UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
For
the fiscal year ended
or
For the transition period from _____________ to ________________
Commission
file number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||
The | ||||
Warrants | VTAQW | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Rights | VTAQR | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Units | VTAQU | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject
to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
☒ | Smaller reporting company | ||
Emerging growth company |
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered
public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
The aggregate market value of voting stock held
by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $171.5 million as of June 30, 2021, based upon the closing price of $9.93 per share
of the registrant’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the last business day of the registrant’s
most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer, director and holder of 10% or more
of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate
status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. As of February 22, 2022, there were
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
i
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, particularly in light of disruption that may result from limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic; | |
● | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; | |
● | our 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 and other benefits; | |
● | our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination; | |
● | our pool of prospective target businesses; | |
● | the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential investment opportunities; | |
● | the delisting of our securities from Nasdaq or an inability to have our securities listed on Nasdaq following a business combination; | |
● | our 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 | |
● | our financial performance. |
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” in our filings from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). 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.
ii
part I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
We are a blank check company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 10, 2019 for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business transaction with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”).
While we may pursue a Business Combination in any region or sector, we intend to focus our efforts on businesses in North America within the hospitality, leisure, travel and dining sectors with an emphasis on consumer branded businesses that have attractive growth characteristics. In addition, we intend to pursue technology companies operating in these sectors, such as business and consumer services and infrastructure. However, we do not intend to invest in businesses with large exposure to investments in physical real estate. We intend to focus on established and high-growth businesses that have an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $500 million to $2.0 billion and would benefit from access to public markets and the operational and strategic expertise of our management team and board of directors. We will seek to capitalize on the significant experience of our management team in consummating a Business Combination with the ultimate goal of pursuing attractive returns for our stockholders.
The issuance of additional shares of our stock in a Business Combination:
● | may significantly reduce the equity interest of our stockholders; | |
● | may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our shares of common stock; | |
● | will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our shares of common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely will also result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and | |
● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities. |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:
● | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a Business Combination are insufficient to pay our debt obligations; | |
● | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contains covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and we breach any such covenant without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; | |
● | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; and | |
● | our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding. |
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.
Proposed Business Combination
On November 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger by and among the Company, Ventoux Merger Sub I Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Ventoux Merger Sub”), Ventoux Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Ventoux Merger Sub II”), and E La Carte, Inc., d/b/a Presto, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Presto”) (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement has been approved by the Company’s and Presto’s board of directors. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by Presto and the Company’s stockholders, (a) Ventoux Merger Sub will merge with and into Presto (the “First Merger”), with Presto being the surviving entity in the First Merger and continuing (immediately following the First Merger) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Surviving Corporation”), and (b) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, the Surviving Corporation will merge with and into Ventoux Merger Sub II (the “Second Merger”), with Ventoux Merger Sub II being the surviving entity in the Second Merger and continuing (immediately following the Second Merger) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Mergers” and the other agreements and transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Proposed Business Combination”). In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination, the Company will be renamed Presto Technologies, Inc. and is referred to herein as “New Presto” as of the time of such change of name.
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Merger Consideration
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the Proposed Business Combination (the “Closing”), the Company will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of Presto, and stockholders of Presto will receive $800,000,000 in aggregate consideration (the “Aggregate Base Consideration”) in the form of newly issued common stock in New Presto, calculated based on a price of $10.00 per share.
In addition to the Aggregate Base Consideration, Presto stockholders may be entitled to receive, as additional consideration, and without any action on behalf of the Company, Ventoux Merger Sub, Ventoux Merger Sub II or the Company’s stockholders, 15,000,000 additional shares of common stock of New Presto (the “Presto Earnout Shares”), to be issued as follows: (A) 7,500,000 Presto Earnout Shares, if, during the period from and after the Closing until the third anniversary of the Closing, the Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP” as defined in the Merger Agreement) of New Presto common stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 for any 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days, and (B) an additional 7,500,000 Presto Earnout Shares, if, during the period from and after the Closing until the fifth anniversary of the Closing, the VWAP of New Presto common stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days.
Equity Awards, Presto Convertible Notes and Warrants
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the time the First Merger becomes effective (the “Effective Time”), each option exercisable for Presto equity that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time will be assumed and converted into a newly issued option exercisable for common stock of New Presto. At the Effective Time, each warrant of Presto that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, in accordance with its terms, either be (i) cancelled and converted into the right to receive common stock of New Presto, or (ii) assumed and converted into a newly issued warrant exercisable for common stock of New Presto. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each convertible promissory note convertible for Presto equity that is issued and outstanding shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive common stock of New Presto in accordance with the terms therein.
Subscription Agreements
The Company entered into equity subscription agreements (the “Equity Subscription Agreements”) each dated as of November 10, 2021, with certain accredited investors, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell, in private placements to close immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing, an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share. The Equity Subscription Agreements provide that the Company must file a registration statement to register the resale of the subscribed common stock no later than 30 days after the closing date of the Proposed Business Combination (the “Closing Date”).
The Company also entered into a convertible note subscription agreement (the “Convertible Note Subscription Agreement” and, together with the Equity Subscription Agreements, the “Subscription Agreements”), each dated as of November 10, 2021, with an institutional accredited investor (collectively, the “Note Investor”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement to close immediately prior to the Closing, an aggregate of $55,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible notes (the “Notes”) and an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (the “Note Financing Warrants”).
At any time prior to the close of business on the second trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the Notes, the Notes will be convertible, at each holder’s option, into shares of common stock of New Presto at an initial conversion price equal to the lesser of (i) $13.00 and (ii) a 30% premium to the lowest per share price at which any equity of the Company is issued within 15 days prior to the Closing Date (the “Conversion Rate”). In the event of a conversion in connection with a Fundamental Change (as defined below), the Conversion Rate will be increased by a number of additional shares set forth in a usual and customary “make-whole table” to be included in the indenture governing the Notes (the “Indenture”).
At any time on or after the first anniversary of the issuance of the Notes until the second business day prior to maturity, the Notes will be convertible, in whole but not in part, at the Company’s option (a “Mandatory Conversion”) if the closing price of common stock is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price of the Notes for 20 trading days during any 30-consecutive-trading-day period ending on day before the notice of the Mandatory Conversion is given. The Conversion Rate in connection with a Mandatory Conversion will be increased by a number of additional shares pursuant to the make-whole table described above.
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In addition, the Company may redeem the Notes at any time prior to the 21st trading day before maturity by paying, in cash, the principal, accrued interest, and a premium equal to, (1) through third anniversary, the present value of all remaining scheduled interest payments, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate (to be defined in the Indenture) plus 0.50%, and warrants to purchase a number of shares equal to 50% of the number of shares into which the Notes redeemed were convertible, or (2) between third anniversary and maturity, of all remaining scheduled interest payments, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate.
Each holder of a Note will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase for cash all or a portion of the Notes held by such holder at any time upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the repurchase date.
The Company will pay interest on the principal amount of the Notes in cash or in kind, at the Company’s election. If the Company elects to pay interest in cash (“Cash Interest”), the interest on the Notes will accrue at a rate of 9.0% per annum and be payable in cash. If the Company elects to pay interest in kind (“PIK Interest”), the interest on the Notes will be increased to a rate of 11.0% per annum. PIK Interest will be payable either (x) by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Notes by an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable interest period (rounded up to the nearest $1.00) or (y) if the Notes are no longer held as global notes, by issuing additional Notes in certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the period (rounded up to the nearest $1.00). Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes as a result of a PIK Interest payment, the Notes will bear interest on such increased principal amount.
The Note Financing Warrants have the same terms and conditions as the Company’s outstanding publicly held warrants, except that each Note Financing Warrant is exercisable into one whole share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Note Financing Warrants, like the publicly held warrants, may be redeemed if, among other conditions, the reported last sale price of the Company common stock equals or exceeds $16.50 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period ending on the third business day prior to the date of the notice of redemption to warrantholders.
