UNITED STATES
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. The statements contained in this report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this report may include, for example, statements about our:
● | ability to complete our initial business combination; |
● | success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; |
● | officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements; |
● | potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination; |
● | pool of prospective target businesses; |
● | the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential investment opportunities; |
● | potential change in control if we acquire one or more target businesses for stock; |
● | the potential liquidity and trading of our securities; |
● | the lack of a market for our securities; |
● | use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; or |
● | financial performance following our initial public offering. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws and/or if and when management knows or has a reasonable basis on which to conclude that previously disclosed projections are no longer reasonably attainable.
Certain disclosures and statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on the possibility that the KM QUAD Business Combination (as defined below) is not consummated. As previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed on February 14, 2025, on February 14, 2025, we entered into a Merger Agreement (the “Agreement”), by and among Quetta Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“QETA”), Quad Global Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of QETA (“Purchaser”), Quad Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser (“Merger Sub,” together with QETA, Purchaser, the “Purchaser Parties”), KM QUAD, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“QUAD”), certain shareholders of QUAD (“Principal Shareholders”), and Mr. Junan Ke, as representative of the Principal Shareholders of QUAD. The Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, the merger shall be consummated (the “KM QUAD Business Combination”), and in accordance with the terms and conditions as further specified under the section entitled “Initial Business Combination” below.
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PART I
ITEM 1. | BUSINESS |
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”), references to the “Company,” “Quetta,” “QETA,” and to “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Quetta Acquisition Corporation.
Introduction
We are a blank check company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on May 1, 2023 for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this report as our initial business combination. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited, although the company intends to prioritize the evaluation of businesses in Asia.
In the event the KM QUAD Business Combination is not consummated, we will continue to identify a prospective target business.
Context and Competitive Advantage
We will seek to leverage our management team’s proprietary network of relationships with corporate executives, private equity, venture and growth capital funds, investment banking firms, consultants, family offices, and large corporations in order to source, acquire, and support the operations of the business combination target. We believe our team’s extensive and applicable experience investing in and operating businesses in Asia and North America will make us a preferred partner and allow us to source high-quality combination targets. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular geographic region or industry, although the Company intends to focus on operating businesses in Asia.
Our team consists of experienced professionals and senior operating executives who bring a unique background and skill set that will be attractive to leading Asia-based companies. We believe that we will be able to leverage the following competitive strengths in identifying, structuring, and consummating a business combination:
● | An extensive network across several industries in Asia; which includes longstanding relationships with leading executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and investment bankers in the Asia region and thus will provide us with access to proprietary investment opportunities and strong deal flow in our target sectors; |
● | Structuring and execution capabilities; through their respective careers, our team has extensive experience in identifying, evaluating and executing investments in companies at various stages of their life cycle. We believe that the combined and complementary expertise of our team will allow us to structure and execute a highly attractive transaction; |
● | U.S. and Asia cross-border deal experience; cross-border transactions require industry and local regulatory knowledge, rigorous due diligence and structuring creativity. Our team has significant transaction experience completing large-scale domestic and cross-border transactions, involving acquirers and targets located across the U.S. and Asia. |
Our Sponsor is Yocto Investments LLC and our manager is Ms. Chen Chen, who is the wife of our chief executive officer. We will seek to capitalize on the collective deal-making experience and business connections of our management team.
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Hui Chen has been our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since May 2023. He has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since December 2021. Mr. Chen is a cross-industry expert in computer science and law. Mr. Chen founded Law Offices of Hui Chen & Associates, PC in 2012, a New York-based law firm. Mr. Chen focuses his practice on patent prosecution, copyright infringement, and other general intellectual property matters. Mr. Chen has also been an adjunct professor at Hofstra University since September 2019, where he instructs multiple undergraduate computer science programming courses in Visual C++. Before joining Hofstra University, Mr. Chen was an adjunct associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Pace University, Touro College, and Saint Francis College between 2000 and 2018 and was a full-time professor at Technical Career of Institute, College of Technology from December 2011 to December 2017. Before forming his law office in 2012, Mr. Chen worked for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Chen worked as an Oracle developer at eBay, Inc. from February 2008 to May 2015. Mr. Chen worked at IBM Global Services, where he was a solo back-end developer in designing and building the database and back-end process for DHS Inspection Application, from November 2007 to March 2008, and a programmer analyst between March 1998 and May 2004. Mr. Chen also worked at MultiPlan Inc. between June 2005 and February 2008 as a technical lead where he participated in designing new application systems and partnered with external vendors in coding and implementing new systems by using Java and Oracle PL/SQL. Before that, Mr. Chen worked at Pepsi Cola Inc. from January 2004 to June 2005, where he designed, coded, implemented, and documented a growth forecasting system and developed an automatic purchasing system. Mr. Chen received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1992, a Bachelor’s degree in HVAC from Technical Career Institutes in 1997, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Pace University in 2000, and his J.D. degree from Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University in 2010.
Robert L. Labbe has been our Chief Financial Officer since May 2023. He serves as one of our directors as of the date of this report. He has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer and director of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since December 2021. Mr. Labbe is a real estate veteran and real estate finance attorney licensed in California and New York with over thirty (30) years of experience in real estate. Mr. Labbe also has been a manager of MCAP Realty Advisors, LLC, a real estate advisor company, since January 2010. Mr. Labbe has been the general counsel of Global Premier Development Inc. and Global Premier America, LLC, real estate development companies, from March 2012 to December 2021. Mr. Labbe was a co-founder, general counsel, and managing director of Lenders Direct Capital, a wholesale lender, and its retail affiliate Lenders Republic Financial, a nationwide mortgage banker, from May 2003 to December 2007. Mr. Labbe was also a co-founder and partner at Mazda Butler LLP, a commercial and real estate law firm in California, from January 2003 to December 2007. Mr. Labbe co-founded First Allegiance Financial, a national specialty finance company, where he was the president and chairman from September 1996 to December 1998. First Allegiance Financial was acquired by City Holding Company, a financial holding company, for approximately $22 million in 1997. Mr. Labbe received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Law (B.C.L.) and Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) from McGill University in 1982 and 1983, respectively. Mr. Labbe also received his Diplome d’Etude Collegiale St. Lawrence College (Quebec) in 1978. Mr. Labbe is a licensed broker with the California Department of Real Estate since 1990. Mr. Labbe also holds the UC Irvine Extension Light Construction and Development Management Program Certificate.
Brandon Miller has been serving as one of our independent directors since October 2023. He has been serving as a member of the board of directors of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since April 2022. Mr. Miller has been the managing partner at Aspect Property Management LLC, a property management company in Connecticut, since January 2015. Before joining Aspect Property Management LLC, Mr. Miller spent a decade in the consulting industry at Matté & Company, a private and public sector consulting company from January 2005 to January 2015, where he offered executive recruiting, strategic planning, leadership, and corporate consulting services. Mr. Miller was a corporate controller at Corporate Dining Solutions, a corporate catering company, from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Miller is presently a certified manager of community associations (“CMCA”) and an association management specialist (“AMS”). Mr. Miller received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Bridgeport in 1986 and studied in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University from 1980 to 1983.
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Daniel M. McCabe has been serving as one of our independent directors since October 2023. He has been serving as a member of the board of directors of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since April 2022. Mr. McCabe has been admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of Connecticut since 1974. Mr. McCabe’s legal career began as an assistant clerk of the Superior Court at Stamford from 1974 to 1976, and since then he has had his own legal practice, Daniel McCabe LLC, a general practice law firm in Connecticut founded in 1982. His work includes rendering legal advice to individuals and business entities concerning commercial transactions, business organizations, and complex litigation. Mr. McCabe is also an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Sacred Heart University. Mr. McCabe previously was the Chairman of the Stamford Housing Authority, Co-chair of the Stamford Reapportionment Committee, Member of the Board of Parole for the State of Connecticut, Chairman of the Republican Town Committee of the City of Stamford and Counsel for the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority. He also served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Stamford where he held the position of chief legal counsel and advisor to Mayor Stanley Esposito of the City of Stamford. Mr. McCabe obtained his Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University Law School in 1974.
Qi Gong has been serving as one of our independent directors since April 3, 2024. Ms. Gong has enjoyed a diverse career in both China and the United States across various domains. In March 2024, Ms. Gong founded the American Wall Street Listed Group Inc., a consulting company, and has been serving as its Chief Executive Officer since such time. Ms. Gong was also the founder and has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for American Information Technology Inc., an information technology consulting company, since September 2022. She was also the founder and has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for U.S. China Health Products Inc., a marketing consulting company, since December 2021. In addition, Ms. Gong founded the U.S.-China Service Inc., a wealth management consulting company, in July 2018 and has been serving as its Chief Executive Officer since such time. She has been serving as a member of the board of directors of Yotta since April 2024.
Since our initial public offering (the “IPO”), which was consummated on October 11, 2023, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates. We presently have no revenue and have had losses since inception from incurring formation and operating costs. We have relied upon the sale of our securities and loans from the Sponsor and other parties to fund our operations. Our current activities aim to consummate the KM QUAD Business Combination. We will not limit our search of potential targets for the initial business combination. In particular we are interested in exploring the possibility of establishing a digital assets market in Asia.
The past performance of our management team, or their respective affiliates, is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) in the event the KM QUAD Business Combination is not consummated, that we will be able to identify another suitable candidate for our initial business combination. No member of our management team has been an officer or director of a special purpose acquisition corporation in the past. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their respective affiliates’ performance as indicative of our future performance.
Our officers and directors may become officers or directors of another special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities intended to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Our Business Strategy and Acquisition Criteria
In the event the KM QUAD Business Combination is not consummated, we will continue to search for a target company. We intend to focus our efforts on identifying and completing our initial business combination with a company that aligns with our team’s experiences, expertise and network of relationships. Our business strategy is focused on potential acquisition targets that exhibit compelling long-term growth potential and highly defensible market positions. Our experience with Asia is a key differentiator for us compared to other blank check companies, the majority of which we believe are seeking business combinations exclusively in the U.S. We believe this will allow us to generate a truly differentiated pipeline of acquisition opportunities and lead to executing a business combination with an attractive target company more quickly, efficiently, and under better terms than our competitors.
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We believe that targeting companies in Asia are compelling because there is a significant pool of high-quality private companies that could benefit from going public in the United States. We expect that the financial technology sector will continue to have a strong growth trajectory due to recent trends including increasing digitization, the adoption and advancement of new technology, and changes in consumer habits. We believe Asia in particular represents a compelling market environment with significant growth opportunities and favorable trends within the financial technology industry. We believe that the COVID-19 pandemic and Asia’s growing market has enabled consumer adoption of financial technology to accelerate, creating massive opportunities for our team to capitalize on. Given the high level of business formation and development in Asia, and the number of high-quality emerging companies seeking access to the US capital markets in our network, we believe that we will be able to engage with many leading and Asia-based companies interested in a business combination.
We have identified the following general criteria and guidelines as we evaluate prospective target companies.
