AIB Acquisition Corp - Ordinary Shares (AIB) 10-K2022 FY Annual report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

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

For the transition period from               to                

Commission file number: 001-41230

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 380-8128

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

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 ☐ No ☒

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 ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 ☒ No ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

The aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of the registrant’s Class A ordinary shares, other than shares held by persons who may be deemed affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing price for the Class A ordinary shares on June 30, 2022, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market was $86,549,816.5.

As of March 29, 2023, there were 1,472,277 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and 2,156,250 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the registrant issued and outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Report (as defined below), including, without limitation, statements under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act (as defined below) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act (as defined below). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. There can be no assurance that actual results will not materially differ from expectations. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our ability to consummate any acquisition or other business combination and any other statements that are not statements of current or historical facts. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including, but not limited to:

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. Future developments affecting us may not 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. 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. 

Unless otherwise stated in this Report, or the context otherwise requires, references to:

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Overview

We are a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting our initial business combination.

While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any business, industry or geographical location, we have focused and will continue to focus our search on businesses in the financial technology industries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not pursue a target business that is headquartered in, or conducts a majority of its business in, China or Hong Kong. We believe that we will add value to these businesses primarily by providing them with access to the U.S. capital markets.

Initial Public Offering

On January 21, 2022, we consummated our initial public offering of 8,625,000 units, including 1,125,000 units issued to the underwriters upon the full exercise of the over-allotment option. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, and one right, with each right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $86,250,000.

Simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering, we completed the private sale of an aggregate of 388,750 units to our sponsor and Maxim at a purchase price of $10.00 per private unit, generating gross proceeds of $3,887,500.

A total of $87,112,500, comprised of $83,225,000 of the proceeds from the initial public offering and $3,887,500 of the proceeds of the sale of the private units was placed in the trust account maintained by Continental, acting as trustee.

It is the job of our sponsor and management team to complete our initial business combination. Our management team is led by Eric Chen, our Chief Executive Officer, and Alex Hoerger, our Chairman of the Board. We must complete our initial business combination by October 21, 2023, the current end of our Combination Period. If our initial business combination is not consummated by the end of the Combination Period, then our existence will terminate, and we will distribute all amounts in the trust account.

Extension Amendments and Redemption

On January 18, 2023 we held the Extraordinary Meeting and approved, among other things, amendments to the second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (i) extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023, and (ii) to permit the board, in its sole discretion, to elect to wind up our operations on an earlier date than October 21, 2023. In connection with the Extension Amendments, shareholders holding 7,623,698 ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account. As a result of the Extension Redemption, an aggregate amount of $78,324,475.94 (approximately $10.27 per share) was removed from the trust account to pay such holders.

On January 20, 2023, in connection with the Extension Amendments, we issued the Extension Note, a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $450,000 to the sponsor, pursuant to which the Extension Funds will be deposited into the trust account in monthly installments for the benefit of each public share that was not redeemed in connection with the Extension Amendments. The sponsor agreed to pay $50,000 (or $0.05 per public share not redeemed) per month that the board decides to take to complete an initial business combination, commencing on January 21, 2023 and continuing through October 21, 2023. On January 20, 2023, the first installment of the Extension Funds was deposited into the trust account. The Extension Note bears no interest and is repayable in full upon the earlier of (a) the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, and (b) the date of our liquidation.

Investment Criteria

Our management team has focused and will continue to focus on creating shareholder value by leveraging its experience in the management, operation and financing of businesses to improve the efficiency of operations while implementing strategies to help our potential business combination target scale revenue organically and/or through acquisitions. We have identified the following general criteria and guidelines, which we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. While we have used and will continue to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we see justification to do so.

These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general criteria and guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. We believe our management team’s extensive contacts, broad industry knowledge and highly regarded experience will yield a robust deal flow from which we may select a target. We seek to acquire the target on terms and in a manner that leverages our management team’s experience. The potential upside from growth in the target business and an improved capital structure will be weighed against any identified downside risks designed to balance value creation with capital preservation. In the event that we decide to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that meets some but not all of the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business meets some but not all of the above criteria and guidelines in our shareholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this Report, would be in the form of proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, that we would file with the SEC. In evaluating a prospective target business, we conduct a due diligence review which encompasses, among other things, meetings with incumbent ownership, management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information that are made available to us.