A “Fundamental Change” will be deemed to have occurred under the terms of our Notes at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:
(a) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than us, our wholly owned subsidiaries and our and their employee benefit plans, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common equity and has filed a Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act that discloses such fact, unless such beneficial ownership arises solely as a result of a revocable proxy delivered in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or any successor schedule) under the Exchange Act; provided that no person or group shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or group until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange under such offer;
(b) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which our Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of us pursuant to which our common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of our wholly owned subsidiaries; provided, however, that neither (i) a transaction described in clause (A) or clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of our Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Stock of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the direct or indirect parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions (relative to each other) as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction nor (ii) any merger of the Company solely for the purpose of change its jurisdiction of incorporation that results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of Common Stock solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity shall, in each case, be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (b);
(c) our stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of us; or
(d) our Common Stock ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange or The NASDAQ Stock Market, and is not listed or quote on either such exchange one trading day following such event.
A transaction or transactions described in clause (a) or clause (b) above will not constitute a fundamental change, however, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by our common stockholders, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made in respect of dissenters' appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions and as a result of such transaction or transactions the Notes become convertible into such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made in respect of dissenters' appraisal rights.
3
Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement
At the Closing, New Presto, the Sponsors and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, will enter into an amended and restated warrant agreement (the “Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement”) to reflect the issuance of the Note Financing Warrants. In addition, the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement also provides that 600,000 of the Sponsors’ 6,675,000 private placement warrants will be cancelled. Each Note Financing Warrant and each private placement warrant is exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
At the Closing, New Presto, the Sponsors, the Note Investor, certain investors and other holders of Presto capital stock (the “Presto Holders” and together with the Sponsors and the investors, the “Holders”) will enter into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, New Presto will be obligated to file a registration statement to register the resale of certain securities of New Presto held by the Holders. The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement also provides the Holders with certain “demand” and “piggy-back” registration rights, subject to certain requirements and customary conditions.
Sponsor Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Sponsors, Presto’s directors and officers and certain affiliates of the Sponsors (together, the “Sponsor Parties”) entered into a Sponsor Support Agreement (the “Sponsor Agreement”) with the Company and Presto, pursuant to which the Sponsor Parties agreed, among other things, to vote all shares of the Company common stock beneficially owned by them in favor of each of the proposals at the Company Special Meeting and against any proposal that would impede the Proposed Business Combination. The Sponsor Agreement also provides that the Sponsor Parties will not redeem any shares of the Company common stock.
The Sponsor Parties agreed to subject the founder shares they acquired prior to the Company’s initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) to lock-up restrictions. During the period beginning on the Closing Date until the period beginning on the Closing Date to six months after the Closing Date, the Sponsor Parties may not transfer any of its, his or her founder shares, and during the period beginning on the date that is six months after the Closing Date to 12 twelve months after the Closing Date, the Sponsor Parties may only transfer up to 50% of its, his or her founder shares, in each case except for certain limited permitted transfers. In addition, the Sponsor Parties agreed that they will not transfer any privately placed warrants, acquired prior to the Initial Public Offering, during the period from the Closing Date to 12 months after the Closing Date.
The Sponsors also agreed to subject their founder shares to vesting and forfeiture provisions as set forth in the Sponsor Agreement based on the number of public shares redeemed at the closing of the Proposed Business Combination (such shares, the “Sponsors’ Earnout Shares”). Pursuant to the Sponsor Agreement, at the Closing, (i) in the case of redemptions of public shares of 90% or more, 15% of the Sponsors’ founder shares that are owned immediately after the Closing will be subject to vesting, (ii) in the case of redemptions of public shares of between 80% and 90%, 10% of the Sponsors’ founder shares that are owned immediately after the Closing will be subject to vesting, (iii) in the case of redemptions of public shares of between 70% and 80%, 5% of the Sponsors’ founder shares that are owned immediately after the Closing will be subject to vesting and (iv) in the case of redemptions of public shares of less than 70%, none of the Sponsors’ founder shares will be subject to vesting. The Sponsors’ Earnout Shares will vest if, during the period from and after the Closing until the fifth anniversary of the Closing, the VWAP of New Presto common stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 for any 40 trading days within a period of 60 consecutive trading days.
Presto Stockholder Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of Presto (collectively, the “Presto Supporting Stockholders”) entered into support agreements (collectively, the “Stockholder Support Agreements”), pursuant to which each Presto Supporting Stockholder agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Proposed Business Combination), not to transfer his, her or its Presto shares prior to the Closing Date, and to execute the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below) at the Closing Date.
The Presto Stockholder Support Agreements provide that during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is six months after the Closing Date, the Presto Supporting Stockholders may not transfer any of their shares of New Presto common stock, and during the period beginning on the date that is six months after the Closing Date and ending on the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date, the Presto Supporting Stockholders may only transfer up to 50% of their New Presto common stock, in each case, except for certain limited permitted transfers.
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Governance Agreement
At the Closing, New Presto, Rajat Suri, REMUS Capital, an affiliate of Presto, and certain other parties set forth therein, will enter into a Governance Agreement (the “Governance Agreement”) to provide for certain governance rights and address certain governance matters relating to New Presto. The Governance Agreement will provide REMUS Capital the right to designate a replacement New Presto director if a director appointed within class I of the board is removed within one year of Closing and also will provide each of Mr. Suri and REMUS Capital with the right to nominate one individual to the New Presto board of directors, subject to certain qualifications, requirements and exceptions as set forth therein.
The Proposed Business Combination is expected to be consummated after receipt of the required approvals by the stockholders of the Company and Presto and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other customary conditions. For full details and the filed agreements, refer to our Current Report on 8-K announcing the Merger Agreement filed on November 10, 2021.
No Offer or Solicitation
This Annual Report on Form 10-K is not intended to and shall not constitute a proxy statement or the solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities in respect of the Proposed Business Combination and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial Business Combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have significant experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than us. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, the requirement that we acquire a target business or businesses having a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the business combination, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights and the number of our outstanding warrants and the future dilution they potentially represent may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial Business Combination.
Facilities
Our office space is located at 1 East Putnam Avenue, Floor 4, Greenwich, CT 06830. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have four executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial Business Combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial Business Combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial Business Combination.
Emerging Growth Company Status and Other 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 (which we refer to herein as 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.
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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 an 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 statement with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
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 date of the , (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our shares of common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three year period.
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 2. PROPERTIES
Our office is located at 1 East Putnam Avenue, Floor 4, Greenwich, CT 06830. We consider our current office space 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.
6
part II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our units, common stock, rights and warrants trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, under the symbols “VTAQU,” “VTAQ,” “VTAQR” and “VTAQW,” respectively.
Holders of Record
As of February 22, 2022, there were 21,562,500 shares of common stock issued and outstanding held by one stockholder 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
There were no unregistered securities to report which have not been previously included in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
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 “Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a blank check company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 10, 2019 for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business transaction with one or more businesses or entities that the Company has not yet identified (a “Business Combination”. We intend to effectuate our Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the private placements of the private warrants, our shares, rights, new debt, or a combination of these.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.
Recent Developments
Proposed Business Combination
On November 10, 2021, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of Presto, and stockholders of Presto will receive $800,000,000 in aggregate consideration (the “Aggregate Base Consideration”) in the form of newly issued common stock in New Presto, calculated based on a price of $10.00 per share.
In addition to the Aggregate Base Consideration, Presto stockholders may be entitled to receive 15,000,000 additional shares of common stock of New Presto (the “Presto Earnout Shares”), to be issued as follows: (A) 7,500,000 Presto Earnout Shares, if, during the period from and after the Closing until the third anniversary of the Closing, the Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP” as defined in the Merger Agreement) of New Presto common stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 for any 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days, and (B) an additional 7,500,000 Presto Earnout Shares, if, during the period from and after the Closing until the fifth anniversary of the Closing, the VWAP of New Presto common stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days.
