaid on December 31, 2021.

 

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). If we complete the initial Business Combination, we expect to repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. In the event that the initial 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 the Trust Account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. The Sponsor originally agreed to loan us up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 under the Promissory Note. On October 16, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor amended the Promissory Note to increase the aggregate principal amount of the Promissory Note from $1,500,000 to $3,000,000. (described in Note 5). At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $2,425,000 and $2,025,000 of such Working Capital Loans were outstanding, respectively.

 

As of March 31, 2024, we had cash, investments and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $51,171,024. On September 19, 2023, we held the Meeting at which the Company’s stockholders approved (A) the Charter Amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from September 20, 2023 to January 19, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors); and (B) the Trust Amendment to the Trust Agreement to allow the trustee to liquidate the Trust Account at such time as may be determined by the Company as set forth in the Charter Amendment. In connection with the Meeting the holders of 9,239,192 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.4762 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $96,791,644. On January 19, 2024, we held a special meeting of our stockholders (the “January Meeting”) at which the Company’s stockholders approved (A) an amendment (the “January Charter Amendment”) to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate its initial business combination from January 19, 2024 to December 20, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors); and (B) an amendment (the “January Trust Amendment”) to the Trust Agreement to allow the trustee to liquidate the Trust Account at such time as may be determined by the Company as set forth in the January Charter Amendment. In connection with the January Meeting the holders of 10,872,266 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.6224 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $115,489,643. Following the redemptions, 4,757,884 shares of redeemable Class A common stock remain outstanding.

 

 

On January 3, 2024, we entered into a subscription agreement with Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund (“Polar”), Emerald ESG Sponsor LLC (“ESG Sponsor”), Emerald ESG Advisors, LLC (“ESG Advisors”) and Emerald ESG Funding, LLC (“ESG Funding” and collectively with ESG Sponsor and ESG Advisors, the “Sponsors”), to cover working capital requirements of the Company and costs related to a possible extension of the Company’s trust liquidation date (the “Subscription Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Subscription Agreement, Polar agreed to contribute up to $550,000 to ESG Funding (the “Capital Contribution”). An initial capital call of $350,000 took place within five (5) business days of the signing of the Subscription Agreement, and a second capital call of $200,000 took place on April 2, 2024.

 

The Capital Contribution shall be repaid to Polar by ESG Funding upon the Company’s closing of an initial business combination (the “Closing”). In consideration of the Capital Contribution, the Company has agreed to issue, or to cause the surviving entity following the Closing (the “Surviving Company”) to issue, 1.0 share of common stock of the Surviving Company (“Common Stock”) for each dollar of the Capital Contribution funded as of or prior to the Closing, which shares shall be subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies and shall be registered as part of any registration statement to be filed in connection with the Closing or, if no such registration statement is filed in connection with the Closing, pursuant to the first registration statement to be filed by the Company or the Surviving Company following the Closing. The Capital Contribution is non-interest bearing and shall be repaid by ESG Funding (upon receipt of funds from the Company) to, and at the election of, Polar (i) in Common Stock, at a rate of 1.0 share of Common Stock for each ten dollars ($10.00) of the Capital Contribution funded as of the Closing or (ii) in cash.

 

If the Company liquidates without consummating an initial business combination, any amounts remaining in the Sponsors’ or the Company’s cash accounts, not including the Company’s trust account, following repayment of all liabilities and wind-down expenses, will be paid promptly to Polar, up to the amount of the Capital Contribution funded. Upon certain events of default under the Subscription Agreement, the Company shall issue to Polar 0.1 shares of Common Stock (“Default Shares”) for each dollar of the Capital Contribution funded as of the date of such default, and for each month thereafter until such default is cured, subject to certain limitations provided for therein.

 

We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account to complete our Business Combination. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes. During the period ended March 31, 2024, we withdrew $13,170 of the interest income from the Trust Account to pay franchise and income taxes. 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.

 

We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.

 

However, if our estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a 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 consummation of our Business Combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our Business Combination. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following our Business Combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.

 

Going Concern

 

In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” we have until December 20, 2024 to consummate a Business Combination. It is uncertain whether we will be able to consummate a Business Combination by this time. If a Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution. We have determined that the liquidity condition and mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Management intends to consummate a Business Combination prior to December 20, 2024. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should we be required to liquidate after December 20, 2024.

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

 

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2024. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Other than the below, we do not have any long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or long-term liabilities.

  

We entered into an administrative services agreement pursuant to which we pay the Sponsor or its designee a monthly fee of $30,000 for office space, administrative and shared personnel support services to the Company. We began incurring these fees on December 16, 2021 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of the Business Combination and our liquidation. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we incurred $90,000 and $90,000 for the administrative support services. As of March 31, 2024, $376,451 of the administrative support fees are in accrued expenses in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.

  

The holders of the founder shares, private placement units (including securities contained therein) and units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (including securities contained therein) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to the Class A common stock). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

We granted the underwriter of the Public Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,300,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On January 14, 2022, the underwriter purchased an additional 2,869,342 Units pursuant to the over-allotment option.