Competitive Strengths

Management Team

We believe that our management team’s extensive relationships within the financial services industry enable us to identify business combination opportunities with significant potential upside. Our management team’s combined experience, when paired with our ability to perform under varying economic environments, is a differentiating factor that is highly attractive to potential target companies.

Status as a Public Company

We believe that our structure as a public company makes us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a target business an alternative to a traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their stock, shares or other equity interests in the target business for our ordinary shares or for a combination of our ordinary shares and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration used in the transaction to the specific needs of the sellers. We believe that target businesses might find this avenue a more certain and cost-effective method to becoming a public company than a typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, roadshow and public reporting efforts that will likely not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us. Furthermore, once the business combination is consummated, the target business will have effectively become a public company, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’ interests than it would have as a privately-held company. Public company status can offer further benefits by enhancing a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and attracting talented employees. While we believe that our status as a public company will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view the inherent limitations in our status as a blank check company as a deterrent and may prefer to effect a business combination with a more established entity or with a private company. These limitations include constraints on our available financial resources, which may be inferior to those of other entities pursuing the acquisition of similar target businesses; the requirement that we seek shareholder approval of a business combination or conduct a tender offer in relation thereto, which may delay the consummation of a transaction; and the existence of our outstanding rights, which may represent a source of future dilution.

Financial Position

With funds in the trust account of $10,627,356.01 available to use for a business combination as of March 27, 2023, assuming no further redemptions and before payment of (i) deferred underwriting fees and (ii) fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination, we offer a target business a variety of options such as providing the owners of a target business with shares in a public company and a public means to sell such shares, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations and strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to consummate our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing, and there can be no assurance that it will be available to us. Furthermore, redemptions in connection with our initial business combination could reduce the amount of funds available to be used in connection with such business combinations.

Effecting a Business Combination

General

We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business until we consummate our initial business combination. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the private placement of private units, our equity, debt or a combination of these in effecting a business combination which has not yet been identified. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate a business combination with a company that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth. While we may seek to effect simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.

We have up to 21 months from the closing of our initial public offering, or October 21, 2023, to consummate an initial business combination, subject to the sponsor depositing the Extension Funds into the trust account as set out below. . Pursuant to the terms of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the trust agreement, in order for the time available for us to consummate our initial business combination to be extended, our sponsor or its affiliates or designees must deposit into the trust account $50,000 for each month of extension until October 21, 2023 that the board elects to take in its sole discretion. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within such time period, we will redeem 100% of our issued and outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein, and then seek to liquidate and dissolve. Assuming out board elects to utilize the full extension period through October 21, 2023, we expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.72 per Class A ordinary share (regardless of whether or not the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option), without taking into account any interest earned on such funds. However, we cannot assure you that we will in fact be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders.

Sources of Target Businesses

While we have not yet selected a target business with which to consummate our initial business combination, we believe based on our management’s business knowledge and past experience that there are numerous potential candidates. Our principal means of identifying potential target businesses have been and may continue to be through the extensive contacts and relationships of our sponsor, initial shareholders, officers and directors. While our officers and directors are not required to commit any specific amount of time in identifying or performing due diligence on potential target businesses, our officers and directors believe that the relationships they have developed over their careers and their access to our sponsor’s contacts and resources will generate a number of potential business combination opportunities that will warrant further investigation. Target business candidates have been and may continue to be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses have been and may continue to be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read our prospectus in connection with our initial public offering or this Report and know what types of businesses we are targeting.

Our officers and directors must present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on the income accrued in the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations. We may engage the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. In no event, however, will our sponsor, initial shareholders, officers, directors or their respective affiliates 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 an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the $10,000 administrative services fee, the payment of consulting, success or finder fees to our sponsor, officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, the repayment of any loans to the Company and reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses. Our audit committee reviews and approves all reimbursements and payments made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval. We have no present intention to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with any of our officers, directors or sponsors. However, we are not restricted from entering into any such transactions and may do so if (i) such transaction is approved by a majority of our disinterested independent directors and (ii) we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.

Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination

Subject to our management team’s pre-existing fiduciary obligations and the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, and that we must acquire a controlling interest in the target business, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. We have not established any specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or more of the following:

These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination has been and will continue to be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we conduct an extensive due diligence review which encompasses, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information that are made available to us. This due diligence review is conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.

The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.

Fair Market Value of Target Business

Nasdaq listing rules require that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on Nasdaq for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% fair market value test.

We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of trust account balance test.

The fair market value of the target will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public shareholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.

We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors.

Lack of Business Diversification

We may seek to effect a business combination with more than one target business, although we expect to complete our business combination with just one business. Therefore, at least initially, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the future performance of a single business operation. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other acquisitions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple acquisitions, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business.

Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’ Management

Although we scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the future management will have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following a business combination cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full time efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, we cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.

Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.

Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination

In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a general meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to convert their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or don’t vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our shareholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each shareholder may tender all of his, her or its shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. Whether we seek shareholder approval or engage in a tender offer, we will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon such consummation and, if we seek shareholder approval, we obtain the approval of an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company.

We chose our net tangible asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, we may need to have more than $5,000,001 in net tangible assets either immediately prior to or upon consummation and this may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public shareholders may therefore have to wait until the end of the Combination Period in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account. Our sponsor, initial shareholders, officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any ordinary shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not to convert any ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any ordinary shares in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination.

None of our officers, directors, sponsor, initial shareholders or their affiliates has purchased units or Class A ordinary shares in our initial public offering, or has since indicated any intention do so from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, if we hold a general meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination or that they wish to have their shares redeemed, our officers, directors, sponsor, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote and reduce the number of redemptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, sponsor, initial shareholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of Class A ordinary shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock.

Conversion Rights

At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders may seek to convert their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or do not vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid. Alternatively, we may provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their Class A ordinary shares to us through a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid.

Our sponsor, initial shareholders and our officers and directors will not have conversion rights with respect to any ordinary shares owned by them, directly or indirectly, whether acquired prior to our initial public offering or purchased by them in our initial public offering or in the aftermarket.

We may require public shareholders, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either (i) tender their certificates to our transfer agent or (ii) deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the DWAC System, at the holder’s option, in each case prior to a date set forth in the proxy materials sent in connection with the proposal to approve the business combination.

There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced delivery process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise conversion rights. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising conversion rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require shareholders seeking to exercise conversion rights prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated this may result in an increased cost to shareholders.

Any proxy solicitation materials we furnish to shareholders in connection with a vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring shareholders to satisfy such certification and delivery requirements. Accordingly, a shareholder would have from the time the shareholder received our proxy statement up until two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the business combination to deliver his, her or its shares if he, she or it wishes to seek to exercise his conversion rights. This time period varies depending on the specific facts of each transaction. However, as the delivery process can be accomplished by the shareholder, whether or not he, she or it is a record holder or his, her or its shares are held in “street name,” in a matter of hours by simply contacting the transfer agent or his broker and requesting delivery of his, her or its shares through the DWAC System, we believe this time period is sufficient for an average investor. However, we cannot assure you of this fact. In connection with any general meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their conversion rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.

Any request to convert such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination or the expiration of the tender offer. Furthermore, if a holder of Class A ordinary shares delivered his certificate in connection with an election of their conversion and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, he or she may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).

If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their conversion rights would not be entitled to convert their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.

Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Initial Business Combination

Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we will have only up to 21 months from the closing of our initial public offering, or until October 21, 2023 to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such Combination Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination by the end of the Combination Period.

Our initial shareholders have entered into the letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination by the end of the Combination Period. However, if our initial shareholders acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination by the end of the Combination Period.

Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would affect our public shareholders’ ability to convert or sell their shares to us in connection with a business combination as described herein or to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the end of the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon completion of our initial business combination (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules).

If we do not consummate our initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the $44,217 of proceeds held outside the trust account as of December 31, 2022, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $50,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.

If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private units, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.72 (assuming we utilize the full extension period through October 21, 2023). The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public shareholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders will not be substantially less than $10.72. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.

Although we seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent auditors), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver only if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.10 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. None of our other officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (1) $10.10 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be substantially less than $10.10 per share.