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The Company entered into Equity Subscription Agreements with certain accredited investors, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell, in private placements to close immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing, an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share.
The Company also entered into the Convertible Note Subscription Agreement with an institutional accredited investor, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement to close immediately prior to the Closing, an aggregate of $55,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible notes and an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants.
For a detailed description of the proposed business combination, please see the section of this Annual Report titled “Business—Proposed Business Combination.”
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities through December 31, 2021 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination and activities in connection with the proposed acquisition of Presto. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held in the trust account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had a net income of $3,841,344, which consists of a change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $4,953,000 and interest earned on marketable securities held in our trust account of $41,206, offset by general and administrative expenses of $990,862 and a loss on initial issuance of private warrants of $162,000.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we had a net loss of $1,363,061, which consists of general and administrative expenses $18,208, a change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $180,000, a loss on initial issuance of private warrants of $1,140,000 and transaction costs allocable to warrant liabilities of $24,853.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On December 30, 2020, we completed the Initial Public Offering of 15,000,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we completed the sale of 6,000,000 private warrants at a price of $1.00 per private warrant in a private placement to the co-sponsors, generating gross proceeds of $6,000,000.
On January 5, 2021, in connection with the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full, we completed the sale of an additional 2,250,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $22,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the over-allotment we completed a sale of an additional 675,000 private warrants, at $1.00 per private warrant, generating total proceeds of $675,000.
Following the Initial Public Offering, the full exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of the private warrants a total of $174,225,000 was placed in the trust account. We incurred $3,993,017 in Initial Public Offering related costs, including $3,450,000 of underwriting fees and $543,017 of other costs.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in operating activities was $638,090. Net income of $3,841,344 was affected by interest earned on marketable securities held in the trust account of $41,206, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $4,953,000 and loss on initial issuance of private warrants of $162,000. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $352,772 of cash for operating activities.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash used in operating activities was $30,735. Net loss of $1,363,061 was affected by transaction cost allocable to warrant liabilities of $24,853, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $180,000 and loss on initial issuance of private warrants of $1,140,000. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $12,527 of cash for operating activities.
As of December 31, 2021, we had marketable securities held in the trust account of $174,266,206 (including approximately $41,206 of interest income) invested in a money market account that invests in US Treasury Bills. Interest income on the balance in the trust account may be used by us to pay taxes. Through December 31, 2021, we have not withdrawn any interest earned from the trust account.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (less income taxes payable), to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of December 31, 2021, we had cash of $313,158. We intend to use the funds held outside the trust account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
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In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our initial stockholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that a Business Combination is not consummated, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per unit, at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private warrants. Loans made by Chardan Capital Markets, LLC or any of its related persons will not be convertible into private warrants, and Chardan Capital Markets, LLC and its related persons will have no recourse with respect to their ability to convert their loans into private warrants.
If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, suspending the pursuit of a Business Combination. We cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
As a result of the above, in connection with our 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,” we have determined that the liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and dissolution raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern through March 30, 2022, the scheduled liquidation date of the Company if it does not complete a Business Combination prior to such date. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2021. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay Chardan Capital Markets, LLC a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial support. We began incurring these fees on December 23, 2020, and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of the Business Combination and our liquidation.
We have engaged Chardan Capital Markets, LLC as an advisor in connection with a Business Combination to assist us in holding meetings with stockholders to discuss the potential Business Combination and the target business’s attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities in connection with the potential Business Combination, assist us in obtaining stockholder approval for the Business Combination and assist us with press releases and public filings in connection with the Business Combination. We will pay Chardan Capital Markets, LLC a marketing fee for such services upon the completion of a Business Combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, including proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. As a result, Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will not be entitled to such fee unless the Business Combination is consummated.
In addition to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, we have engaged certain advisors to assist in capital raising efforts in connection with the proposed Business Combination. The fee arrangement with the advisors, including William Blair & Company LLC, Truist Securities Inc. and others are only payable upon the consummation of the Business Combination.
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Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
Warrant Liabilities
We do not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including issued warrants to purchase shares of common stock, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and ASC 815. We account for the private warrants in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 under which the private warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. Accordingly, we classify the private warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjust the private warrants to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our statements of operations. The private warrants are valued using a Modified Black Scholes model.
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Shares of common stock subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that is either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Certain of our common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at December 31, 2021 and 2020, common stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our consolidated balance sheets.
Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
Net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Accretion associated with the redeemable shares of common stock is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective January 1, 2022 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. We are currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Following the consummation of our Initial Public Offering, the proceeds held in the trust account have been invested in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 183 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
All financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item are listed in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (or are incorporated therein by reference) and are presented beginning on Page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
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Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act 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.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were not effective, due solely to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting for complex financial instruments. As a result, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Form 10-K present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented.
Management’s 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our consolidated 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 at December 31, 2021. 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, 2021.
Management has implemented remediation steps to improve our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we expanded and improved our review process for complex securities and related accounting standards. We plan to further improve this process by enhancing access to accounting literature, identification of third-party professionals with whom to consult regarding complex accounting applications and consideration of additional staff with the requisite experience and training to supplement existing accounting professionals.
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
Not applicable.
ITEM 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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part III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name | Age | Position | ||
Edward Scheetz | 57 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Director | ||
Matthew MacDonald | 37 | Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Director | ||
Brock Strasbourger | 34 | Chief Operating Officer | ||
Prasad Phatak | 39 | Chief Investment Officer | ||
Jonas Grossman | 48 | Director | ||
Woodrow H. Levin | 43 | Director | ||
Alex Weil | 50 | Director | ||
Julie Atkinson | 48 | Director | ||
Christian Ahrens | 45 | Director | ||
Bernard Van der Lande | 39 | Director |
Edward Scheetz has been our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since August 2020. He is also the co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ventoux Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Ventoux Acquisition”), our co-sponsor. From November, 2016 until present, Mr. Scheetz has actively pursued a range of projects in the hospitality and real estate sectors. In June 2018, Mr. Scheetz, with partners, acquired a mixed use hotel and condominium project in West Hollywood, CA. In March 2020, he began the redevelopment and expansion of the project. From 2013 until October 2016, Mr. Scheetz was Chief Executive Officer of Chelsea Hotels until the sale of that company. In March, 2011, Mr. Scheetz founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of King & Grove Hotels until 2013 when King & Grove Hotels became Chelsea Hotels. In 2005, Mr. Scheetz became Chief Executive Officer of Morgans Hotel Group Co. In 2006, he took Morgans public (NASDAQ: MHGC). Morgans was the developer, owner and operator of such iconic hotel properties as Delano and Shore Club in Miami, Mondrian in Los Angeles, Morgans, Royalton, Paramount and Hudson in New York, and Sanderson and St. Martin’s Lane in London. In 1997, Mr. Scheetz co-founded NorthStar Capital Investment Corp. (“NCIC”). While at NCIC, Mr. Scheetz co-founded real estate investment trust NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., which went public in 2004 (NYSE: NRF). Mr. Scheetz continued to serve as Executive Chairman of NRF through 2007. From 1993 until 1997, Mr. Scheetz was a partner at Apollo Management where he was the co-head of Apollo Real Estate Advisors and raised, invested and managed their first three real estate funds. Prior to his work at Apollo, Mr. Scheetz was at The Trammell Crow Companies and Crow Family Ventures where he was involved with Wyndham Hotels, assisted the Chief Financial Officer in restructuring The Trammell Crow Company, and was a Principal at Trammell Crow Ventures. Mr. Scheetz graduated from Princeton University where he earned an A.B. in Economics. We believe Mr. Scheetz is well qualified to serve as a director based on his extensive industry and transaction expertise and wide network of relationships with industry participants.