● | Large underpenetrated markets with favorable industry dynamics. We intend to actively look for suitable investment opportunities with an enterprise value of approximately $250 million to $1 billion. We will prioritize targets that are already benefiting from or capitalizing on trends found within their respective sectors. |
● | Strong management team. The strength of the management team will be an important component in our review process. We will seek to partner with a visionary, experienced and professional management team that can drive growth, strategic decision making and long-term value creation. |
● | Defensible market position with sustainable competitive advantage. We intend to favor targets that have a strong competitive advantage or are category leaders in their respective verticals. We will target companies that have strong intellectual property, technology, or brand equity within their respective sectors and that can be further monetized on a global basis. |
● | Asia-domiciled but operating on a global basis. We will seek targets that have already established a strong operating history within Asia, but which possess a competitive edge to expand into new geographic regions where similar needs exist. |
● | Benefit from being a public company. We intend to only acquire businesses that would benefit from being publicly traded in the United States, including access to broader sources of capital and expanded market awareness. This improved access to capital could allow the targets to accelerate growth, pursue new projects, retain and hire employees, and expand into new geographies or businesses. |
While we intend to use these criteria in evaluating the attractiveness of potential business combination opportunities, we may ultimately decide to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria and guidelines in stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as the review of financial and other information which will be made available to us. We will also utilize our operational and capital allocation experience. Our acquisition criteria, due diligence processes, and value creation methods are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors, and criteria that our management may deem relevant.
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Yotta Acquisition Corporation
On March 8, 2021, our management co-founded Yotta Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Yotta”), a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purposes of effecting a business combination. On April 22, 2022, Yotta consummated its initial public offering of 11,500,000 units (including 1,500,000 units issued upon the full exercise of the over-allotment option), each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-tenth (1/10) of one right, for an offering price of $10.00 per unit. Its units, common stock and rights are currently traded on Nasdaq under symbols “YOTAU”, “YOTA” and “YOTAR,” respectively.
On October 24, 2022, Yotta entered into a certain merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among NaturalShrimp Incorporated (“NaturalShrimp”), a Nevada corporation, Yotta, and Yotta Merger Sub, Inc. (“MergerSub”), a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Yotta. At the closing of the merger in consideration, Yotta will issue 17.5 million shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to the former security holders of Yotta. Following the closing of the merger, the former security holders of NaturalShrimp will be entitled to receive up to 10,000,000 additional shares of Yotta’s common stock if, following the closing of the merger, NaturalShrimp meets or exceeds either of two annual revenue thresholds for each of the fiscal years ending on March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025. After the closing of the merger, if NaturalShrimp meets or exceeds $15,000,000 in revenue (per its audited financial statements) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, then Yotta will issue 5,000,000 shares of Yotta’s common stock to the former security holders of NaturalShrimp. If NaturalShrimp meets or exceeds $30,000,000 in revenue (per its audited financial statements) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, then Yotta will issue 5,000,000 shares of its common stock to the former security holders of NaturalShrimp.
At a special meeting of stockholders held on April 19, 2023, Yotta’s stockholders approved Yotta to enter into an amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trust Amendment”) dated as of April 19, 2023. Pursuant to the Trust Amendment, Yotta has the right to extend time to complete its business combination (the “Business Combination Period”) under the Trust Agreement for a period of 12 months from April 22, 2023 to April 22, 2024 and to the extent Yotta’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Business Combination Period, by depositing $120,000 for each such one-month extension into Yotta’s trust account. Yotta filed an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State on April 19, 2023 giving Yotta the right to extend the Business Combination Period from April 22, 2023 to April 22, 2024.
On April 21, 2023, May 17, 2023 and June 20, 2023, Yotta deposited $120,000 each time (an aggregate of $360,000) into its trust account in order to extend the period of time it has to complete a business combination for an additional one (1) month period, respectively. The purpose of the extensions is to provide more time for Yotta to complete a business combination.
By a letter dated August 10, 2023 (the “Termination Letter”), Yotta informed NaturalShrimp that it was terminating the Merger Agreement. The termination of the Merger Agreement was due to breaches by NaturalShrimp of its obligations thereunder including, but not limited to, NaturalShrimp’s obligation to share the costs associated with the extension of the deadline by which Yotta must complete an initial business combination. Although the payments were to be shared equally, NaturalShrimp failed to provide its portion despite being notified of its obligation to do so.
NaturalShrimp has not responded to the Termination Letter but previously sent a notification that it was terminating the Merger Agreement. Yotta rejected that purported termination as it does not believe NaturalShrimp has a legal basis under the Merger Agreement to terminate it. Moreover, pursuant to Section 10.2(b) of the Merger Agreement, NaturalShrimp was not authorized to terminate the Merger Agreement when it was in breach of its terms. Yotta also included in the Termination Letter a demand for the $3 million termination fee due to it under the terms of the Merger Agreement.
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On September 22, 2023, and August 22, 2024, Yotta held special meetings of stockholders (the “September Special Meeting” and the “August Special Meeting,” respectively). During the September Special Meeting, stockholders approved the extension of period Yotta has to consummate a business combination from September 22, 2023, to August 22, 2024, without the requirement to deposit additional funds into the Trust Account. In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the special meeting, an aggregate of 3,358,759 shares with redemption value of approximately $35,797,997 (or $10.66 per share) of Yotta’s common stock were tendered for redemption; the entire amount was paid to the redeemed public stockholders on October 16, 2023.
During the August Special Meeting, stockholders approved the extension of period Yotta has to consummate a business combination from August 22, 2024 to October 22, 2025 on a monthly basis by depositing an amount equal to $0.04 multiplied by the number of shares of common stock sold to the public in the IPO and that remain outstanding after giving effect to the shares that were redeemed in connection with the August Special Meeting. In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the August Special Meeting, an aggregate of 262,231 shares with redemption value of approximately $2,956,393.95 (or $11.27 per share) of Yotta’s common stock were tendered for redemption. Yotta subsequently deposited $18,564.20 into the Trust Account per month to extend the date by which Yotta can complete an initial business combination until November 22, 2024 (or up to October 22, 2025 if the business combination period is extended in accordance with the terms of Yotta’s charter).
On August 20, 2024, Yotta entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Yotta, Yotta Merger Sub Inc., a Maryland corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yotta (“Merger Sub”), and DRIVEiT Financial Auto Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “DRIVEiT”). The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the following transactions will occur, and in accordance with Maryland General Corporation Law. Merger Sub will merge with and into DRIVEiT, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease, and DRIVEiT will be the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yotta. Yotta will be renamed “DRIVEiT Financial Auto Group, Inc.” The Business Combination is expected to be consummated after obtaining the required approval by the stockholders of Yotta and DRIVEiT and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions.
The total consideration to be paid at the Closing of the Business Combination by Yotta to DRIVEiT security holders will be an amount equal to $100,000,000 (“Merger Consideration”). The Merger Consideration will be payable in shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Yotta, valued at $10 per share.
The board of directors of Yotta has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated thereby and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Merger Agreement and related matters by the stockholders of Yotta.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, DRIVEiT deposited $1,100,000 into Sponsor’s operating account to repay indebtedness owed to the Sponsor of Yotta and $400,000 into Yotta’s operating account to cover merger related transaction costs.
Certain member of our management are officers and/or directors of Yotta, including Mr. Hui Chen serves as Chairman and CEO, Mr. Robert L. Labbe serves as the CFO and director, and each of Mr. Brandon Miller, Mr. Daniel M. McCabe and Ms. Qi Gong serves as an independent director, and each of the foregoing own fiduciary duties under Delaware general corporate law to Yotta. For more details about our management’s conflict of interests, see “Management-Conflicts of Interest” of this annual report on Form 10-K.
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Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct an extensive due diligence review which may encompass, as applicable and among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities and a review of financial and other information about the target and its industry. We will also utilize our management team’s operational and capital planning experience as a part of our analysis of any potential target.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers, or directors nor making the initial business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, officers, or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with an initial business combination target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers, or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Our directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. More specifically, all of our officers and directors have fiduciary and contractual duties to Yotta Acquisition Corporation (“Yotta”), which executed a definitive merger agreement for its business combination on August 20, 2024. Yotta will have priority over us in connection with potential target businesses identified by its management. These conflicts of interests may limit the number of potential targets that our management presents to us for purposes of completing a business combination. For more details about our management’s conflict of interests, see “Conflicts of Interest” on page 28. If Yotta decides to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. Subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Delaware law, none of the members of our management team who are also employed by, or directors of, our Sponsor or its affiliates have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. Our Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. Our management team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our Sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Delaware law and any other applicable fiduciary duties.
Certain of our directors and officers currently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity subject to his or her fiduciary duties. If any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us.
No members of our management team have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or a director of the company. Members of our management team may be required to present potential business combinations to other entities to whom they have fiduciary duties before they present such opportunities to us. Any knowledge or presentation of such opportunities may therefore present conflicts of interest.
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Initial Business Combination
Initially, we have nine (9) months from the closing of our IPO to consummate our initial business combination (“Combination Period”). If we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within nine (9) months from the closing of our IPO, we may, but are not obligated to, if requested by our Sponsor or its affiliates, extend Combination Period up to two times by an additional three months each time for a total of up to fifteen (15) months by depositing $600,000 (or $690,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in connection with each such extension into our trust account (the “Paid Extension Period”). In addition, we will be entitled to an automatic six-month extension to complete a business combination (the “Automatic Extension Period”) if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial business combination during the Combination Period or Paid Extension Period. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us or necessary to pay our taxes, and then seek to liquidate and dissolve. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the public and private rights will expire and will be worthless.
On October 18, 2024, the Company entered into a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) with QUAD, regarding a potential business combination (the “Proposed Transaction”). The LOI is non-binding and no agreement providing for any Proposed Transaction or any other transaction or the participation by either party therein will be deemed to exist unless and until definitive agreements have been executed. As a result of the execution of the LOI, the deadline by which the Company must complete its initial business combination has been extended to January 10, 2025.
On January 10, 2025, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “January Special Meeting”). During the January Special Meeting, stockholders approved the proposal to amend Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Trust Agreement to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination from January 10, 2025 to October 10, 2026 (thirty six (36) months from the consummation of the IPO), on a month-by-month basis, up to a total of twenty-one (21) times, by depositing $60,000 into the Company’s trust account for each such one-month extension. Additionally, stockholders approved the proposal to include any entity with its principal business operations in the geographical regions of the People’s Republic of China, the Hong Kong special administrative region, and the Macau special administrative region in the Company’s acquisition criteria in its search for a prospective target business for its business combination.
The Company has until 36 months (or until October 10, 2026) from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination. In addition, in the event that the Company fails to timely make a payment for any given month during the twenty-one (21) month period the Company elects to make an extension, the Company shall have a period of forty five (45) days to pay any applicable past due payment, which shall be calculated to be equal to the principal of the past due payment, plus any accrued but unpaid interest in the amount of three percent (3%) (the “Cure Period”). If the Company fails to make any applicable past due payment during the Cure Period, then the Company shall immediately cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up, and liquidate and dissolve with the same effect as if the Company failed to complete a business combination within thirty-six (36) months from the consummation of the IPO.