 

The underwriter earned a cash underwriting discount of two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds of the Units sold in the Public Offering and pursuant to the over-allotment option, or $4,973,868. Additionally, the underwriter was entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Units sold in the Public Offering and pursuant to the over-allotment option, or $8,704,270. The deferred underwriting discount was to become payable to the underwriter 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. On October 18, 2023, we entered into an agreement with the underwriter in which the underwriter waived any entitlement it may have to the deferred underwriting discount in respect of any Business Combination. As a result, the Company recorded $8,704,270 to additional paid-in capital in relation to the waiver of the deferred underwriter fee in the accompanying condensed balance sheets.

 

 

We engaged Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC (“CCM”), to provide financial advisory services in connection with the Public Offering. We paid CCM a fee in an amount equal to 0.3% of the aggregate proceeds of the Public Offering (excluding the proceeds of the exercise of the over-allotment option) net of underwriter’s expenses, upon the closing of the Public Offering. We also intend to engage CCM to act as an advisor in connection with the Business Combination for which it will earn an advisory fee of 0.525% of the proceeds of the Public Offering (excluding the proceeds of the exercise of the over-allotment option) payable at closing of the Business Combination. CCM will also be entitled to an advisory fee equal to 0.825% of the aggregate proceeds of the exercise of the over-allotment option, payable at the closing of the Business Combination. The underwriter had agreed to reimburse us for the fee to CCM as it becomes payable out of the underwriting commission. Accordingly, a reimbursement receivable and deferred advisory fee of $1,155,000 had been reflected in the accompanying condensed balance sheets. On October 18, 2023, we entered into an agreement with the underwriter in which the underwriter waived any entitlement it may have to the deferred underwriting discount in respect of any Business Combination. As a result, we reversed the reimbursement receivable and recognized $1,155,000 of advisory fee expenses in the accompanying condensed statements of operations.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of the condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires 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.

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. We have identified the following as our critical accounting estimates:

 

Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

 

We account for our Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A 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 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 in temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our Class A common stock sold in the IPO and over-allotment feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 4,757,884 and 15,630,150 shares of Class A common stock are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our condensed balance sheets, respectively.

 

We recognize changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying value of 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 Class A common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit. This method would view the end of the reporting period as if it were also the redemption date for the security.

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

 

We have two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Accretion associated with the redeemable shares of Class A common stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. We have not considered the effect of the warrants in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share, if any, since their exercise is contingent upon future events. As a result, diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock is the same as basic net income per share of common stock.

 

 

Recent Accounting Standards

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our condensed financial statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer (our “Certifying Officers”), the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Certifying Officers concluded that as of March 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this Quarterly Report include the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

On December 20, 2021, we consummated the Public Offering of 22,000,000 Units. The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $220,000,000. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as the sole book-running manager for the Public Offering. The securities in the Public Offering were registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-261254). The SEC declared the registration statement effective on December 15, 2021.

 

Simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 890,000 Private Placement Units to the Sponsor at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating total proceeds of $8,900,000. Each placement unit consists of one placement share and one-half of one private placement warrant to purchase one share of our Class A common stock exercisable at $11.50, subject to adjustment. The issuance was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants underlying the Units sold in the Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants are not transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.

 

On January 11, 2022, the underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option, resulting in the sale of an additional 2,869,342 Units for gross proceeds of $28,693,420. In connection with the underwriter’s partial exercise of its over-allotment option, the Company also consummated the sale of an additional 86,081 Private Placement Units to the Sponsor at $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating total proceeds of $860,810. The issuance of the Private Placement Units was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

Of the gross proceeds received from the Public Offering, the exercise of the over-allotment option and the sale of the Private Placement Units, an aggregate of $251,180,354 was initially placed in the Trust Account. In connection with the Meeting, the holders of 9,239,192 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.4762 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $96,791,644. In connection with the January Meeting, the holders of 10,872,266 shares of redeemable Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.6224 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $115,489,643.

 

We paid a total of $4,973,868 in underwriting discounts and commissions and $503,430 for other costs and expenses related to the Public Offering. In addition, the underwriter agreed to defer $8,704,270 in underwriting discounts and commissions , which would be payable only upon consummation of an initial business combination. On October 18, 2023, we entered into an agreement with the underwriter in which the underwriter waived any entitlement it may have to the deferred underwriting discount in respect of any business combination.

 

For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our Public Offering, see Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q.

 

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

  

No.		Description of Exhibit
10.1		Subscription Agreement, dated January 3, 2024, by, between and among Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund, FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp., Emerald ESG Sponsor LLC, Emerald ESG Advisors, LLC, Emerald ESG Funding, LLC and, solely for the purposes of Section 1.5.2, Cohen Circle, LLC.(1)
31.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*		Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE*		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*		Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

*	Filed herewith.

(1)	Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2024

 

 

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.

 

	FTAC EMERALD ACQUISITION CORP.
Date: May 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Bracebridge H. Young, Jr.
	Name:	Bracebridge H. Young, Jr.
	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Doug Listman
	Name:	Doug Listman
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

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