Matthew MacDonald has been our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, and a director since August 2020. He is also the co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of Ventoux Acquisition. Prior to co-founding Ventoux Acquisition in August 2020, Mr. MacDonald worked at Hyatt Hotels Corporation as the Vice President of Capital Strategy and Wellness Development, where he focused on acquiring hospitality companies and brands. Mr. MacDonald joined Hyatt in January 2017 as a result of Hyatt’s acquisition of Miraval Group, a leading hospitality wellness company. Mr. MacDonald joined Miraval Group, a KSL Capital portfolio company, as Vice President of Development in May 2016 following four years at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Mr. MacDonald is a graduate of the University of Denver and received a Master in Real Estate Finance from New York University. We believe Mr. MacDonald is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his experience in sourcing, negotiating and executing merger transactions within the hospitality, leisure, travel and dining sectors.
Brock Strasbourger has been our Chief Operating Officer since October 2020. He is also the Chief Operating Officer of Ventoux Acquisition. Prior to his work at Ventoux Acquisition, Mr. Strasbourger worked for Convene since December 2018 as the Vice President and Head of Strategic Partnerships, focusing on corporate development, opening new revenue streams, and driving growth through external channels. Prior to Convene, Mr. Strasbourger was the Vice President of Digital at OTG Management, an airport hospitality and technology business, from March 2016 through November 2018 and spent nearly three years at Fancy.com as the Head of Business. To begin his career, Mr. Strasbourger spent nearly four years on the Emerging Markets Fixed Income Sales and Trading desk at Barclays Capital (NYSE: BCS). Mr. Strasbourger is a graduate from the University of Michigan with honors and distinction.
Prasad Phatak has been our Chief Investment Officer since September 2020. He is also the Chief Investment Officer of Ventoux Acquisition. Since July 2011, Mr. Phatak has been the Managing Member of Tappan Street Partners LLC, where he has led the investment research and portfolio management for several private investment funds these past nine years. Additionally, from December 2019 to September 2020, Mr. Phatak was a Partner at Markley Capital Management, a US-focused investment firm. Mr. Phatak founded Tappan Street Partners after leaving Eton Park Capital Management, where he began as a Research Associate in October 2005 and focused on investing in both public and private investments in a variety of industries. Prior to Eton Park, Mr. Phatak worked as a private equity associate for Madison Dearborn Partners from July 2005 to October 2005, and began his career in July 2003 at the Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) in the Restructuring and Reorganization Advisory Group, where he worked for two years as an investment banking analyst, analyzing complex corporate restructurings in both out of court and Chapter 11 reorganizations. Mr. Phatak graduated with high distinction from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting in May 2003.
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Jonas Grossman has been our director since July 2019. Mr. Grossman is Chief Executive Officer of Chardan Capital Markets, LLC’s 11th sponsored or co-sponsored SPAC, Chardan NexTech Acquisition 2 Corp, a disruptive technology and healthcare focused SPAC. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Chardan Healthcare Acquisition 2 Corp. until its merger in September 2021 with Renovacor, Inc. (NYSE: RCOR). He is currently a director of Renovacor. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Chardan Healthcare Acquisition Corp. from March 2018 until its merger in October 2019 with BiomX Ltd. (NYSE: PHGE). Mr. Grossman is currently a director of BiomX. Mr. Grossman was a founder and director of LifeSci Acquisition Corp. from March, 2020 until the close of its business combination with Vincera Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: VINC) in December of 2020. He has served as a director to Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp. since December, 2020 and as a director to CleanTech Acquisition Corp. since July 2021. From 2001 until 2003, Mr. Grossman worked at Ramius Capital Group, LLC, a global multi-strategy hedge fund where he served as Vice President and Head Trader. Mr. Grossman has served as Partner and Head of Capital Markets for Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, a New York headquartered broker/dealer, since December 2003, and has served as President of Chardan Capital Markets, LLC since September 2015. Since 2003, Mr. Grossman has overseen the firm’s investment banking and capital markets activities and initiatives. He has extensive transactional experience, having led or managed more than 400 transactions during his tenure at Chardan. Since December 2006, Mr. Grossman has served as a founding partner for Cornix Advisors, LLC, a New York based hedge fund. From 2001 until 2003, Mr. Grossman worked at Ramius Capital Group, LLC, a global multi-strategy hedge fund where he served as Vice President and Head Trader. Mr. Grossman served as a director for Ideanomics, Inc. (formerly China Broadband, Inc.) (NASDAQ: IDEX) from January 2008 until November 2010. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business. We believe Mr. Grossman is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his long-running capital markets experience as well as his previous company board positions.
Woodrow (“Woody”) H. Levin has been our director since December 2020. Mr. Levin is the founder, and has been the Chief Executive Officer since February 2019, of Extend, Inc. Since January 2022, Mr. Levin has been a member of the board of directors of 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. II , a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Levin was the Chief Executive Officer of 3.0 Capital GP, LLC from November 2017 until January 2019. From September 2015 until October 2017, Mr. Levin served as Vice President of Growth at DocuSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: DOCU). In addition, Mr. Levin served as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Estate Assist, Inc., from February 2014 to September 2015 (at which time it was acquired), and BringIt, Inc., from June 2009 to September 2012 (at which time it was acquired by DocuSign). Before that, Mr. Levin served as Director Emerging Business — Office of the CTO at International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT). Since May 2013, Mr. Levin has served as a member of the board of directors of DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG), and he has served as a member of the board of directors of Extend, Inc. since February 2019. Since September 2020, Mr. Levin has been a member of the board of directors of 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Levin received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin. We believe Mr. Levin is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive experience and knowledge as an executive for technology companies.
Alex Weil has been our director since December 2020. Mr. Weil has served as Managing Director and Co-Head of Fintech Investment Banking at Chardan Capital Markets, LLC since March 2020. Since March 2021, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of Chardan NexTech Acquisition Corp., for which he has agreed to serve as a director upon the effectiveness of its registration statement. Since April 2021, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of Chardan NexTech Acquisition 2 Corp., and since August 2021 has also served on its board of directors. From January 2018 to March 2020, Mr. Weil served as Managing Director and Head of Insurtech Investment banking at SenaHill Securities, LLC, a New York headquartered broker/dealer. From January 2013 to September 2017, Mr. Weil, was a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. Prior to 2012, Mr. Weil held positions as a Director at Lazard Middle Market, LLC, an Executive Director at UBS Securities LLC and a Director at Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Mr. Weil holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder. We believe Mr. Weil is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive capital markets and transaction management experience and network of relationships.
Julie Atkinson has been our director since December 2020. Ms. Atkinson served as Chief Marketing Officer for Founders Table Restaurant Group since October 2019. She previously served as Senior Vice President, Global Digital at Tory Burch LLC from January 2017 to May 2018. Prior to joining Tory Burch, Ms. Atkinson served in various leadership roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., most recently as Senior Vice President, Global Digital from November 2014 to January 2017 and as Vice President of Global Online Distribution from September 2012 until November 2014. Prior to joining Starwood, Ms. Atkinson held multiple roles at Travelocity including marketing and operations. Since December 2017, Ms. Atkinson has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE: BFAM). Ms. Atkinson holds a B.A. in English and Political Science from Amherst College. We believe Ms. Atkinson is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of her 20-year track record of executing innovative strategic and tactical leadership for global consumer brand.
Christian (“Chris”) Ahrens has been our director since December 2020. Mr. Ahrens has been an Advisor with Certares Management LLC since October 2017. From January 2015 until September 2017 Mr. Ahrens was a Partner with Certares. Prior to December 2015 Mr. Ahrens was a Managing Director at One Equity Partners, the private equity investing arm of JPMorgan Chase, which he joined in September 2001. Mr. Ahrens has served as a board member at Internova Travel Group since January 2015. Mr. Ahrens received his A.B. from Princeton University. We believe Mr. Ahrens is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his experience in corporate finance and investing.