As previously disclosed in the Company’s current reports on Forms 8-K filed on February 14, 2025, on February 14, 2025, we entered into an Agreement, by and among QETA, Purchaser, Merger Sub, QUAD, Principal Shareholders, and Mr. Junan Ke, as representative of the Principal Shareholders of QUAD. The Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, the KM QUAD Business Combination shall be consummated, and in accordance with the terms and conditions as further specified under this section entitled “Initial Business Combination”.
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Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, QETA will merge with and into Purchaser, resulting in all QETA stockholders becoming shareholders of the Purchaser as described under the below section titled “Redomestication Merger.” Concurrently therewith, Merger Sub will merge with and into QUAD, resulting in Purchaser acquiring 100% of the issued and outstanding equity securities of QUAD (the “Acquisition Merger”). Upon the closing of the Acquisition Merger, the ordinary shares of Purchaser issued shall consist of class A ordinary shares (“Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares”) and class B ordinary shares (“Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares,” together with Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, “Purchaser Ordinary Shares”) where each Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters subject to a vote at general and special meetings of the post-closing company and each Purchaser Class B Ordinary Share shall be entitled to 10 votes on all matters subject to a vote at general and special meetings of the post-closing company.
The aggregate consideration to be paid to QUAD shareholders for the Acquisition Merger is $300 million, payable in newly issued Purchaser Ordinary Shares (the “Closing Payment Shares”), valued at $10.00 per share.
Furthermore, the parties agreed that immediately following the closing the Acquisition Merger, Purchaser’s board of directors will consist of five (5) directors. QETA will designate, or cause to be designated, one (1) director, who shall be deemed independent in accordance with Nasdaq requirements and QUAD will designate, or cause to be designated, four (4) of the directors, two (2) of which shall be deemed independent in accordance with Nasdaq requirements. The officers of QUAD shall continue to serve as officers of the post-closing company.
At the Redomestication Effective Time, QETA will be merged with and into Purchaser, the separate corporate existence of QETA will cease and Purchaser will continue as the surviving corporation (the “Redomestication Merger”). In connection with the Redomestication Merger, QETA’s issued and outstanding units shall separate into its individual components of one share of common stock and one-tenth (1/10) of one right, and all units shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled, and each of QETA’s issued and outstanding securities will be converted into an equivalent amount of Purchaser’s securities: (i) Each share of QETA common stock will be converted automatically into one Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share; and (ii) Each right to acquire one share of QETA common stock will be converted automatically into one right to acquire one Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share. At the Closing of the Mergers, all Purchaser Rights shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist. The holders of Purchaser Rights instead will receive one Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share in exchange for the cancellation of each Purchaser Right.
In the Agreement, QUAD and Principal Shareholders make certain representations and warranties (with certain exceptions set forth in the disclosure schedule to the Agreement) relating to, among other things: (a) proper corporate organization of QUAD and its affiliates and subsidiaries and similar corporate matters; (b) authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Agreement and other transaction documents; (c) neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the Agreement need any consent, approval, license or other action of any government authority; (d) absence of conflicts; (e) capital structure; (f) accuracy of charter documents and corporate records; (g) required consents and approvals; (h) financial information; (i) absence of certain changes or events; (j) title to assets and properties; (k) material contracts; (l) ownership of real property; (m) licenses and permits; (n) compliance with laws; (o) ownership of intellectual property; (p) customers and suppliers; (q) employment and labor matters; (r) taxes matters; (s) environmental matters; (t) that QUAD is not an investment company; (u) no Action pending or threatened against QUAD; and (v) other customary representations and warranties.
In the Agreement, Purchaser Parties make certain representations and warranties relating to, among other things: (a) proper corporate organization and similar corporate matters; (b) authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Agreement and other transaction documents; (c) no governmental authorization required; (d) Non-Contravention; (e) capital structure; (f) validity of share issuance; (g) trust fund amount as of the Effective Time; (h) validity of Nasdaq Stock Market listing; (i) SEC filing requirements and financial statements; (j) litigation; (k) compliance with laws; (l) material contracts; (m) not an investment company; and (n) other customary representations and warranties.
The parties have made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, including, among other things, covenants with respect to the conduct of QUAD and its affiliates/subsidiaries prior to the closing of the business combination. The parties have also agreed to customary “no shop” obligations.
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The Agreement also contains covenants providing for, among other things:
(a) | Purchaser shall prepare with the assistance, cooperation and commercially reasonable efforts of QUAD, and file with the SEC the Registration Statement in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Mergers, which Registration Statement will also contain a proxy statement of QETA; |
(b) | QUAD shall bear (i) 50% of the Transaction Costs incurred by QETA, excluding any amounts payable at Closing from the Trust Account, provided that QUAD’s obligation to pay such Transaction Costs incurred by QETA shall not exceed $500,000 in total; (ii) 50% of the expenses incurred by QETA in connection with maintaining ongoing public company responsibilities, provided that QUAD’s obligation to pay such Public Company Expenses incurred by QETA shall not exceed $100,000 in total; and (iii) the extension fees of QETA covering nine extensions over nine months, in the total amount of $540,000. If the Closing does not occur prior to October 10, 2025 due to a delay in obtaining approvals from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”), QUAD shall be responsible for any extension fees and other related fees incurred by QETA beyond October 10, 2025 not to exceed $100,000 per month; and |
(c) | all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing in favor of D&O indemnified persons shall survive the closing and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms to the extent permitted by applicable Law. |
Concurrently with the execution of the Agreement on February 14, 2025, the Company and certain shareholders of QUAD entered into a support agreement, pursuant to which each such shareholder agreed to vote in favor of the business combination, subject to the terms of such shareholder support agreement.
The foregoing description of the Shareholder Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.9 hereto.
Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. Our stockholders may not be provided with a copy of such opinion, nor will they be able to rely on such opinion.
We will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose, at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against, or abstain from voting on, the proposed business combination, for their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Any tender offer documents used in connection with a business combination will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules.
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Pursuant to the Nasdaq listing rules, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account), at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, which we refer to as the 80% test. We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or an independent valuation or appraisal firm with respect to satisfaction of such criteria. Our stockholders may not be provided with a copy of such opinion nor will they be able to rely on such opinion. We do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-transaction company owns less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise owns 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, or the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
The net proceeds of our IPO from the trust account upon the closing of our initial business combination may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may use the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account following the closing for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. In addition, we may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the closing of our initial business combination to be used following the closing for general corporate purposes as described above. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise. None of our Sponsor, officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, following our IPO and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we are prohibited from issuing additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve a further amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond thirty six (36) months from the consummation of the IPO or (y) amend the foregoing provisions, unless (in connection with any such amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation) we offer our public stockholders the opportunity to redeem their public shares.
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Corporate Information
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to 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 of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues exceed $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last completed fiscal year.
Facilities
We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 1185 6th, Suite 304, New York, NY 10036. The cost for this space is included in the $10,000 per-month fee payable to Yocto Investments LLC, for office space, utilities and secretarial services. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We have two executive officers. They are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration, governmental proceeding or any other legal proceeding currently pending or known to be contemplated against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 10 years preceding the date of this annual report on Form 10-K.
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ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to make disclosures under this Item.
ITEM 1B. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
Not applicable.
ITEM 1C. |
We are a special purpose acquisition company with no business operations. Since our IPO, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates. Therefore, we do not consider that we face significant cybersecurity risk.
We
have
As
of the date of this report, we have
ITEM 2. | PROPERTIES |
We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 1185 6th Avenue, Suite 304, New York, NY 10036. The cost for this space is included in the $10,000 per-month fee payable to Yocto Investments LLC, for office space, utilities and secretarial services. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.
ITEM 3. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
We may be subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of our business from time to time. We are not currently a party to any material litigation or other legal proceedings brought against us. We are also not aware of any legal proceeding, investigation or claim, or other legal exposure that has a more than remote possibility of having a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not Applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
Our units began to trade on The Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “QETA” on October 6, 2023. The common stock and rights comprising the units began separate trading on Nasdaq on November 30, 2023, under the symbols “QETA” and “QETAR”, respectively.
Holders of Record
As of April 7, 2025, there were 3,747,748 of our shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding held by six stockholders of record. The number of record holders was determined from the records of our transfer agent and does not include beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock whose shares are held in the names of various security brokers, dealers, and registered clearing agencies.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
None.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO on October 11, 2023, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) with the Sponsor of 253,045 units (the “Private Units”), generating total proceeds of $2,530,450.
The Private Units are identical to the Units sold as part of the public Units in this offering. Additionally, such initial purchasers agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Private Units or underlying securities (except in limited circumstances, as described in the Registration Statement) until the completion of the Company’s initial business combination. Such initial purchasers were granted certain demand and piggyback registration rights in connection with the purchase of the Private Units.
The Private Units were issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as the transactions did not involve a public offering.
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Use of Proceeds
On October 11, 2023, the Company consummated its initial public offering of 6,900,000 units (the “Units”), which includes full exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and one-tenth (1/10) of one right (“Right”) to receive one share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $69,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated a private placement (the “Private Placement”) in which Yocto Investments LLC (the “Sponsor”), purchased 253,045 private units (the “Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, generating total proceeds of $2,530,450. The Private Units were issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as the transactions did not involve a public offering. The Private Units are identical to the Public Units sold in the Initial Public Offering.
A total of $69,690,000 of the proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units were placed in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders. We paid a total of $1,380,000 underwriting discounts and commissions and $407,729 for other offering costs and expenses (which excludes $690,000 of representative shares at fair value) related to the Initial Public Offering. In addition, the underwriters agreed to defer $2,415,000 in underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters reimbursed $690,000 to us for the IPO related expenses.
As of December 31, 2024, a total of $73,115,355 was held in the trust account, $69,690,000 of which is the proceeds from the IPO and Private Placement and $3,425,355 of which was interest income generated by the proceeds in trust.
For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in our initial public offering, see below Part II, Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-K.
On February 14, 2025, we entered into an Agreement, by and among QETA, Purchaser, Merger Sub, QUAD, Principal Shareholders, and Mr. Junan Ke, as representative of the Principal Shareholders of QUAD. The Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, the KM QUAD Business Combination shall be consummated, and in accordance with the terms and conditions as further specified under this section entitled “Initial Business Combination”.
Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, QETA will merge with and into Purchaser, resulting in all QETA stockholders becoming shareholders of the Purchaser as described under the below section titled “Redomestication Merger.” Concurrently therewith, Merger Sub will merge with and into QUAD, resulting in Purchaser acquiring 100% of the issued and outstanding equity securities of QUAD (the “Acquisition Merger”). Upon the closing of the Acquisition Merger, the ordinary shares of Purchaser issued shall consist of class A ordinary shares (“Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares”) and class B ordinary shares (“Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares,” together with Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, “Purchaser Ordinary Shares”) where each Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters subject to a vote at general and special meetings of the post-closing company and each Purchaser Class B Ordinary Share shall be entitled to 10 votes on all matters subject to a vote at general and special meetings of the post-closing company.