We have sought and will continue to seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent auditors), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As of December 31, 2022, we have access to up to $44,217 to pay any such potential claims (excluding up to $50,000 in interest accrued on funds in the trust account that can be used to pay for costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, shareholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. As of December 31, 2022, the amount held outside the trust account was $44,217.

If we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our insolvency estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any insolvency claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.72 per share to our public shareholders (assuming we utilize the full extension period through October 21, 2023). Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as a voidable performance. As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those Class A ordinary shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would affect our public shareholders’ ability to convert or sell their shares to us in connection with a business combination as described herein or to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the end of the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination by the end of the Combination Period, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a shareholder’s voting in connection with our initial business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above.

Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to our initial public offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain a provision which provides that, if we seek to amend our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would affect our public shareholders’ ability to convert or sell their shares to us in connection with a business combination as described herein or to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 21 months from the closing of our initial public offering, or October 21, 2023, if we utilize the full extension period granted to consummate a business combination, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such amendment. Specifically, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide, among other things, that:

These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of holders of at least two-thirds of the votes which are cast by holders of ordinary shares, voting as a single class, who, being present and entitled to vote at the general meeting our ordinary shares. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we may consummate our initial business combination only if approved by a majority of the ordinary shares voted by our shareholders at a duly held general meeting.

Additionally, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors and that holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by at least 90% of our ordinary shares voting in a general meeting. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by law, holders of our founder shares and holders of our public shares will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote.

An Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

On January 19, 2023, we filed an amendment to the second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, which extended the date by which the we have to consummate an initial business combination from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023, or such earlier date in the board’s sole discretion.

Competition

We have encountered and expect to continue to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private units, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, in the event we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we are obligated to pay cash for our Class A ordinary shares, it will potentially reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.

Conflicts of Interest

Our sponsor, officers and directors may participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other blank check company prior to completion of our initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers or directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other blank check company with which they may become involved.

All of our executive officers and certain of our directors have or may have fiduciary and contractual duties to certain companies in which they have invested. These entities may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing it.

Our officers and directors have agreed to present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on the income accrued in the trust account), subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations. If any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that may be attractive to any entity to which he has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he will be required to present such initial business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such initial business combination opportunity to us. Certain of our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, they will be required to present all suitable business combination opportunities to such entities prior to presenting them to our company for consideration.

We do not believe, however, that the above-mentioned fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.

Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other.

Indemnity

Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.10 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations.

Employees

We currently have 2 executive officers and do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they 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 that any such person devotes in any time period varies based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.

Periodic Reporting and Financial Information

Our units, Class A ordinary shares, and rights are registered under the Exchange Act, and as a result, we have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports, including this Report, contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public auditors.

We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with PCAOB standards. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.

We are required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

We have filed a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we are subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by 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, 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 shareholder 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.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering (January 21, 2027), (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.

Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.

Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies wishing to conduct business outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act. As an exempted company, we have applied for and have received a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable (1) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (2) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

As a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to include risk factors in this Report. However, below is a partial list of material risks, uncertainties and other factors that could have a material effect on the Company and its operations:

Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or our prospects.

The funds in our operating account and our trust account are held in banks or other financial institutions. Our cash held in non-interest bearing and interest-bearing accounts would exceed any applicable Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Should events, including limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments occur with respect to the banks or other financial institutions that hold our funds, or that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, our liquidity may be adversely affected. For example, on March 10, 2023, the FDIC announced that Silicon Valley Bank had been closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Although we did not have any funds in Silicon Valley Bank or other institutions that have been closed, we cannot guarantee that the banks or other financial institutions that hold our funds will not experience similar issues.

In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult for us to acquire financing on terms favorable to us in connection with a potential business combination, or at all, and could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity, our business, financial condition or results of operations, and our prospects. Our business may be adversely impacted by these developments in ways that we cannot predict at this time, there may be additional risks that we have not yet identified, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to avoid negative consequences directly or indirectly from any failure of one or more banks or other financial institutions.

For the complete list of risks relating to our operations, see the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in our Registration Statement, (ii) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2022, (iii) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022, as filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022, August 10, 2022 and November 14, 2022, respectively and (iv) Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on January 18, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risks could arise that may also affect our business or ability to consummate an initial business combination. We may disclose changes to such risk factors or disclose additional risk factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC. 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

Item 2. Properties.