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Bernard A. Van der Lande has been our director since December 2020. Mr. Van der Lande has been a Managing Director of Cindat USA LLC since January 2020. Mr. Van der Lande was Chief Issuance Officer of Templum, Inc. from February 2019 until August 2019. From November 2017 until January 2019, Mr. Van der Lande served as Managing Director of Easterly Capital, LLC. Before that, Mr. Van der Lande was with CBRE, Inc. from January 2013 until November 2017, where he served in capacities of Managing Director of its investment banking division, Capital Advisors, and Senior Vice President of its international hotels brokerage business. In addition, Mr. Van der Lande served as Managing Director of Hodges Ward Elliott’s Lodging Capital Markets business, where he worked from October 2008 until December 2012. Mr. Van der Lande received his B.A. from Davidson College. We believe Mr. Van der Lande is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive experience in the global capital markets, public and private markets, and with cross-border lodging and hospitality transactions, as well as his knowledge as an executive for emerging technology, and private equity companies.
Ventoux Acquisition has agreed with one of its members to re-nominate each of our current directors for any election of directors we hold prior to the closing of our initial Business Combination, and that it will vote in favor of the election of such persons.
Officer and Director Qualifications
Our officers and board of directors are composed of a diverse group of leaders with a wide array of professional roles. In these roles, they have gained experience in core management skills, such as strategic and financial planning, financial reporting, compliance, risk management, and leadership development. Many of our officers and directors also have experience serving on boards of directors and board committees of other companies, and have an understanding of corporate governance practices and trends, which provides an understanding of different business processes, challenges, and strategies. Further, our officers and directors also have other experience that makes them valuable, managing and investing assets or facilitating the consummation of business combinations.
We, along with our officers and directors, believe that the above-mentioned attributes, along with the leadership skills and other experiences of our officers and board members described below, provide us with a diverse range of perspectives and judgment necessary to facilitate our goals of consummating an acquisition transaction.
Board Meetings
During 2021, the Board held three meetings.
Board Committees
The Board has a standing audit, nominating and corporate governance, and compensation committee. The independent directors oversee director nominations. Each committee has a charter, adopted in connection with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, which is established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, engages the Company’s independent accountants, reviewing their independence and performance, and reviews the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the integrity of its financial statements, the audits of the Company’s financial statements and the appointment, compensation, qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditors; the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2021.
The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Weil, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Ahrens, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq’s listing standards. Mr. Weil is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that Mr. Weil qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under the rules and regulations of Nasdaq and the SEC.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our Board. Specifically, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of the Board, establishes procedures for the director nomination process and screens and recommends candidates for election to the Board. On an annual basis, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends for approval by the Board certain desired qualifications and characteristics for board membership. Additionally, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee establishes and administers a periodic assessment procedure relating to the performance of the Board as a whole and its individual members. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by stockholders and other persons. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not hold any meetings during 2021.
The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Mr. Weil, Mr. Ahrens, and Ms. Atkinson, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq’s listing standards. Mr. Ahrens is the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee reviews annually the Company’s corporate goals and objectives relevant to the officers’ compensation, evaluates the officers’ performance in light of such goals and objectives, determines and approves the officers’ compensation level based on this evaluation; makes recommendations to the Board regarding approval, disapproval, modification, or termination of existing or proposed employee benefit plans; makes recommendations to the Board with respect to non-CEO and non-CFO compensation and administers the Company’s incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans. The Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. The chief executive officer of the Company may not be present during voting or deliberations of the Compensation Committee with respect to his compensation. The Company’s executive officers do not play a role in suggesting their own salaries. Neither the Company nor the Compensation Committee has engaged any compensation consultant who has a role in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive or director compensation. The Compensation Committee did not meet during 2021.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, including our directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial Business Combination.
The members of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Levin, Ms. Atkinson, and Mr. Van der Lande, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq’s listing standards. Mr. Levin is the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee.
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.
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.
15
Executive Officers and Director Compensation
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. No compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, including our directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination. However, such individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors and Audit Committee, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth, as of February 22, 2022, certain information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by each person who is known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company’s common stock. The table also identifies the stock ownership of each of the Company’s directors and officers, and all directors and officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.
Shares of common stock which an individual or group has a right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to the exercise or conversion of options, warrants or other similar convertible or derivative securities are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Amount
and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (2) | Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock (%) | ||||||
Edward Scheetz(3) | 2,728,875 | 12.7 | % | |||||
Matthew MacDonald(3) | 2,728,875 | 12.7 | % | |||||
Brock Strasbourger | — | — | % | |||||
Prasad Phatak | — | — | % | |||||
Jonas Grossman(4) | 1,493,625 | 6.9 | % | |||||
Alex Weil | — | — | % | |||||
Woodrow H. Levin(5) | 22,500 | * | ||||||
Julie Atkinson | 22,500 | * | ||||||
Christian Ahrens | 22,500 | * | ||||||
Bernard Van der Lande | — | — | % | |||||
All officers and directors as a group (10 individuals)(3)(4) | 4,290,000 | 19.9 | % | |||||
Ventoux Acquisition Holdings LLC(6) | 2,728,875 | 12.7 | % | |||||
Chardan International Investments, LLC(7) | 1,493,625 | 6.9 | % | |||||
Polar Asset Management Partners Inc.(8) | 1,300,000 | 6.0 | % | |||||
Bank of Montreal(9) | 1,202,033 | 5.6 | % | |||||
MMCAP International Inc. SPC(10) | 1,200,000 | 5.6 | % | |||||
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.(11) | 1,150,000 | 5.3 | % | |||||
Barclays PLC(12) | 1,100,593 | 5.1 | % |
* | Less than 1%. |
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the stockholders is c/o Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp., 1 East Putnam Avenue, Floor 4, Greenwich, CT 06830. |
(2) | Excludes shares issuable pursuant to warrants and rights issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering. The warrants will not become exercisable until the later of one year after the closing of the Initial Public Offering or the consummation of an initial Business Combination. Each holder of a right will receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon consummation of our initial Business Combination. |
(3) | Includes shares owned by Ventoux Acquisition Holdings LLC, for which Edward Scheetz and Matthew MacDonald are the managing members. |
(4) | Includes shares owned by Chardan International Investments, LLC, for which Jonas Grossman is the managing member. |
(5) | Consists of shares owned by Blind 1212, LLC for which Woodrow H. Levin is the sole and managing member. |
(6) | Edward Scheetz and Matthew MacDonald are the managing members of Ventoux Acquisition Holdings LLC. |
(7) | Jonas Grossman is the managing member of Chardan International Investments, LLC. |
16
(8) | The information reported is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 11, 2021. According to the Schedule 13G/A, as of December 31, 2021, Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. (“Polar”), which serves as the investment advisor to Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund (“PMSMF”) with respect to the 1,300,000 shares of our common stock directly held by PMSMF, has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to such securities. The address for Polar is 16 York Street, Suite 2900, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0E6. |
(9) | The information reported is based on a Schedule 13G filed on February 15, 2022. According to the Schedule 13G, as of December 31, 2021, Bank of Montreal (as a parent holding company) has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,202,033 shares of our common stock. The address for Bank of Montreal is 100 King Street West, 21st Floor, Toronto, M5X 1A1, Ontario, Canada. |
(10) | The information reported is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 4, 2022. According to the Schedule 13G/A, as of December 31, 2021, each of MMCAP International Inc. SPC and MM Asset Management Inc. has shared voting and dispositive power over 1,200,000 shares of our common stock. The address for MMCAP International Inc. is Mourant Governance Services (Cayman) Limited, 94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, P.O. Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108, Cayman Islands. The address for MM Asset Management Inc. is 161 Bay Street, TD Canada Trust Tower Ste 2240, Toronto, ON M5J 2S1, Canada. |
(11) | The information is based on a Schedule 13G filed on February 12, 2021. According to the Schedule 13G, as of December 31, 2020, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Mizuho Americas LLC may be deemed to be indirect beneficial owners of 1,150,000 shares of our common stock held by Mizuho Securities USA LLC, which is their wholly-owned subsidiary. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. has sole voting and dispositive power over such securities. The address of each of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. is 1–5–5, Otemachi, Chiyoda–ku, Tokyo 100–8176, Japan. The address of each of Mizuho Americas LLC and Mizuho Securities USA LLC is 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. |
(12) | The information reported is based on a Schedule 13G filed on February 11, 2022. According to the Schedule 13G, as of December 31, 2021, Barclays PLC (as a parent holding company) (“Barclays”) has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,100,593 shares of our common stock. The address for Barclays is 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP, England. |
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
On August 20, 2020, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to Ventoux Acquisition. The outstanding balance under the promissory note of $151,812 was repaid in full on December 31, 2020.