The aggregate consideration to be paid to QUAD shareholders for the Acquisition Merger is $300 million, payable in newly issued Purchaser Ordinary Shares (the “Closing Payment Shares”), valued at $10.00 per share.
Furthermore, the parties agreed that immediately following the closing the Acquisition Merger, Purchaser’s board of directors will consist of five (5) directors. QETA will designate, or cause to be designated, one (1) director, who shall be deemed independent in accordance with Nasdaq requirements and QUAD will designate, or cause to be designated, four (4) of the directors, two (2) of which shall be deemed independent in accordance with Nasdaq requirements. The officers of QUAD shall continue to serve as officers of the post-closing company.
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At the Redomestication Effective Time, QETA will be merged with and into Purchaser, the separate corporate existence of QETA will cease and Purchaser will continue as the surviving corporation (the “Redomestication Merger”). In connection with the Redomestication Merger, QETA’s issued and outstanding units shall separate into its individual components of one share of common stock and one-tenth (1/10) of one right, and all units shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled, and each of QETA’s issued and outstanding securities will be converted into an equivalent amount of Purchaser’s securities: (i) Each share of QETA common stock will be converted automatically into one Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share; and (ii) Each right to acquire one share of QETA common stock will be converted automatically into one right to acquire one Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share. At the Closing of the Mergers, all Purchaser Rights shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist. The holders of Purchaser Rights instead will receive one Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share in exchange for the cancellation of each Purchaser Right.
In the Agreement, QUAD and Principal Shareholders make certain representations and warranties (with certain exceptions set forth in the disclosure schedule to the Agreement) relating to, among other things: (a) proper corporate organization of QUAD and its affiliates and subsidiaries and similar corporate matters; (b) authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Agreement and other transaction documents; (c) neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the Agreement need any consent, approval, license or other action of any government authority; (d) absence of conflicts; (e) capital structure; (f) accuracy of charter documents and corporate records; (g) required consents and approvals; (h) financial information; (i) absence of certain changes or events; (j) title to assets and properties; (k) material contracts; (l) ownership of real property; (m) licenses and permits; (n) compliance with laws; (o) ownership of intellectual property; (p) customers and suppliers; (q) employment and labor matters; (r) taxes matters; (s) environmental matters; (t) that QUAD is not an investment company; (u) no Action pending or threatened against QUAD; and (v) other customary representations and warranties.
In the Agreement, Purchaser Parties make certain representations and warranties relating to, among other things: (a) proper corporate organization and similar corporate matters; (b) authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Agreement and other transaction documents; (c) no governmental authorization required; (d) Non-Contravention; (e) capital structure; (f) validity of share issuance; (g) trust fund amount as of the Effective Time; (h) validity of Nasdaq Stock Market listing; (i) SEC filing requirements and financial statements; (j) litigation; (k) compliance with laws; (l) material contracts; (m) not an investment company; and (n) other customary representations and warranties.
The parties have made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, including, among other things, covenants with respect to the conduct of QUAD and its affiliates/subsidiaries prior to the closing of the business combination. The parties have also agreed to customary “no shop” obligations.
The Agreement also contains covenants providing for, among other things:
(a) | Purchaser shall prepare with the assistance, cooperation and commercially reasonable efforts of QUAD, and file with the SEC the Registration Statement in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Mergers, which Registration Statement will also contain a proxy statement of QETA; |
(b) | QUAD shall bear (i) 50% of the Transaction Costs incurred by QETA, excluding any amounts payable at Closing from the Trust Account, provided that QUAD’s obligation to pay such Transaction Costs incurred by QETA shall not exceed $500,000 in total; (ii) 50% of the expenses incurred by QETA in connection with maintaining ongoing public company responsibilities, provided that QUAD’s obligation to pay such Public Company Expenses incurred by QETA shall not exceed $100,000 in total; and (iii) the extension fees of QETA covering nine extensions over nine months, in the total amount of $540,000. If the Closing does not occur prior to October 10, 2025 due to a delay in obtaining CSRC approvals, QUAD shall be responsible for any extension fees and other related fees incurred by QETA beyond October 10, 2025 not to exceed $100,000 per month; and |
(c) | all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing in favor of D&O indemnified persons shall survive the closing and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms to the extent permitted by applicable Law. |
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
ITEM 6. | [RESERVED] |
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ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on May 1, 2023. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to herein as our “initial business combination.” Our efforts to identify a prospective target business are not limited to any particular industry or geographic region. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of our IPO and the private placement of Private Units, our securities, debt or a combination of cash, securities and debt, in effecting our initial business combination.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete an initial business combination will be successful.
Extensions of Time Period to Complete a Business Combination
On October 18, 2024, the Company entered into a non-binding LOI with QUAD, regarding a potential business combination (the “Proposed Transaction”). The LOI is non-binding and no agreement providing for any Proposed Transaction or any other transaction or the participation by either party therein will be deemed to exist unless and until definitive agreements have been executed. As a result of the execution of the LOI, the deadline by which the Company must complete its initial business combination has been extended to January 10, 2025.
On January 10, 2025, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “January Special Meeting”). During the January Special Meeting, stockholders approved the proposal to amend Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Trust Agreement to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination from January 10, 2025 to October 10, 2026 (thirty six (36) months from the consummation of the IPO), on a month-by-month basis, up to a total of twenty-one (21) times, by depositing $60,000 into the Company’s trust account for each such one-month extension.
Redemption
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the January Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on January 10, 2025, 5,199,297 shares were tendered for redemption. As a result, approximately $55,152,224 (approximately $10.608 per share) were removed from the Company’s trust account to pay such holders, without taking into account additional allocation of payments to cover any tax obligation of the Company, since that date. As a result, approximately $18,040,430 will remain in the trust account. Following the redemptions, the Company will have 3,747,748 ordinary shares outstanding.
Acquisition Criteria Expansion
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the January Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on January 10, 2025, stockholders approved the proposal to include any entity with its principal business operations in the geographical regions of the People’s Republic of China, the Hong Kong special administrative region, and the Macau special administrative region in the Company’s acquisition criteria in its search for a prospective target business for its business combination.
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Trust Amendment
The Company has until 36 months (or until October 10, 2026) from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination. In addition, in the event that the Company fails to timely make a payment for any given month during the twenty-one (21) month period the Company elects to make an extension, the Company shall have a period of forty five (45) days to pay any applicable past due payment, which shall be calculated to be equal to the principal of the past due payment, plus any accrued but unpaid interest in the amount of three percent (3%) (the “Cure Period”). If the Company fails to make any applicable past due payment during the Cure Period, then the Company shall immediately cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up, and liquidate and dissolve with the same effect as if the Company failed to complete a business combination within thirty-six (36) months from the consummation of the IPO.
The foregoing description of the Amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, filed hereto as Exhibit 10.2, and is incorporated by reference herein.
The Company has completed an initial payment of $60,000 pursuant to the Amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement and such initial payment has been deposited into the Company’s trust account to extend the time the Company has to complete a business combination until February 10, 2025. Subsequently, the Company deposited $60,000 each time in February 2025 and March 2025 into the trust account to extend the time the Company has to complete a business combination until April 10, 2025.
Merger Agreement In Connection With KM QUAD Business Combination
On February 14, 2025, Quetta entered into entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with KM QUAD, a Cayman Islands company (“KM QUAD”), the parent company of Jiujiang Lida Technology Co., Ltd., a film product design and manufacturer in China. Upon consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (i) Quetta will reincorporate by merging with and into Quad Global Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Quetta (“Quad Global”), and (ii) concurrently with the reincorporation merger, Quad Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Quad Global, will be merged with and into KM QUAD, resulting in KM QUAD being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quad Global. At the effective time of the transaction, KM QUAD’s shareholders and management will receive 30 million ordinary shares of Quad Global. The shares held by certain KM QUAD’s shareholders will be subject to lock-up agreements for a period of six months following the closing of the transaction, subject to certain exceptions.
Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company will merge with and into Purchaser, resulting in all Quetta stockholders becoming shareholders of the Purchaser as described under the below section titled “Redomestication Merger.” Concurrently therewith, Merger Sub will merge with and into KM QUAD, resulting in Purchaser acquiring 100% of the issued and outstanding equity securities of QUAD (the “Acquisition Merger”). Upon the closing of the Acquisition Merger, the ordinary shares of Purchaser issued shall consist of class A ordinary shares (“Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares”) and class B ordinary shares (“Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares,” together with Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, “Purchaser Ordinary Shares”) where each Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters subject to a vote at general and special meetings of the post-closing company and each Purchaser Class B Ordinary Share shall be entitled to 10 votes on all matters subject to a vote at general and special meetings of the post-closing company.
The aggregate consideration to be paid to KM QUAD shareholders for the Acquisition Merger is $300 million, payable in newly issued purchaser ordinary shares valued at $10.00 per share. The Transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both Quetta and KM QUAD, is subject to regulatory approvals, the approvals by the shareholders of Quetta and KM QUAD, respectively, and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions including the following:
KM QUAD shall bear (i) 50% of the transaction costs incurred by Quetta, excluding any amounts payable at closing from the Trust Account, provided that KM QUAD’s obligation to pay such transaction costs incurred by Quetta shall not exceed $500,000 in total; (ii) 50% of the expenses incurred by Quetta in connection with maintaining ongoing public company responsibilities, provided that KM QUAD’s obligation to pay such Public Company Expenses incurred by Quetta shall not exceed $100,000 in total; and (iii) the extension fees of Quetta covering nine extensions over nine months, in the total amount of $540,000. If the Closing does not occur prior to October 10, 2025 due to a delay in obtaining regulatory approvals, Quetta shall be responsible for any extension fees and other related fees incurred by Quetta beyond October 10, 2025 not to exceed $100,000 per month.
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Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on or before February 14, 2025, KM QUAD deposited $250,000, the first installment of the term extension fees to the Company’s bank account in exchange for a promissory note issued by the Company. KM QUAD shall wire $290,000, the second installment of the extension fees, to the Company’s bank account on or before April 20, 2025 in exchange for a promissory note issued by the Company, provided that the Merger Agreement has not been terminated prior to that date.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any operating revenues to date. Our activities from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2024 were organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for our IPO, which is described below, and subsequent to the IPO, identifying a target company for an initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination.
We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on investments held in Trust Account after the IPO. We expect that we will incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in connection with searching for, and completing, a Business Combination.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we had net income of $2,094,096, which consisted of interest income of $3,658,889, offset by general and administrative expenses of $623,356, related party administrative fees of $120,000, franchise tax expense of $67,178 and income tax expense of $754,259.
For the period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, we had net income of $535,209, which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $78,045, related party administrative fees of $28,710, franchise tax expense of $14,378 and income tax expense of $170,649, offset by interest income of $826,991.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On October 11, 2023, we completed our initial public offering (“IPO”) of 6,900,000 units (the “Public Units’), including the full exercise of the over-allotment option of 900,000 Units granted to the underwriters. The Public Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit generating gross proceeds of $69,000,000. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock and one-tenth (1/10) of one right (“Public Right”). Each Public Right will convert into one share of common stock upon the consummation of a Business Combination. Simultaneously with the IPO, we sold to our Sponsor 253,045 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Private Units”) in a private placement generating total gross proceeds of $2,530,450. The Private Units are identical to the Public Units except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions. Each Private Unit consists of one share of common stock (“Private Share”) and one-tenth (1/10) of one right (“Private Right”). Each Private Right will convert into one share of common stock upon the consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, we issued the underwriters 69,000 shares of common stock for the representative shares, at the closing of the IPO as part of representative compensation.