Our executive offices are located at 875 Third Avenue, Suite M204A, New York, NY 10022, and our telephone number is (212) 380-8128. The cost for our use of this space is included in the $10,000 per month fee we pay to our sponsor for office space, administrative and shared personnel support services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

To the knowledge of our management team, there is no litigation currently pending or contemplated against us, any of our officers or directors in their capacity as such or against any of our property.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our units, public shares and public rights are each traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “AIBBU”, “AIB” and “AIBBR”, respectively. Our units commenced public trading on January 19, 2022, and our public shares and public rights commenced separate public trading on February 23, 2022.

On March 29, 2023, there were three holders of record of our units, two holders of record of our Class A ordinary shares and one holder of record of our rights.

We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our 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 our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. 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 in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

None.

None.

For a description of the use of proceeds generated in our initial public offering and private placement, see Part II, Item 5(f) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 21, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2022. There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our initial public offering and private placement as described in the Registration Statement. Our specific investments in our trust account may change from time to time.

None.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report including, without limitation, statements in this section regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Report, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in our filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report. 

Overview

We are a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We intend to effectuate our business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the units that occurred simultaneously with the completion of our IPO, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.

We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a business combination will be successful.

Results of Operations

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any operating revenues to date. Our only activities from inception through December 31, 2022 were organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for the IPO, described below, and since the IPO, the search for a prospective initial business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination, at the earliest. We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds of the IPO placed in the trust account. We expect that we will incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in connection with searching for, and completing, an initial business combination.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had a net income of $588,411, which primarily consists of interest earned on investments held in trust account of $1,383,127 and unrealized gain on investments held in trust account of $29,948, offset by general and administrative expenses of $824,664.

For the period June 18, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, we had a net loss of $23,277, which primarily consists of formation expenses. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, we had $44,217 in its operating bank account, and working capital deficit of $59,776.

Our liquidity needs up to the closing of the IPO on January 21, 2022 were satisfied through proceeds from notes payable and advances from related party and from the issuance of common stock.

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of the our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide us with Working Capital Loans. The management plans to continue its efforts to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period.

On January 20, 2023, we issued the Extension Note, a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of up to $450,000 to our sponsor, pursuant to which the Extension Funds will be deposited into the trust account in monthly installments for the benefit of each outstanding public share that was not redeemed in connection with the extension of the end of the Combination Period from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023. The sponsor has agreed to pay $50,000 per month that the board decides to take to complete an initial business combination into the trust account, which equates to approximately $0.05 per remaining public share, for each calendar month (commencing on January 21, 2023 and continuing through October 21, 2023, or portion thereof), for up to an aggregate of $450,000. On January 20, 2023, the first installment of the Extension Funds was deposited into the trust account.

On January 23, 2023, we issued the Working Capital Note, a promissory note in the principal amount of up to $500,000 to our sponsor. The Working Capital Note was issued in connection with advances our sponsor has made, and may make in the future, to us for working capital expenses. The Working Capital Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which we consummate our initial business combination and (ii) the date that our winding up is effective. At the election of our sponsor, up to $500,000 of the unpaid principal amount of the Working Capital Note may be converted into Conversion Units, each Conversion Unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one right exchangeable into one-tenth of one Class A ordinary share , equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of this Working Capital Note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of units. The Conversion Units are identical to the units issued by us to our sponsor in the private placement. The Conversion Units and their underlying securities are entitled to the registration rights set forth in the Working Capital Note.

If our estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain other financing either to complete our business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. If we are unable to complete our business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.

On January 19, 2023, upon the shareholders’ approval, we entered into an amendment to the trust agreement to extend the date by which we are required to consummate a business combination from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023, or such earlier date as determined by the board, in its sole discretion. As a result, we have up to 21 months from the closing of the initial public offering on January 21, 2022 to consummate an initial business combination, unless further extended as permitted by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association . It is uncertain that we will be able to consummate an initial business combination by this time. If an initial business combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution.

In connection with the our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern,” management has determined that mandatory liquidation, should an initial business combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the our ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance of the financial statements. 

JOBS Act

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.

Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of executive compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP 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. 

Net Loss per Ordinary Share

We have two outstanding classes of shares, Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Class A shares include redeemable and non-redeemable shares. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares which includes Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares and between the redeemable and the non-redeemable shares. The 9,095,975 Class A ordinary shares for which the outstanding public rights and private rights are exercisable were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the period ended December 31, 2022 because they are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met. As a result, diluted net income per ordinary shares is the same as basic net income per ordinary share for the period. 

Recent Accounting Standards

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU Topic 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): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. ASU 2020-06 also removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity-linked contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, and it simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. We adopted ASU 2020-06 on June 18, 2021 (inception). Adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not impact our 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. 

Factors That May Adversely Affect Our Results of Operations

Our results of operations and our ability to complete an initial business combination may be adversely affected by various factors that could cause economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, many of which are beyond our control. Our business could be impacted by, among other things, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, increases in oil prices, inflation, increases in interest rates, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including resurgences and the emergence of new variants, and geopolitical instability, such as the military conflict in Ukraine. We cannot at this time fully predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our business and our ability to complete an initial business combination. 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this Item.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Reference is made to pages F-1 through F-20 comprising a portion of this Report, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (together, the “Certifying Officers”), or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Certifying Officers, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on the foregoing, our Certifying Officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Report.

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

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. 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 maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022.

This Report does not include an attestation report of our internal controls from 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 have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Directors and Executive Officers

As of the date of this Report, our directors and officers are as follows:

The experience of our directors and executive officers is as follows:

Axel Hoerger has served as our Chairman of the Board since inception. He has been serving as the CEO of Petiole Asset Management, a small asset management firm in Switzerland that focuses on private equity investments for private families since June 2022. He served as CEO of Lombard International Assurance, Luxembourg from February 2016 to June 2020. He served as CEO UBS Deutschland AG and Head One Market Wealth Management Germany & Austria from 2011 to March 2015. From June 2010 to 2011, he served as CEO Wealth Management of UBS Deutschland AG. From 2009 to March 2010, he served as Head of Institutional Sales for Goldman Sachs Asset Management in EMEA. From 1994 to 2009, Mr. Hoerger served in various leadership positions at Goldman Sachs Investment Management. Mr. Hoerger received his Master of Business Administration from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in 1993. We believe he is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience in finance and investing.

Eric Chen has served as our Chief Executive Officer since inception. Mr. Chen served as our Chief Financial Officer from inception until our initial public offering. Since 2017, he has been the CEO of American International Bank (“AIB”) in New York, NY. From 2008 to 2014, Mr. Chen served as Senior Vice-President of Macquarie Group Limited in Beijing, China. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Vice-President (Global Special Situations Group) of Citigroup Hong Kong. Mr. Chen worked as a Specialist (Asset Management Department) of Taiwan Asset Management Corporation (TAMCO) from 2002 to 2003. Mr. Chen received his Master of Science degree in Actuarial Science from Boston University in 2000 and Bachelor of Arts in Administrative and Commercial Studies from University of Western Ontario in 1995. We believe his broad experience and networks in the investment field will be instrumental during the de-SPAC process.

Jie Gao has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2022. Since July 2018, she has served as the Managing Partner and Founder of HG, LLP, practicing in M&A due diligence, SEC reporting and business valuation. From April 2016 to June 2018, Ms. Gao served as Manager in the M&A Deal Advisory Group of KPMG. From March 2011 to April 2016, she was a Manager in the Financial Service Group of Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Ms. Gao served as Senior Auditor for Acquavella, Chiarelli, Shuster, Berkower & Co., LLP from June 2010 to February 2011 and auditor of Moore Stephens International from 2008 to April 2010. Ms. Gao received her M.S. in Accounting and Information Analysis from Lehigh University in 2007 and Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Beijing Jiaotong University in 2006. We believe her extensive experience in accounting will be instrumental during the de-SPAC process.