In addition, at the closing of the IPO, the Company’s stockholders prior to the IPO purchased from the Company an aggregate of 6,000,000 private warrants at $1.00 per private warrant (for a total purchase price of $6,000,000). In connection with the closing of the issuance sale of the Over-Allotment Option Units, the Company’s stockholders prior to the IPO purchased from the Company an aggregate of 675,000 private warrants at $1.00 per private warrant (for a total purchase price of $675,000). As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no loans outstanding, including any loans from its directors or officers.
Jonas Grossman and Alex Weil are affiliated with Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, in addition to being directors of the Company. While no direct compensation arrangements regarding such individuals have been entered into regarding such fees, these executives may benefit indirectly from any such amounts payable to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC in respect of marketing fees, costs and expenses incurred by Chardan Capital Markets, LLC in connection with the identification, review and negotiation and approval of the initial Business Combination.
We pay to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, an affiliate of Chardan International Investments, LLC, our co-sponsor and an affiliate of certain of the Company’s directors and Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, the representative of the underwriters in our Initial Public Offering, a fee of $10,000 per month for use of office space and certain office and secretarial services.
On August 9, 2021, we entered into an engagement agreement with Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, pursuant to which Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will act as co-lead placement agent in our private placement of securities in connection with the proposed Business Combination. Under the terms of the engagement agreement, we agreed to pay the placement agents (i) a fee equal to 6% of the amounts raised under the private placement and (ii) a fee equal to 1% of the amount remaining in the trust account after redemptions in connection with the Business Combination. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will be paid no less than 20% of such fees. Our director, Jonas Grossman is President of Chardan Capital Markets, LLC.
Related Party Policy
Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the Audit Committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
17
Our Audit Committee, pursuant to its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. 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 require prior approval by our Audit Committee and a majority of our disinterested independent directors, or the members of our board of directors who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our Audit Committee and a majority of our disinterested independent directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, we require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate a business combination with an entity which is affiliated with any of our initial stockholders unless we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view. Furthermore, in no event will any of our existing officers, directors or initial stockholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. For a description of the director independence, see above Part III, Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The firm of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, or Withum, acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following is a summary of fees paid to Withum for services rendered.
Audit Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm were approximately $99,910 and $65,400, respectively, for the services Withum performed in connection with our Initial Public Offering, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and the audit of our December 31, 2021 financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Audit-Related Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our independent registered public accounting firm did not render assurance and related services related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements.
Tax Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, fees for our independent registered public accounting firm were approximately $7,725 and $0 for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, respectively.
All Other Fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no fees billed for products and services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm other than those set forth above.
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).
18
part IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) | The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: |
(1) | Financial Statements: |
(2) | Financial Statement Schedules: |
None.
19
(3) | Exhibits: |
The following exhibits are filed with this report. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference can be obtained from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
20
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished herewith. This certification is being furnished solely to accompany this report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filings of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing. |
† | Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request. |
+ | Portions of this exhibit (indicated by +) have been omitted under rules of the SEC permitting the confidential treatment of select information. |
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
21
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.
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
Dated: February 23, 2022 | By: | /s/ Edward Scheetz |
Name: | Edward Scheetz | |
Title: | Chairman and Chief 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/ Edward Scheetz | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | February 23, 2022 | ||
Edward Scheetz | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Matthew MacDonald | Chief Financial Officer | February 23, 2022 | ||
Matthew MacDonald | (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer), Secretary and Director |
|||
/s/ Jonas Grossman | Director | February 23, 2022 | ||
Jonas Grossman | ||||
/s/ Alex Weil | Director | February 23, 2022 | ||
Alex Weil | ||||
/s/ Woodrow H. Levin | Director | February 23, 2022 | ||
Woodrow H. Levin | ||||
/s/ Julie Atkinson | Director | February 23, 2022 | ||
Julie Atkinson | ||||
/s/ Christian Ahrens | Director | February 23, 2022 | ||
Christian Ahrens | ||||
/s/ Bernard Van der Lande | Director | February 23, 2022 | ||
Bernard Van der Lande |
22
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp.
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, if the Company is unable to raise additional funds to alleviate liquidity needs and complete a business combination by March 30, 2022, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition and 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 consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated 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/ |
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
February 23, 2022
PCAOB ID Number
F-2
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash | $ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
Total Current Assets | ||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
Due to related party | — | |||||||
Advance from related party | ||||||||
Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Warrant liabilities | ||||||||
Total Liabilities | ||||||||
Commitments | ||||||||
Common stock subject to possible redemption | ||||||||
Stockholders’ Deficit | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $ | ||||||||
Common stock, $ | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Total Stockholders’ Deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | $ | $ |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-3
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
Loss on initial issuance of private warrants | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Transaction costs allocable to warrant liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ||||||||
Total other income (expense), net | ( | ) | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of common stock | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of common stock | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share | $ | ( | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-4
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2021
Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated | Total | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
Balance – January 1, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
Allocation of Initial Public Offering to public warrants | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of Initial Public Offering to public rights | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2020 | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Allocation of Initial Public Offering to public warrants | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Allocation of Initial Public Offering to public rights | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Accretion for common stock to redemption amount | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
Loss on initial issuance of private warrants | ||||||||
Transaction costs allocable to warrant liabilities | ||||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account | ( | ) | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | ||||||||
Due to related party | ||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
Investment of cash in Trust Account | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriting discounts paid | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of Private Warrants | ||||||||
Advances from related parties | ||||||||
Repayment of advances from related parties | ( | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from promissory note - related party | ||||||||
Repayment of promissory note - related party | ( | ) | ||||||
Payment of offering costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
Net Change in Cash | ( | ) | ||||||
Cash – Beginning of year | ||||||||
Cash – End of year | $ | $ | ||||||
Non-Cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
Offering costs paid through promissory note | $ | $ | ||||||
Initial accretion for common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Change in accretion for common stock subject to possible redemption | $ | ( | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp. (formerly known as Chardan Global Acquisition Corp.) (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on July 10, 2019. The Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business transaction with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”).
The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
The Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Ventoux Merger Sub I Inc. (“Ventoux Merger Sub”), and Ventoux Merger Sub II, LLC (“Ventoux Merger Sub II”), which were incorporated in the State of Delaware on November 3, 2021.
As of December 31, 2021 the Company had not commenced any operations. All of the Company’s activity through December 31, 2021 relate to the Company’s formation, the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination and activities in connection with a proposed acquisition of E La Carte, Inc., d/b/a Presto, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Presto”) (as more fully described in Note 6). The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held in the Trust Account (as defined below).