Upon the closing of the IPO and the private placement on October 11, 2023, a total of $69,690,000 was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as a trustee and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills 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 of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and that invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
We intend to use substantially all of the net proceeds of the IPO and the private placement, including the funds held in the Trust Account, in connection with our initial business combination and to pay our expenses relating thereto, including deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the underwriters in the IPO in an amount equal to 3.5% of the total gross proceeds raised in the IPO upon consummation of our initial business combination. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders’ fees which we had incurred prior to the completion of our initial business combination if the funds available to us outside of the Trust Account were insufficient to cover such expenses.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash of $1,554,737 and a working capital deficit of $28,329.
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The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant professional costs to remain as a publicly traded company and to incur significant transaction costs in pursuit of the consummation of a Business Combination. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that these conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, if the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company’s board of directors would proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to consummate a Business Combination will be successful within the Combination Period. As a result, management has determined that such additional conditions also raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statement does not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 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.
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions, we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than described below.
Administrative Service Agreement
We have entered into an administrative service agreement pursuant to which we will pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support. However, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, the Sponsor agreed to defer the payment of such monthly fee. Any such unpaid amount will accrue without interest and be due and payable no later than the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from May 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, the Company has incurred $120,000 and $28,710, respectively, in related party fees for the services provided by the Sponsor under this agreement.
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Underwriting Agreement
Upon closing of a Business Combination, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred fee of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, or $2,415,000. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters 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. Additionally, we issued the underwriters 69,000 shares common stock, or the representative shares, at the closing of the IPO as part of representative compensation.
Promissory Note In Connection With Extension Payments
In the event that the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination does not occur by February 10, 2025, the Company shall have the right to extend the time to complete the KM QUAD Business Combination up to twenty-one (21) times for one month each time until October 10, 2026. QUAD shall be responsible for the extension fees covering nine extensions over nine months, in the total amount of $540,000.
On or before February 14, 2025, KM QUAD wired the first installment of the prepaid extension fees, in the amount of $250,000, to the Company’s designated bank account in exchange for a promissory note issued by the Company. KM QUAD shall wire the second installment of the prepaid extension fees, in the amount of $290,000, to the Company’s designated bank account on or before April 20, 2025 in exchange for a promissory note issued by the Company, provided that the Agreement has not been terminated prior to that date. If the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination does not occur prior to October 10, 2025 due to a delay in obtaining CSRC approvals, KM QUAD shall be responsible for any extension fees and other related fees incurred by the Company beyond October 10, 2025 not to exceed $100,000 per month. If the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination or termination of the Agreement occurs prior to October 10, 2025, the Company shall return the remaining balance of the prepaid extension fees, if any, to KM QUAD on a pro rata basis. Alternatively, at the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination, the Company shall have the right to convert any prepaid extension fees that were paid and not returned into Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have not identified any critical accounting policies and estimates.
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating officer decision maker (“CODM”), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 in the fiscal year 2024 and there was no significant impact.
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosure” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 mostly requires, on an annual basis, disclosure of specific categories in an entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The incremental disclosures may be presented on a prospective or retrospective basis. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 in the fiscal year 2024 and there was no significant impact.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
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ITEM 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
As of December 31, 2024, we were not subject to any market or interest rate risk. Following the consummation of our IPO, the net proceeds of our IPO, including amounts in the Trust Account, have been invested in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in certain money market funds that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
ITEM 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
This information appears following Item 15 of this Report and is included herein by reference.
ITEM 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
None.
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ITEM 9A. | Controls and Procedures. |
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
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 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 current Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (our “Certifying Officers”), the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Certifying Officers concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were not 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.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) | pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of our company, |
(2) | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and |
(3) | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting on December 31, 2024. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, due to the material weakness in our internal controls due to inadequate segregation of duties within account processes due to limited personnel and insufficient written policies and procedures for accounting, IT, and financial reporting and record keeping.
Management intends to implement remediation steps to improve our internal controls due to inadequate segregation of duties within account processes due to limited personnel and insufficient written policies and procedures for accounting, IT, and financial reporting and record keeping. We plan to further improve this process by enhancing the size and composition of our board upon the closing of the business and to identify third-party professionals with whom to consult regarding complex accounting applications and consideration of additional staff with the requisite experience and training to supplement existing accounting professionals and implemented additional layers of reviews in the financial close process.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.
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.
ITEM 9B. | Other Information. |
ITEM 9C. | DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS |
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. |
The following table sets forth information about our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report.
Name | Age | Position | ||
Hui Chen | 53 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer | ||
Robert L. Labbe | 65 | Chief Financial Officer, Director | ||
Brandon Miller | 62 | Independent Director | ||
Daniel M. McCabe | 75 | Independent Director | ||
Qi Gong | 63 | Independent Director |
Hui Chen has been our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since May 2023. He has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since December 2021. Mr. Chen is a cross-industry expert in computer science and law. Mr. Chen founded Law Offices of Hui Chen & Associates, PC in 2012, a New York-based law firm. Mr. Chen focuses his practice on patent prosecution, copyright infringement, and other general intellectual property matters. Mr. Chen has also been an adjunct professor at Hofstra University since September 2019, where he instructs multiple undergraduate computer science programming courses in Visual C++. Before joining Hofstra University, Mr. Chen was an adjunct associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Pace University, Touro College, and Saint Francis College between 2000 and 2018 and was a full-time professor at Technical Career of Institute, College of Technology from December 2011 to December 2017. Before forming his law office in 2012, Mr. Chen worked for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Chen worked as an Oracle developer at eBay, Inc. from February 2008 to May 2015. Mr. Chen worked at IBM Global Services, where he was a solo back-end developer in designing and building the database and back-end process for DHS Inspection Application, from November 2007 to March 2008, and a programmer analyst between March 1998 and May 2004. Mr. Chen also worked at MultiPlan Inc. between June 2005 and February 2008 as a technical lead where he participated in designing new application systems and partnered with external vendors in coding and implementing new systems by using Java and Oracle PL/SQL. Before that, Mr. Chen worked at Pepsi Cola Inc. from January 2004 to June 2005, where he designed, coded, implemented, and documented a growth forecasting system and developed an automatic purchasing system. Mr. Chen received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1992, a Bachelor’s degree in HVAC from Technical Career Institutes in 1997, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Pace University in 2000, and his J.D. degree from Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University in 2010.
Robert L. Labbe has been our Chief Financial Officer since May 2023. He serves as one of our directors as of the date of this annual report. He has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer and director of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since December 2021. Mr. Labbe is a real estate veteran and real estate finance attorney licensed in California and New York with over thirty (30) years of experience in real estate. Mr. Labbe also has been a manager of MCAP Realty Advisors, LLC, a real estate advisor company, since January 2010. Mr. Labbe has been the general counsel of Global Premier Development Inc. and Global Premier America, LLC, real estate development companies, from March 2012 to December 2021. Mr. Labbe was a co-founder, general counsel, and managing director of Lenders Direct Capital, a wholesale lender, and its retail affiliate Lenders Republic Financial, a nationwide mortgage banker, from May 2003 to December 2007. Mr. Labbe was also a co-founder and partner at Mazda Butler LLP, a commercial and real estate law firm in California, from January 2003 to December 2007. Mr. Labbe co-founded First Allegiance Financial, a national specialty finance company, where he was the president and chairman from September 1996 to December 1998. First Allegiance Financial was acquired by City Holding Company, a financial holding company, for approximately $22 million in 1997. Mr. Labbe received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Law (B.C.L.) and Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) from McGill University in 1982 and 1983, respectively. Mr. Labbe also received his Diplome d’Etude Collegiale St. Lawrence College (Quebec) in 1978. Mr. Labbe is a licensed broker with the California Department of Real Estate since 1990. Mr. Labbe also holds the UC Irvine Extension Light Construction and Development Management Program Certificate.
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Brandon Miller serves as one of our independent directors since October 5, 2023. He has been serving as a member of the board of directors of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since April 2022. Mr. Miller has been the managing partner at Aspect Property Management LLC, a property management company in Connecticut, since January 2015. Before joining Aspect Property Management LLC, Mr. Miller spent a decade in the consulting industry at Matté & Company, a private and public sector consulting company from January 2005 to January 2015, where he offered executive recruiting, strategic planning, leadership, and corporate consulting services. Mr. Miller was a corporate controller at Corporate Dining Solutions, a corporate catering company, from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Miller is presently a certified manager of community associations (“CMCA”) and an association management specialist (“AMS”). Mr. Miller received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Bridgeport in 1986 and studied in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University from 1980 to 1983.
Daniel M. McCabe serves as one of our independent directors since October 5, 2023. He has been serving as a member of the board of directors of Yotta Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: YOTA) since April 2022. Mr. McCabe has been admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of Connecticut since 1974. Mr. McCabe’s legal career began as an assistant clerk of the Superior Court at Stamford from 1974 to 1976, and since then he has had his own legal practice, Daniel McCabe LLC, a general practice law firm in Connecticut founded in 1982. His work includes rendering legal advice to individuals and business entities concerning commercial transactions, business organizations, and complex litigation. Mr. McCabe is also an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Sacred Heart University. Mr. McCabe previously was the Chairman of the Stamford Housing Authority, Co-chair of the Stamford Reapportionment Committee, Member of the Board of Parole for the State of Connecticut, Chairman of the Republican Town Committee of the City of Stamford and Counsel for the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority. He also served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Stamford where he held the position of chief legal counsel and advisor to Mayor Stanley Esposito of the City of Stamford. Mr. McCabe obtained his Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University Law School in 1974.
Qi Gong has been serving as one of our independent directors since April 3, 2024. Ms. Gong has enjoyed a diverse career in both China and the United States across various domains. In March 2024, Ms. Gong founded the American Wall Street Listed Group Inc., a consulting company, and has been serving as its Chief Executive Officer since such time. Ms. Gong was also the founder and has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for American Information Technology Inc., an information technology consulting company, since September 2022. She was also the founder and has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for U.S. China Health Products Inc., a marketing consulting company, since December 2021. In addition, Ms. Gong founded the U.S.-China Service Inc., a wealth management consulting company, in July 2018 and has been serving as its Chief Executive Officer since such time. She has been serving as a member of the board of directors of Yotta since April 2024
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors has five members, three of whom are deemed “independent” under SEC and Nasdaq rules. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination. Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our directors may consist of a chairman of the board, and that our officer may consist of chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, executive vice president(s), vice president(s), secretary, treasurer and such other officers as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that within one year of the listing of our securities on the Nasdaq Global Market we have at least a majority of independent directors and that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board of Directors determined that Mr. McCabe, Mr. Miller, and Ms. Qi Gong each qualify as an “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
We will only enter into a business combination if it is approved by a majority of our directors. Additionally, we will only enter into transactions with our officers and directors and their respective affiliates that are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any related-party transactions must be approved by our audit committee and a majority of disinterested directors.