David Adelman has served as one of our independent directors since January 2022, is an American lawyer, diplomat, and legislator. He is currently the Managing Director and the General Counsel of KraneShares since 2021. He was the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore from 2010 to 2013 during the Obama-Biden Administration. He was a partner in the global law firm Reed Smith LLP working out of the firm’s New York office from 2015 to 2021. Mr. Adelman is a former Managing Director of Goldman Sachs from 2013 to 2015. He was a Georgia State Senator from 2002 to 2010. He is a Member of Board of Trustees of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy since 2020. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Noble Group Holdings since 2019, private equity firm Olympus Capital since 2019 and merchant bank Ion Pacific since 2018. Mr. Adelman is a Trustee of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Advisory Board of the Israel-Asia Center. He is an Adjunct Professor at New York University where he teaches international relations of the Asia-Pacific region at the graduate level. Mr. Adelman received his J.D. from Emory University in 1989 where he is a recipient of the Emory Medal. He earned an M.P.A from Georgia State University 1995 and B.A. from the University of Georgia in 1986. We believe he is well qualified to serve as the head of our compensation committee and on our board of directors due to his extensive experience in finance and investing.

Merry Tang has served as one of our directors since January 2022, has been an Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair for Ever-Glory International Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVK) since August 2011, China Sungery Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN) from June 2008 to July 2017, and Jakroo, Inc. (OTC: JKRO) from October 2017 through November 2019. She has been the managing partner of GZTY CPA Group, LLC since February 2008 and the Senior Auditor of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from September 2004 to August 2006. From September 1996 to August 2004, she served as the Finance Manager at Lucent Technologies, Inc. and from May 1993 to September 1996, she was Assistant Director of Cash and Investment Division with the State Government of New York. Ms. Tang graduated from the Central University of Finance & Economics, Beijing, China with a bachelor’s degree in banking in 1983 and a master’s degree in finance in 1986, before going on to receive her master’s degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Albany in 1993. We believe she is well qualified to serve as the head of our audit committee and on our board of directors due to her extensive accounting and directorship experience.

David Knower has served as one of our independent directors since January 2022, has been a Partner and Head of Cerberus Deutschland Beteiligungsberatung GmbH since 2003. Prior to this, Mr. Knower was the Owner and Managing Director of Invenimus, an International Consulting Firm headquartered near Frankfurt, Germany. Before starting his own company, Mr. Knower worked at Procter & Gamble Co. for 11 years, where he started his professional career in Germany in 1986. After 9 years in Finance and Controlling positions, Mr. Knower spent two years managing the Procter & Gamble Germany Fine Fragrance business in Asia Pacific. Mr. Knower received two undergraduate degrees from the University of Massachusetts, (Economics, German) in 1983, as well as being named a Commonwealth Scholar. Mr. Knower received his MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), in 1985. Mr. Knower is Vice President and Executive Board Member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, President of the American German Business Club in Frankfurt, Global Board Member Republicans Overseas, Board Member Aspen Institute, Board Member American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Vice President of the Steuben-Schurz Gesellschaft, and Member of the Board of trustees of “The English Theatre”, in Frankfurt. We believe he is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience in finance and investing.

Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors

Our board of directors currently consists of five members. Our board of directors has one class of directors being elected every 2 years and each (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a two-year term. We may not hold an annual general meeting until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq). Subject to any other special rights applicable to the shareholders, any vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board or by a majority of the holders of our ordinary shares (or, prior to our initial business combination, holders of our founder shares).

Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as it deems appropriate. Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules we have established two standing committees — an audit committee in compliance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, Nasdaq rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and Nasdaq rules require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.

Audit Committee

We have established an audit committee of the board of directors. David Knower and David Adelman serve as members of our audit committee, and Merry Tang chairs the audit committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent. We believe that each of David Knower, David Adelman and Merry Tang meet the independent director standard under Nasdaq listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.

Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Merry Tang qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.

We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

Compensation Committee

We have established a compensation committee of the board of directors. David Knower and Merry Tang serve as members of our compensation committee, and David Adelman chairs the compensation committee. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent. David Adelman and David Knower are independent, and David Adelman chairs the compensation committee.

We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:

The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. A copy of the Code of Ethics can be found as an exhibit to our Registration Statement and will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

None of our officers or directors have received or, prior to our initial business combination, will receive any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We pay our sponsor up to $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, are 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. Our audit committee reviews on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their affiliates.

After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other compensation from the combined company. All compensation will be fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers after the completion of our initial business combination will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors.