The registration statement
for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on December 23, 2020. On December 30, 2020, the Company consummated
the Initial Public Offering of
Simultaneously with the closing
of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of
Following the closing of
the Initial Public Offering on December 30, 2020, an amount of $
On January 5, 2021,
the underwriters fully exercised their over-allotment option. In connection with the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment
option, the Company also consummated the sale of an additional
Transaction costs amounted to $
F-7
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
The Company’s
management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale
of the Private Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business
Combination. The Company’s initial Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market
value equal to at least
The Company will
provide its 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 Company may require stockholders to vote for or against the Business Combination to be able
to redeem their shares, and stockholders who do not vote, or who abstain from voting, on the Business Combination will not be able to
redeem their shares. The stockholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then on deposit in
the Trust Account (initially $
The Company will
proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and the Company does not conduct redemptions pursuant
to the tender offer rules, a 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 in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming their shares with respect to more than an aggregate of
The Company will
have until March 30, 2022 to consummate a Business Combination. However, if the Company anticipates that it may not be able to consummate
a Business Combination by March 30, 2022, the Company may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination one time by an
additional three months (until June 30, 2022) to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”).
F-8
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
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 no more than five business days thereafter, redeem
The Initial Stockholders
have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to Founder Shares and any Public Shares they may acquire during or after
the Initial Public Offering in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions
from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the Combination
Period and (iii) not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect
the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem
In order to protect
the amounts held in the Trust Account, certain of the Initial Stockholders (the “Insiders”) have 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 $
Going Concern and Liquidity
As of December
31, 2021, the Company had $
If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, suspending the pursuit of a Business Combination. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
As a result of the above, in connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through March 30, 2022, the scheduled liquidation date of the Company if it does not complete a Business Combination prior to such date. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
F-9
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
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 consolidated financial statement with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. One of the more significant accounting estimates included in these consolidated financial statements is the determination of the fair value of the warrant liabilities. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and, 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 no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
F-10
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features 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. Certain of 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. Accordingly, shares of common stock subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period.
At December 31, 2021, the common stock reflected in the consolidated balance sheets is reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds | $ | |||
Less: | ||||
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants | ( | ) | ||
Proceeds Allocated to Public Rights | ( | ) | ||
Common stock issuance costs | ( | ) | ||
Plus: | ||||
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | ||||
Common stock subject to possible redemption | $ |
Warrant Liabilities
The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including warrants to purchase shares of common stock, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). The Company accounts for the Public Warrants and Private Warrants in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity,” under which the Private Warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. Accordingly, the Company classifies the Private Warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjusts the Private Warrants to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our statements of operations. The Private Warrants were initially and subsequently valued using a Modified Black-Scholes model, which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
F-11
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
The Company may be subject to potential examination by federal, state and city 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, state and city 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. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.
The Company has not considered
the effect of (1) warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering to purchase
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that
potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times
may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximate the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature, except for the Private Warrants (see Note 10).
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers consist of:
● | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; |
F-12
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
● | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and | |
● | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, “Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)” (“ASU 2020-06”), to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective January 1, 2022 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
In connection with
the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously
with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, Ventoux Acquisition purchased an aggregate of
F-13
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On September 19, 2019, Chardan
Investments purchased
The
The Initial Stockholders have agreed that, subject to certain limited exceptions, 50% of the Founder Shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until the earlier of (i) six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after a Business Combination and the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on December 23, 2020
through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or its liquidation, to pay Chardan Capital Markets,
LLC a total of $
Related Party Loans
In order to finance
transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Initial Stockholders, an affiliate of the Initial Stockholders, or the
Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds from time to time or at any time, as may
be required (“Working Capital Loans”). Each Working Capital Loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes may be
repaid upon completion of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $
F-14
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Related Party Extension Loans
As discussed in
Note 1, the Company may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination one time, for an additional three months (until
June 30, 2022) to complete a Business Combination.
Advances from Related Parties
Related parties advanced
the Company approximately $
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations, and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these consolidated financial statements. These consolidated financial statement do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Registration and Stockholder Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on December 23, 2020, the holders of the Founder Shares and the Private Warrants and securities that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans will be entitled to registration and stockholder rights pursuant to an agreement. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that the Company 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 Warrants (and underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after (i) the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination with respect to the Private Warrants or (ii) three months prior to the Release Date with respect to all other Registrable Securities, but prior to the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the Company’s Form S-1 Registration Statement.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted
the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to
The underwriters
were paid cash underwriting discount of $
Business Combination Marketing Agreement
The Company has
engaged Chardan Capital Markets, LLC as an advisor in connection with a Business Combination to assist the Company in holding meetings
with its stockholders to discuss the potential Business Combination and the target business’s attributes, introduce the Company
to potential investors that are interested in purchasing the Company’s securities in connection with the potential Business Combination,
assist the Company in obtaining stockholder approval for the Business Combination and assist the Company with its press releases and public
filings in connection with the Business Combination. The Company will pay Chardan Capital Markets, LLC a marketing fee for such services
upon the consummation of a Business Combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate,
F-15
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Merger Agreement
On November 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger by and among the Company, Ventoux Merger Sub, Ventoux Merger Sub II, and Presto” (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement has been approved by the Company’s and Presto’s board of directors. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by Presto and the Company’s stockholders, (a) Ventoux Merger Sub will merge with and into Presto (the “First Merger”), with Presto being the surviving entity in the First Merger and continuing (immediately following the First Merger) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Surviving Corporation”), and (b) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, the Surviving Corporation will merge with and into Ventoux Merger Sub II (the “Second Merger”), with Ventoux Merger Sub II being the surviving entity in the Second Merger and continuing (immediately following the Second Merger) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Mergers” and the other agreements and transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Proposed Business Combination”). In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination, the Company will be renamed Presto Technologies, Inc. and is referred to herein as “New Presto” as of the time of such change of name.
Pursuant to the
Merger Agreement, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the Proposed
Business Combination (the “Closing”), the Company will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of Presto, and stockholders
of Presto will receive $
In addition to
the Aggregate Base Consideration, Presto stockholders may be entitled to receive, as additional consideration, and without any action
on behalf of the Company, Ventoux Merger Sub, Ventoux Merger Sub II or the Company’s stockholders,
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the time the First Merger becomes effective (the “Effective Time”), each option exercisable for Presto equity that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time will be assumed and converted into a newly issued option exercisable for common stock of New Presto. At the Effective Time, each warrant of Presto that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, in accordance with its terms, either be (i) cancelled and converted into the right to receive common stock of New Presto, or (ii) assumed and converted into a newly issued warrant exercisable for common stock of New Presto. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each convertible promissory note convertible for Presto equity that is issued and outstanding shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive common stock of New Presto in accordance with the terms therein.
Subscription Agreements
The Company entered
into equity subscription agreements (the “Equity Subscription Agreements”) each dated as of November 10, 2021, with certain
accredited investors, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell, in private placements to close immediately
prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing, an aggregate of
F-16
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
The Company also
entered into a convertible note subscription agreement (the “Convertible Note Subscription Agreement” and, together with the
Equity Subscription Agreements, the “Subscription Agreements”), each dated as of November 10, 2021, with an institutional
accredited investor (collectively, the “Note Investor”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue
and sell, in a private placement to close immediately prior to the Closing, an aggregate of $
At any time prior
to the close of business on the second trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the Notes, the Notes will be convertible,
at each holder’s option, into shares of common stock of New Presto at an initial conversion price equal to the lesser of (i) $
At any time on
or after the first anniversary of the issuance of the Notes until the second business day prior to maturity, the Notes will be convertible,
in whole but not in part, at the Company’s option (a “Mandatory Conversion”) if the closing price of common stock is
greater than or equal to
In addition, the
Company may redeem the Notes at any time prior to the 21st trading day before maturity by paying, in cash, the principal, accrued interest,
and a premium equal to, (1) through third anniversary, the present value of all remaining scheduled interest payments, computed using
a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate (to be defined in the Indenture) plus
Each holder of
a Note will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase for cash all or a portion of the Notes held by such holder at any time upon
the occurrence of a “fundamental change,” a customary definition of which will be agreed in the Indenture (a “Fundamental
Change”), at a repurchase price equal to
The Company will
pay interest on the principal amount of the Notes in cash or in kind, at the Company’s election.