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Audit Committee
We have established an audit committee of the board of directors, which consists of Mr. Brandon Miller, Mr. Daniel M. McCabe and Ms. Qi Gong, each of whom is an independent director. Mr. Brandon Miller serves as chairperson of the audit committee. The audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
● | reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K; |
● | discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements; |
● | discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies; |
● | monitoring the independence of the independent auditor; |
● | verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law; |
● | reviewing and approving all related-party transactions; |
● | inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
● | pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed; |
● | appointing or replacing the independent auditor; |
● | determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work; |
● | establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and |
● | approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses. |
Financial Experts on Audit Committee
The audit committee is composed exclusively of “independent directors” who are “financially literate” as defined under the Nasdaq listing standards. The Nasdaq listing standards define “financially literate” as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
In addition, we must certify to Nasdaq that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The board of directors has determined that Mr. Brandon Miller qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.
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Compensation Committee
We have established a compensation committee of the board of directors consisting of Mr. Daniel M. McCabe, Mr. Brandon Miller, and Ms. Qi Gong each of whom is an independent director. Mr. Daniel M. McCabe serves as chairman of the compensation committee. We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
● | reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance within the context of such goals and objectives, and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation; |
● | reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers; |
● | reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans; |
● | implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
● | assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
● | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments, and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees; |
● | producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
● | reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel, or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee, though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or NASDAQ rules.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at a future annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the Board should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers education, professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Any executive compensation matters will be determined by our compensation committee. None of our directors who currently serve as members of our compensation committee is, or has at any time in the past been, one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our compensation committee.
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Conflicts of Interest
Investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest.
● | None of our officers and directors is required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities. |
● | In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to our company as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our directors and officers may continue to be involved in the formation of other special purpose acquisition companies in the future. Thus, our officers and directors may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
● | Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by our company. |
● | Unless we consummate our initial business combination, our officers, directors, and other insiders will not receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them to the extent that such expenses exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the trust account. |
● | The founder shares beneficially owned by our officers and directors will be released from escrow only if our initial business combination is successfully completed. Additionally, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time frame, our officers and directors will not be entitled to receive any amounts held in the trust account with respect to any of their founder shares or private units. Furthermore, our Sponsor, Yocto Investments LLC, agreed that the private units will not be sold or transferred by it until after we have completed our initial business combination. For the foregoing reasons, our board may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effect our initial business combination. |
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
● | the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity; |
● | the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and |
● | it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation. |
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, our officers and directors (other than our independent directors) have agreed to present to us for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity except for Yotta Acquisition Corporation, any suitable opportunity to acquire a target business, until the earlier of: (1) our consummation of an initial business combination and (2) up to thirty-six (36) months from the date of this annual report (or any other applicable deadline as described in this annual report). This agreement is, however, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations such officer or director may from time to time have to another entity. Accordingly, if any of them becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. We do not believe, however, that the pre-existing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers and directors will materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination because in most cases the affiliated companies are closely held entities controlled by the officer or director or the nature of the affiliated company’s business is such that it is unlikely that a conflict will arise.
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The following table summarizes the current material pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers, and directors:
Name of Individual | Name of Affiliated Company |
Entity’s Business |
Affiliation | Affiliation with Quetta Acquisition Corporation |
Priority/Preference relative to Quetta Acquisition Corporation | |||||
Hui Chen | Law Offices of Hui Chen & Associates, PC | Law Firm | Partner | |||||||
Hofstra University | Education | Adjunct Professor | ||||||||
Yotta Acquisition Corporation | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer | Yotta Acquisition Corporation will have priority over us. | ||||||
Robert L. Labbe | MCAP Realty Advisors, LLC | Real Estate Advisory Services | Chief Financial Officer and Director | |||||||
Yotta Acquisition Corporation | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Chief Financial Officer, Director | ||||||||
Brandon Miller | Aspect Property Management LLC | Real Estate | Partner | |||||||
Yotta Acquisition Corporation | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Independent Director | Independent Director | Yotta Acquisition Corporation will have priority over us. | ||||||
Daniel M. McCabe | Daniel M. McCabe, LLC | Law Firm | Partner | |||||||
1200 Summer Street Association | Real Estate | Managing Partner | ||||||||
Yotta Acquisition Corporation | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Independent Director | Independent Director | Yotta Acquisition Corporation will have priority over us. | ||||||
Qi Gong | Yotta Acquisition Corporation Quetta Acquisition Corporation American Wall Street Listed Group Inc. American Information Technology Inc. U.S. China Health Products Inc. U.S.-China Service Inc. |
Special Purpose Acquisition Company Special Purpose Acquisition Company Consulting Company Information Technology Consulting Company Marketing Consulting Company Wealth Management Consulting Company |
Independent Director Independent Director Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer |
Independent Director | Yotta Acquisition Corporation will have priority over us. |
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Our insiders, including our officers and directors, have agreed to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination, if permitted by law or regulation. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to receive any amounts held in the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private units if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time frame. If they purchase shares of common stock in our IPO or in the open market, however, they would be entitled to receive their pro rata share of the amounts held in the trust account if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the required time frame, but have agreed not to redeem such shares in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will therefore comply with section 144 of the DGCL.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as set forth in our certificate of incorporation, such indemnification will not extend to any claims our insiders may make to us to cover any loss that they may sustain as a result of their agreement to pay debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us as described elsewhere in this annual report.
Our bylaws also permits us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these provisions. We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Code of Ethics
We adopted a code of conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The code of ethics codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our shares of Common Stock and other equity securities. These executive officers, directors, and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed by such reporting persons.
Based solely on our review of such forms furnished to us and written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that all filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were filed in a timely manner.
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Item 11. | Executive Compensation. |
Employment Agreements
We have not entered into any employment agreements with our executive officers and have not made any agreements to provide benefits upon termination of employment.
Executive Officers and Director Compensation
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We currently pay our Sponsor an aggregate fee of $10,000 per month for providing us with office space and certain office and secretarial services. However, this arrangement is solely for our benefit and is not intended to provide our Chief Executive Officer compensation in lieu of a salary.
Our officers and directors will also receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements made to our Sponsor, officers, directors or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.
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ITEM 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. |
The following table sets forth as of April 7, 2025, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by (i) each person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (ii) each of our officers and directors; and (iii) all of our officers and directors as a group. As of April 7, 2025, we had 3,747,748 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
||||||
Hui Chen(2) | 1,970,045 | 22.83 | % | |||||
Robert L. Labbe | 2,000 | * | ||||||
Brandon Miller | 2,000 | * | ||||||
Daniel M. McCabe | 2,000 | * | ||||||
Qi Gong | * | * | ||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (5 individuals) | 1,976,045 | 22.83 | % | |||||
Michael Lazar | 2,000 | * | ||||||
Yocto Investments LLC (our Sponsor)(2) | 1,970,045 | 22.83 | % | |||||
Boothbay Fund Management, LLC(3) | 523,488 | 6.04 | % | |||||
ATW SPAC Management LLC(4) | 523,488 | 6.04 | % | |||||
Wealthspring Capital LLC(5) | 1,023,776 | 11.814 | % | |||||
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (6) | 451,403 | 5.21 | % | |||||
AQR Capital Management, LLC (7) | 635,001 | 7.33 | % |
* | Less than one percent. |
(1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Quetta Acquisition Corp, 1185 6th Avenue, Suite 304, New York, NY 10036. |
(2) | Shares owned by Yocto Investments LLC, which is controlled solely by Ms. Chen Chen, who is the wife of Hui Chen. |
(3) | Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2024. Boothbay Fund Management, LLC and Ari Glass (together, the “Reporting Persons”) made certain joint acquisition statement, dated February 13, 2024. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons is 640 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10019. |
(4) | Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2024. ATW SPAC Management LLC, Antonio Ruiz-Gimenez and Kerry Propper (together, the “Reporting Persons”) made certain joint acquisition statement, dated February 13, 2024. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons is 640 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10019. |
(5) | Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on January 10, 2024. Wealthspring Capital LLC and Matthew Simpson (together, the “Reporting Persons”) made certain joint acquisition statement, dated January 10, 2024. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons is 17 State Street, Suite 2130, New York, New York 10004. |
(6) | Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on November 14, 2024. Mizuho Financial Group (the “Reporting Person”), Inc. made a certain acquisition statement, dated November 14, 2024. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Person is 1–5–5, Otemachi, Chiyoda–ku, Tokyo 100–8176, Japan. |
(7) | Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on November 14, 2024. AQR Capital Management, LLC, AQR Capital Management Holdings, LLC, AQR Arbitrage, LLC (together, the “Reporting Persons”) made certain joint acquisition statement, dated November 14, 2024. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons is One Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830. |
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Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial rights included in the units or the private rights issued pursuant to the Company’s initial public offering as these rights are not convertible until consummation of the Company’s initial business combination.
All of the founder shares issued pursuant to our IPO are placed in escrow with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as escrow agent, until (1) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination and the date on which the closing price of our shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (2) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, one year after the date of our consummation of the initial business combination, or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to the initial business combination, we consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
During the escrow period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except for transfers, assignments or sales (i) among our initial stockholders or to our initial stockholders’ members, officers, directors, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) to a holder’s stockholders or members upon its liquidation, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the holder or a member of the holder’s immediate family, for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, or (vii) in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased, in each case (except for clause (vi) or with our prior consent) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the escrow agreement and to be bound by these transfer restrictions, but will retain all other rights as our stockholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote their shares of common stock and the right to receive cash dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in shares of common stock, such dividends will also be placed in escrow. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, there will be no liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares.
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ITEM 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. |
Insider Shares
On May 17, 2023, the Company issued 1,725,000 shares of common stock (the “Insider Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The 1,725,000 Insider Shares included an aggregate of up to 225,000 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor would collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (assuming the Sponsor did not purchase any Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering and excluding the Private Shares). As a result of the underwriters’ election to fully exercise their over-allotment option on October 11, 2023, a total of 225,000 Insider Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.
Promissory Note – KM QUAD
On November 5, 2024, the Company”) issued an unsecured promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000 (the “Promissory Note”) to KM QUAD in connection with a business combination between the Company and KM QUAD. The Promissory Note is unsecured, interest-free and due on the earlier date of (i) consummation of the business combination between the Company and KM QUAD, (ii) a breach by the Company of any its obligations under the Promissory Note, (iii) the termination of the proposed transaction between the Company and KM QUAD, or (iv) expiration of the Combination Period (as defined in the Promissory Note). KM QUAD will have the right to convert all or any part of the outstanding and unpaid amount of the Note into shares of common stock, or other securities, at $10 per share upon the consummation of the business combination.