The Note Financing
Warrants have the same terms and conditions as the Company’s outstanding publicly held warrants, except that each Note Financing
Warrant is exercisable into one whole share of common stock at an exercise price of $
F-17
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Sponsor Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Sponsors, Presto’s directors and officers and certain affiliates of the Sponsors (together, the “Sponsor Parties”) entered into a Sponsor Support Agreement (the “Sponsor Agreement”) with the Company and Presto, pursuant to which the Sponsor Parties agreed, among other things, to vote all shares of the Company common stock beneficially owned by them in favor of each of the proposals at the Company Special Meeting and against any proposal that would impede the Proposed Business Combination. The Sponsor Agreement also provides that the Sponsor Parties will not redeem any shares of the Company common stock.
The Sponsor Parties
agreed to subject the founder shares they acquired prior to the Company initial public offering to lock-up restrictions. During the period
beginning on the Closing Date until the period beginning on the Closing Date to six months after the Closing Date, the Sponsor Parties
may not transfer any of its, his or her founder shares, and during the period beginning on the date that is six months after the Closing
Date to 12 twelve months after the Closing Date, the Sponsor Parties may only transfer up to
The Sponsors also
agreed to subject their founder shares to vesting and forfeiture provisions as set forth in the Sponsor Agreement based on the number
of public shares redeemed at the closing of the Proposed Business Combination (such shares, the “Sponsors’ Earnout Shares”).
Pursuant to the Sponsor Agreement, at the Closing,
Presto Stockholder Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of Presto (collectively, the “Presto Supporting Stockholders”) entered into support agreements (collectively, the “Stockholder Support Agreements”), pursuant to which each Presto Supporting Stockholder agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Proposed Business Combination), not to transfer his, her or its Presto shares prior to the Closing Date, and to execute the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below) at the Closing Date.
The Presto Stockholder
Support Agreements provide that during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is six months after the Closing
Date, the Presto Supporting Stockholders may not transfer any of their shares of New Presto common stock, and during the period beginning
on the date that is six months after the Closing Date and ending on the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date, the Presto Supporting
Stockholders may only transfer up to
The Proposed Business Combination is expected to be consummated after receipt of the required approvals by the stockholders of the Company and Presto and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other customary conditions. For full details and the filed agreements, refer to our Current Report on 8-K announcing the Merger Agreement filed on November 10, 2021.
F-18
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
NOTE 7. STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Preferred Stock
— Per the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company is authorized to issue up to
Common Stock —
The Company is authorized to issue
Rights — Except in cases where the Company is not the surviving company in a Business Combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon consummation of the Business Combination, even if the holder of a right converted all shares held by him, her or it in connection with the Business Combination or an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation with respect to its pre-business combination activities. In the event that the Company will not be the surviving company upon completion of the Business Combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock underlying each right upon consummation of the Business Combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive his, her or its additional share of common stock upon consummation of the Business Combination. The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company). 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 shares of common stock will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into common stock basis.
The Company will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights, so holders must hold rights in denominations of 20 in order to receive a share of the Company’s common stock at the closing of the initial Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete an initial Business Combination within the required time 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. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
NOTE 8. WARRANTS
Warrants —
There are
The Company may redeem the Public Warrants:
F-19
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuance of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of rights or warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights or warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such rights or warrants. Accordingly, the rights and warrants may expire worthless.
In addition, if the Company
issues additional common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of a Business Combination
at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $
The Public Warrants are accounted for as equity in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Private Warrants are
identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering except that each Private Warrant is exercisable
for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $
The Private Warrants are accounted for as liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 9. INCOME TAX
The Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Deferred tax asset | ||||||||
Net operating loss carryforward | $ | $ | ||||||
Organizational costs/Startup expenses | ||||||||
Total deferred tax asset | ||||||||
Valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance | $ | $ |
The income tax provision consists of the following:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Federal | ||||||||
Current | $ | $ | ||||||
Deferred | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
State | ||||||||
Current | ||||||||
Deferred | ||||||||
Change in valuation allowance | ||||||||
Income tax provision | $ | $ |
F-20
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
As of December 31, 2021,
the Company had a U.S. federal net operating loss carryover of approximately $
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. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the change
in the valuation allowance was $
A reconciliation of the federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Statutory federal income tax rate | % | % | ||||||
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit | % | % | ||||||
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||
Transaction costs allocable to warrant liabilities | % | ( | )% | |||||
Change in valuation allowance | % | ( | )% | |||||
Income tax provision | % | % |
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction in various state and local jurisdictions and is subject to examination by the various taxing authorities.
NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820 for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The Company classifies its U.S. Treasury and equivalent securities as held-to-maturity in accordance with ASC Topic 320, “Investments — Debt and Equity Securities.” Held-to-maturity securities are those securities which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. Held-to-maturity treasury securities are recorded at amortized cost on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts.
The Company presents its investment in money market funds on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities is included in interest income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.
F-21
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
At December 31, 2021, assets
held in the Trust Account was comprised of $
At December 31, 2020, assets
held in the Trust Account were comprised of $
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2021 and 2020 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.
Description | Level | December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account – U.S. Treasury Securities Money Market Fund | 1 | $ | $ |
The following table presents information about the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
Description | Level | December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Warrant Liabilities – Private Warrants | 3 | $ | $ |
The Private Warrants were accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented within warrant liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Private Warrants were valued using a Modified Black-Scholes model, which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement. The Modified Black-Scholes model’s primary unobservable input utilized in determining the fair value of the Private Warrants is the expected volatility of the common stock. The expected volatility was initially derived from observable public warrant pricing on comparable ‘blank-check’ companies without an identified target. The expected volatility as of subsequent valuation dates was implied from the Company’s own Public Warrant pricing. Inherent in a Black-Scholes model are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. However, inherent uncertainties are involved. If factors or assumptions change, the estimated fair values could be materially different. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the grant date for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the warrants. The expected life of the warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates remaining at zero.
The following table presents the quantitative information regarding Level 3 fair value measurements of the warrant liabilities:
December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Exercise price | $ | $ | ||||||
Stock price | $ | $ | ||||||
Volatility | % | % | ||||||
Term | ||||||||
Risk-free rate | % | % | ||||||
Dividend yield | % | % |
F-22
VENTOUX CCM ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
The following table presents the changes in the fair value of Level 3 warrant liabilities:
Fair value as of January 1, 2020 | $ | |||
Initial measurement on December 30, 2020 (Initial Public Offering) | ||||
Change in fair value | ||||
Fair value as of December 31, 2020 | ||||
Initial measurement on January 5, 2021 (Over-allotment) | ||||
Change in fair value | ( | ) | ||
Fair value as of December 31, 2021 | $ |
Transfers to/from levels 1, 2, and 3 are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period. There were no transfers in or out of Level 3 from other levels in the fair value hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the consolidated financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.
F-23
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO RULES 13A-14(A) AND 15D-14(A) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Edward Scheetz, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp.; | |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; | |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; | |
4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: | |
a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and | |
b) | (Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. and 33-8392/34-49313); and | |
c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | |
d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and | |
5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): | |
a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | |
b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: February 23, 2022 |
/s/ Edward Scheetz | |
Edward Scheetz | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal executive officer) |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO RULES 13A-14(A) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Matthew MacDonald, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp. | |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; | |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; | |
4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: | |
a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and | |
b) | (Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/34-49313); and | |
c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | |
d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and | |
5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): | |
a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | |
b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: February 23, 2022 | |
/s/ Matthew MacDonald | |
Matthew MacDonald | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal financial and accounting officer) |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned, in the capacities and on the dates indicated below, hereby certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and | |
2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company. |
Date: February 23, 2022 | /s/ Edward Scheetz |
Edward Scheetz | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal executive officer) |
Date: February 23, 2022 | /s/ Matthew MacDonald |
Matthew MacDonald | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal financial and accounting officer) |