In the event that the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination does not occur by February 10, 2025, the Company shall have the right to extend the time to complete the KM QUAD Business Combination up to twenty-one (21) times for one month each time until October 10, 2026. QUAD shall be responsible for the extension fees covering nine extensions over nine months, in the total amount of $540,000.
On or before February 14, 2025, KM QUAD wired the first installment of the prepaid extension fees, in the amount of $250,000, to the Company’s designated bank account in exchange for a promissory note issued by the Company. KM QUAD shall wire the second installment of the prepaid extension fees, in the amount of $290,000, to the Company’s designated bank account on or before April 20, 2025 in exchange for a promissory note issued by the Company, provided that the Agreement has not been terminated prior to that date. If the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination does not occur prior to October 10, 2025 due to a delay in obtaining CSRC approvals, KM QUAD shall be responsible for any extension fees and other related fees incurred by the Company beyond October 10, 2025 not to exceed $100,000 per month. If the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination or termination of the Agreement occurs prior to October 10, 2025, the Company shall return the remaining balance of the prepaid extension fees, if any, to QUAD on a pro rata basis. Alternatively, at the closing of the KM QUAD Business Combination, the Company shall have the right to convert any prepaid extension fees that were paid and not returned into Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share.
Administrative Service Agreement
The Company agreed, commencing on October 5, 2023, to pay the Sponsor, affiliates, or advisors a total of up to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, out of pocket expenses, and secretarial and administrative support. The arrangement will terminate upon the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or its liquidation. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from May 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, the Company incurred $120,000 and $28,710 in fees for these services, respectively.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 900,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments. On October 11, 2023, the underwriter’s elected to fully exercise the over-allotment option to purchase an additional 900,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Public Share (see Note 8).
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The Company paid an underwriting fee of $0.20 per Unit, or $1,380,000, in total which includes the fee due upon the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per unit, or $2,415,000 due to the option to fully exercise their overallotment on October 11, 2023, in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Shareholder Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Agreement on February 14, 2025, the Company and certain shareholders of QUAD entered into a support agreement, pursuant to which each such shareholder agreed to vote in favor of the business combination, subject to the terms of such shareholder support agreement.
The foregoing description of the Shareholder Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.8 hereto.
Representative Shares
On October 10, 2023, the Company issued to the underwriter and/or its designees 69,000 shares of common stock (the “Representative Shares”). The Company accounted for the Representative Shares as an expense of the Initial Public Offering, resulting in a charge directly to stockholder’s equity. The Company estimated the fair value of Representative Shares to be $690,000 based upon the offering price of the shares of $10 per share. The Representative Shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA’s NASD Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statements related to the Initial Public Offering, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statements related to the Initial Public Offering except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the Initial Public Offering and their bona fide officers or partners.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that within one year of the listing of our securities on the Nasdaq Global Market we have at least a majority of independent directors and that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board of Directors determined that Mr. McCabe, Mr. Miller, and Ms. Qi Gong each qualify as an “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
We will only enter into a business combination if it is approved by a majority of our directors. Additionally, we will only enter into transactions with our officers and directors and their respective affiliates that are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any related-party transactions must be approved by our audit committee and a majority of disinterested directors.
35 |
ITEM 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
MaloneBailey, LLP, or “MB”, acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following is a summary of fees paid to MB for services rendered.
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by MB in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees of MB for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 8-K for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC totaled $56,650 and $78,750 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, respectively
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. We did not pay MB for any audit-related fees for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023.
Tax Fees. We did not pay MB for tax return services, planning and tax advice for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023.
All Other Fees. We did not pay MB for any other services for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed upon the consummation of our Initial Public Offering. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit).
36 |
PART IV
ITEM 15. | Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) | The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K: |
(1) | Financial Statements: |
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(2) | Financial Statement Schedules: |
None.
(3) | Exhibits |
We hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
37 |
38 |
* | Filed herewith. |
ITEM 16. | FORM 10-K SUMMARY |
Not Applicable.
39 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
Dated: April 7, 2025 | By: | /s/ Hui Chen |
Name: | Hui Chen | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Hui Chen | Chief Executive Officer | April 7, 2025 | ||
Hui Chen | (Principal executive officer), and Chairman | |||
/s/ Robert L. Labbe | Chief Financial Officer | April 7, 2025 | ||
Robert L. Labbe | (Principal financial and accounting officer), and Director | |||
/s/ Brandon Miller | Director | April 7, 2025 | ||
Brandon Miller | ||||
/s/ Daniel M. McCabe | Director | April 7, 2025 | ||
Daniel M. McCabe | ||||
/s/ Qi Gong | Director | April 7, 2025 | ||
Qi Gong |
40 |
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page(s) | ||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID # |
F-2 | |
Financial Statements: | ||
Balance Sheets | F-3 | |
Statements of Operations | F-4 | |
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit | F-5 | |
Statements of Cash Flows | F-6 | |
Notes to Financial Statements | F-7 |
F-1 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Quetta Acquisition Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Quetta Acquisition Corporation (“Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, and for the period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, and for the period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Matter
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company’s business plan is dependent on the completion of a business combination within a prescribed period of time and if not completed will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
www.malonebailey.com
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
April 7, 2025
F-2 |
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets | ||||||||
Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | ||||||||
Total Current Assets | ||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account | ||||||||
Total Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Due to related party - administrative fee | $ | $ | ||||||
Due to related party | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | ||||||||
Franchise tax payable | ||||||||
Income tax payable | ||||||||
Promissory note – KM QUAD | ||||||||
Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable | ||||||||
Total Liabilities | ||||||||
Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
Common stock subject to possible redemption, $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding at redemption value of $ and $ as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively||||||||
Stockholders’ Deficit | ||||||||
Common stock, $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding (excluding shares subject to possible redemption)||||||||
Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Total Stockholders’ Deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | $ | $ |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3 |
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Year ended December 31, 2024 | For the Period from May 1, 2023 (inception) to | |||||||
Formation and operational costs | $ | $ | ||||||
Related party administrative fees | ||||||||
Franchise tax expense | ||||||||
Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Other income: | ||||||||
Interest income | ||||||||
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account | ||||||||
Income before income taxes | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net income | $ | $ | ||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, common stock subject to possible redemption | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share, redeemable common stock | $ | $ | ||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, non-redeemable common stock | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share, non-redeemable common stock | $ | $ |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4 |
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
For The Year Ended December 31, 2024
Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
Balance–December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Remeasurement of common stock subject to possible redemption | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net income | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance–December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
For The Period From May 1, 2023 (Inception) Through December 31, 2023
Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
Balance–May 1, 2023 (Inception) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Founder shares issued to initial stockholders | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of IPO Units | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of Private Placement Units | ||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of representative shares | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Common stock subject to possible redemption | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Underwriter commissions | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Offering costs | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Accretion of additional paid in capital to accumulated deficit | - | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Remeasurement of common stock subject to possible redemption | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net income | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance–December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5 |
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For
the Year Ended December 31, | For
the Period from May 1, 2023 (inception) through December 31, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | $ | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | ( | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | ||||||||
Income tax payable | ||||||||
Franchise tax payable | ||||||||
Due to related party | ||||||||
Due to related party - administrative fee | ||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
Investment of cash into Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account to pay taxes | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to Sponsor | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of public units | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of Private Placements units | ||||||||
Proceeds from promissory note - related party | ||||||||
Proceeds from promissory note | ||||||||
Proceeds from due to related party | ||||||||
Repayment of due to related party | ( | ) | ||||||
Repayment of promissory note - related party | ( | ) | ||||||
Payment of offering costs | ( | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
Net Changes in Cash | ||||||||
Cash - Beginning of period | ||||||||
Cash - End of period | $ | $ | ||||||
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-cash Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Initial classification of common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | $ | ||||||
Accretion of additional paid in capital to accumulated deficit | $ | $ | ||||||
Remeasurement of common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | $ | ||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable | $ | $ | ||||||
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: | ||||||||
Income taxes and franchise taxes paid | $ | $ |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6 |
QUETTA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations
Quetta Acquisition Corporation (the “Company” or “Quetta”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware Corporation on May 1, 2023. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”). The Company intends to focus on target businesses in Asia.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activities from inception through December 31, 2024 are related to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“IPO” as defined below) and subsequent to the IPO, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the IPO. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end. The Company’s sponsor is Yocto Investments LLC (the “Sponsor”), a Delaware limited liability company.
The registration statement for the Company’s
IPO became effective on October 5, 2023. On October 11, 2023, the Company consummated the IPO of
Transaction costs amounted to $
Upon the closing of the IPO and the private placement
on October 11, 2023, a total of $
Pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, the Company’s
initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses having an aggregate fair market value equal to at least
F-7 |
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $
per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income tax obligations). The Public Shares subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
The Company will proceed with a Business Combination
if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $
If the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 20% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Initial Stockholders have agreed (a) to waive their redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares, Private Shares, and Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (b) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem
% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
The Company initially has nine months (or 15 months
or up to 21 months if it extends such period) from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination (the “Combination
Period”). If the Company anticipates that it may not be able to consummate its initial Business Combination within nine months,
it may extend the period of time to consummate a business combination two times by an additional three months each time (for a total of
15 months to complete a business combination). In order to extend the time available for the Company to consummate a Business Combination,
the Sponsor or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $
F-8 |
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less certain amount of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Sponsor and the other Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares, and Private Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor or the other Initial Stockholders acquires Public Shares in or after the IPO, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within in the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than $
.
In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below $10.10 per Public Share, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a valid and enforceable agreement with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims.
On October 18, 2024, the Company entered into a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) with QUAD, regarding a potential business combination (the “Proposed Transaction”). The LOI is non-binding and no agreement providing for any Proposed Transaction or any other transaction or the participation by either party therein will be deemed to exist unless and until definitive agreements have been executed. As a result of the execution of the LOI, the deadline by which the Company must complete its initial business combination has been extended to January 10, 2025.
Quad Global Inc. (“Quad Global”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and is a Cayman Island exempted company formed on February 5, 2025. It was formed to be the surviving company after the reincorporation merger in connection with a contemplated business combination. It has no principal operations or revenue producing activities.
Quad Group Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Quad Global and is a Cayman Island exempted company formed on January 28, 2025. It was formed to be the Merger Sub in connection with a contemplated business combination. It has no principal operations or revenue producing activities.
January 2025 Stockholder Meeting
On January 10,
2025, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “January Special Meeting”). During the January Special Meeting,
stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “A&R
Certificate of Incorporation”) to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination from January 10,
2025 to October 10, 2026 (36 months from the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering), on a month-by-month basis,
up to a total of 21 times, by depositing $
In connection
with the stockholders’ vote at the January Special Meeting, an aggregate of shares with redemption value of approximately
$ (approximately $ per share) were tendered for redemption. The Company subsequently deposited $
Merger Agreement
On February 14, 2025, Quetta entered into entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with KM QUAD, a Cayman Islands company (“KM QUAD”), the parent company of Jiujiang Lida Technology Co., Ltd., a film product design and manufacturer in China. Upon consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (i) Quetta will reincorporate by merging with and into Quad Global Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quetta, and (ii) concurrently with the reincorporation merger, Quad Group Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quad Global, will be merged with and into KM QUAD, resulting in KM QUAD being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quad Global. At the effective time of the transaction, KM QUAD’s shareholders and management will receive million ordinary shares of Quad Global. The shares held by certain KM QUAD’s shareholders will be subject to lock-up agreements for a period of six months following the closing of the transaction, subject to certain exceptions.
F-9 |
The aggregate
consideration to be paid to KM QUAD shareholders for the Acquisition Merger is $
KM QUAD shall bear
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on or before February
14, 2025, KM QUAD deposited $
Going Concern Consideration
At December 31, 2024, the Company had
$
F-10 |
Risks and Uncertainties
As a result of the ongoing Russia/Ukraine, Hamas/Israel conflicts and/or other future global conflicts, the Company’s ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which the Company ultimately consummates a Business Combination, may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by these events, including as a result of increased market volatility, or decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. The impact of this action and potential future sanctions on the world economy and the specific impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or ability to consummate a Business Combination are not yet determinable. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act
of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal
Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination.
The IR Act tax provisions did not have an impact on the Company’s fiscal 2024 and 2023 tax provision as there were redemptions by the public stockholders. During the second quarter 2024, the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations with respect to the timing and payment of the Excise Tax. The Company will continue to monitor for updates to the Company’s business along with guidance issued with respect to the IR Act to determine whether any adjustments are needed to the Company’s tax provision in future periods.
F-11 |
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars and in conformity the U.S. GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, they include all of the information and footnotes required by the U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) considered for a fair presentation have been included.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
In preparing the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, the Company’s management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the 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
The Company considers all short-term investments with
an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $
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Investment Held in Trust Account
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company
had $
Investments in money market funds are presented on the balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Earnings on investments held in the Trust Account are included in interest earned on investments held in the Trust Account in the accompanying statement of operations. The estimated fair value of investments held in the Trust Account is determined using available market information.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes (“ASC 740”)”. ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s 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
The Company has identified the United States and the State of Delaware as its only “major” tax jurisdictions.
The Company may be subject to potential examination by federal and state taxing authorities in the areas of income taxes. These potential 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.
Net income (loss) per common is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the Initial Stockholders. Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value of redeemable shares of common stock is excluded from income (losses) per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted income (loss) per share is the same as basic income (loss) per share for the period presented.
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For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 | For the December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Redeemable common stock subject to possible redemption | ||||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||
Net income attributable to redeemable common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | $ | ||||||
Denominator: Weighted average Class A common stock subject to possible redemption | ||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, common stock subject to possible redemption | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share, redeemable common stock | $ | $ | ||||||
Non-redeemable common stock | ||||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | $ | ||||||
Less: Net income attributable to Class A common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | $ | ||||||
Net income attributable to non-redeemable common stock | $ | $ | ||||||
Denominator: Weighted average non-redeemable common stock | ||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, non-redeemable common stock | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per share, non-redeemable common stock | $ | $ |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the
Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal
Depository Insurance Coverage of $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 825, “Financial Instruments,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that feature redemption rights that is either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, we have the option to either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023,
shares of common stock were presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholder’s equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.
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Segment Reporting
ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statement information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker, or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer (“CODM”), who reviews the operating results for the Company as a whole to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial performance. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company only has one operating segment.
When evaluating the Company’s performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation, the CODM reviews several key metrics, formation and operational costs and interest earned on investments held in Trust Account which include the accompanying statements of operations.
The key measures of segment profit or loss reviewed by our CODM are interest earned on investments held in Trust Account and formation and operational costs. The CODM reviews interest earned on investments held in Trust Account to measure and monitor stockholder value and determine the most effective strategy of investment with the Trust Account funds while maintaining compliance with the trust agreement. Formation and operational costs are reviewed and monitored by the CODM to manage and forecast cash to ensure enough capital is available to complete a business combination within the business combination period. The CODM also reviews formation and operational costs to manage, maintain and enforce all contractual agreements to ensure costs are aligned with all agreements and budget.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating officer decision maker (“CODM”), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 in the fiscal year 2024 and there was no significant impact.
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosure” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 mostly requires, on an annual basis, disclosure of specific categories in an entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The incremental disclosures may be presented on a prospective or retrospective basis. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 in the fiscal year 2024 and there was no significant impact.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering
On October 11, 2023, the Company sold
Note 4 — Private Placement
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, The Sponsor
purchased an aggregate of
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On May 17, 2023, the Company issued
shares of common stock to the Initial Stockholders (the “Founder Shares”) for an aggregated consideration of $ , or approximately $ per share. The Initial Stockholders have agreed to forfeit up to Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full so that the Initial Stockholders collectively own % of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the IPO (assuming the Initial Stockholders do not purchase any Public Shares in the IPO and excluding the Private Units). As a result of the underwriters’ full exercise of the over-allotment option on October 11, 2023, Founder Share were forfeited. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Founder Shares were issued and outstanding.
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Due to Related Party
The Sponsor paid out of pocket travel expenses related
to due diligence and research of prospective target business. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, $
Related Party Loans
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs
in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Initial Stockholders or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to,
loan us funds as may be required. If the Company completes an initial Business Combination, it will repay such loaned amounts. In the
event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust
Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Certain amount of such loans
may be converted into private at $
Administrative Service Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing
on the October 5, 2023 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to
pay the Sponsor a total of $
Other
Mr. Michael Lazar, who serves as an independent
director of the board beginning October 5, 2023, also is the Chief Executive Officer of Empire Filings, LLC (“Empire”),
which is engaged by the Company to provide print and filing services. The Company paid a total of $
On December 26, 2024, the Company engaged Celine &
Partners PLLC (“Celine”) to represent them for all U.S. corporate and securities compliance matters. Celine is controlled
by Ms. Celine Chen, who is the wife of Mr. Hui Chen, the Company’s CEO and director. A flat fee of $
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Note 6 — Commitments and Contingency
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares issued and outstanding on October 5, 2023, as well as the holders of the private units and any shares of the Company’s insiders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans and extension loans made to the Company (and any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the underlying the private rights), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the Founder Shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these shares of common stock are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the private units and units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing on the date that the Company consummate an initial business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of an initial business combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted EF Hutton, the representative
of the underwriters, a
The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount
of
Additionally, the Company issued the underwriters
shares of common stock for the representative shares, at the closing of the IPO as part of representative compensation. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, representative shares were issued.
Note 7 — Stockholders’ Deficit
Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue
shares of common stock with a par value of $ per share. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As a result of the underwriters’ full exercise of the over-allotment option on October 11, 2023, there are Founder Share subject to forfeiture. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were shares of common stock issued and outstanding (excluding shares subject to possible redemption).
Rights — Each holder of a right will receive one share of common stock upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of such right redeemed all shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon conversion of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination, as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price paid for by investors in the IPO. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the common stock will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into common stock basis and each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively covert its rights in order to receive one share underlying each right (without paying additional consideration). The shares issuable upon conversion of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company).
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, holders of the rights might not receive the shares of common stock underlying the rights.
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Note 8 — Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. | |
Level 2: | Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. | |
Level 3: | Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
The following tables present information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.
December 31, 2024 |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
|||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account | $ | $ |
December 31, 2023 |
Quoted (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant (Level 3) |
|||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account | $ | $ |
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Note 9 — Income Taxes
The Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 | For the December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Deferred tax asset | ||||||||
Net operating loss carryforward | $ | $ | ||||||
Startup/Organization Expenses | ||||||||
Total deferred tax asset | ||||||||
Valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance | $ | $ |
The income tax provision consists of the following:
For the December 31, | For the December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Federal | ||||||||
Current | $ | $ | ||||||
Deferred | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
State | ||||||||
Current | $ | $ | ||||||
Deferred | ||||||||
Change in valuation allowance | ||||||||
Income tax provision | $ | $ |
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A reconciliation of the Company’s statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 | For the December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Income at U.S. statutory rate | % | % | ||||||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | % | % | ||||||
Valuation allowance | % | % | ||||||
% | % |
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryovers available to offset future taxable income.
In assessing the realization of the deferred tax assets,
management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The
ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary
differences representing net future deductible amounts become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax
liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. After consideration of all of the
information available, management believes that significant uncertainty exists with respect to future realization of the deferred tax
assets and has therefore established a full valuation allowance. The change in the valuation allowance was $
The provision for U.S. federal income tax was $
Note 10 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up the date that the financial statement was issued. Based on the review, as further disclosed in the footnotes and except as disclosed below, management did not identify any material subsequent events that require disclosure in the financial statements.
In January 2025, February 2025, and March 2025, the
Company made total tax payments of $
The Company deposited
total extension payments of $
January 2025 Stockholder Meeting
On January 10,
2025, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “January Special Meeting”). During the January Special Meeting,
stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the date
by which the Company has to consummate a business combination from January 10, 2025 to October 10, 2026 (36 months from the consummation
of the Company’s initial public offering), on a month-by-month basis, up to a total of 21 times, by depositing $
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the January Special Meeting, an aggregate of shares with redemption value of approximately $(approximately $per share) were tendered for redemption.
F-20 |
Trust Amendment
The Company has until 36 months (or until October 10, 2026) from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination. In addition, in the event that the Company fails to timely make a payment for any given month during the twenty-one (21) month period the Company elects to make an extension, the Company shall have a period of forty five (45) days to pay any applicable past due payment, which shall be calculated to be equal to the principal of the past due payment, plus any accrued but unpaid interest in the amount of three percent (3%) (the “Cure Period”). If the Company fails to make any applicable past due payment during the Cure Period, then the Company shall immediately cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up, and liquidate and dissolve with the same effect as if the Company failed to complete a business combination within thirty-six (36) months from the consummation of the IPO.
New Subsidiaries
The Company formed two subsidiaries in connection with a contemplated business combination:
Quad Global Inc. (“Quad Global”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and is a Cayman Island exempted company formed on February 5, 2025. It was formed to be the surviving company after the reincorporation merger in connection with a contemplated business combination. It has no principal operations or revenue producing activities.
Quad Group Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Quad Global and is a Cayman Island exempted company formed on January 28, 2025. It was formed to be the Merger Sub in connection with a contemplated business combination. It has no principal operations or revenue producing activities.
Merger Agreement
On February 14, 2025, Quetta entered into entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with KM QUAD, the parent company of Jiujiang Lida Technology Co., Ltd., a film product design and manufacturer in China. Upon consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (i) Quetta will reincorporate by merging with and into Quad Global Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Quetta (“Quad Global”), and (ii) concurrently with the reincorporation merger, Quad Group Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Quad Global, will be merged with and into KM QUAD, resulting in KM QUAD being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quad Global. At the effective time of the transaction, KM QUAD’s shareholders and management will receive million ordinary shares of Quad Global. The shares held by certain KM QUAD’s shareholders will be subject to lock-up agreements for a period of six months following the closing of the transaction, subject to certain exceptions.
The aggregate
consideration to be paid to KM QUAD shareholders for the Acquisition Merger is $
KM QUAD shall bear
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on or before February
14, 2025, KM QUAD deposited $
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