We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business, and we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination should be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of March 29, 2023 based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of ordinary shares, by:

In the table below, percentage ownership is based on 3,628,527 ordinary shares, consisting of (i) 1,472,277 of our Class A ordinary shares and (ii) 2,156,250 of our Class B ordinary shares, issued and outstanding as of March 29, 2023. On all matters to be voted upon, except for the election or removal of directors of the board prior to an initial business combination when only Class B ordinary shares are entitled to vote, holders of the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required under applicable law. Currently, all of the Class B ordinary shares are convertible into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis.

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares beneficially owned by them.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

None.

Changes in Control

 None.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Our sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration for 1,437,500 founder shares. On September 13, 2021, we effected a share dividend of 0.5 shares for each Class B ordinary share outstanding, resulting in an aggregate of 2,156,250 founder shares outstanding.

Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 345,625 private units for a purchase price of $10.00 per unit and Maxim, purchased 43,125 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit, in the private placement. The private units (including the securities underlying the private units) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by it until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.

We have entered into an administrative services agreement pursuant to which we pay our sponsor up to $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying any of these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes the maximum 21 months, or until October 21, 2023, our sponsor will be paid up to $10,000 per month ($210,000 in the aggregate) for office space, administrative and support services and is entitled to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses.

Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, are 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. Our audit committee reviews on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that are reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

On July 30, 2021, our sponsor agreed to loan us an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the initial public offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “First Note”). This First Note became payable on initial public offering. The First Note is non-interest bearing. On January 21, 2022, the First Note was repaid in full.

On January 20, 2023, in connection with the Extension Amendments, we issued the Extension Note, a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $450,000 to the sponsor, pursuant to which the Extension Funds will be deposited into the trust account in monthly installments for the benefit of each public share that was not redeemed in connection with the Extension Amendments. The sponsor agreed to pay $50,000 (or $0.05 per public share not redeemed) per month that the board decides to take to complete an initial business combination, commencing on January 21, 2023 and continuing through October 21, 2023. On January 20, 2023, the first installment of the Extension Funds was deposited into the trust account. The Extension Note bears no interest and is repayable in full upon the earlier of (a) the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, and (b) the date of our liquidation.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us Working Capital Loans as may be required. Any such Working Capital Loans would be on an interest-free basis and would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit, at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units issued to our sponsor. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

On January 23, 2023, we issued the Working Capital Note, a promissory note in the principal amount of up to $500,000 to our sponsor. The Working Capital Note was issued in connection with advances our sponsor has made, and may make in the future, to us for working capital expenses. The Working Capital Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which we consummate our initial business combination and (ii) the date that our winding up is effective. At the election of our sponsor, up to $500,000 of the unpaid principal amount of the Working Capital Note may be converted into Conversion Units, each Conversion Unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one right exchangeable into one-tenth of one Class A ordinary share , equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of this Working Capital Note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of units. The Conversion Units are identical to the units issued by us to our sponsor in the private placement. The Conversion Units and their underlying securities are entitled to the registration rights set forth in the Working Capital Note.

After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our shareholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a general meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.

We have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares, private units and units issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, such as the Conversion Units.

Director Independence

Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our initial public offering. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that each of David Adelman, Merry Tang, and David Knower is an “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The following is a summary of fees paid or to be paid to UHY, for services rendered.

Audit Fees

Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by UHY in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees of UHY for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from June 18, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021 totaled approximately $161,000 and $30,000, respectively. The aggregate fees of UHY related to audit services in connection with our initial public offering for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from June 18, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021 totaled approximately $0 and $80,000, respectively. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.

Audit-Related Fees

Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. During the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from June 18, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021, we did not pay UHY any audit-related fees. 

Tax Fees

We did not pay UHY for tax services, planning or advice for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from June 18, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021. 

All Other Fees

We did not pay UHY for any other services for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from June 18, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021. 

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).

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules.

All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the amounts are immaterial and not required, or the required information is presented in the financial statements and notes thereto beginning on page F-1 of this Report.

We hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits that are incorporated herein by reference can be inspected on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. 

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

Not applicable.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

AIB Acquisition Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of AIB Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ (deficit) equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from June 18, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from June 18, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has no revenue and it incurred and expects to continue to incur significant professional costs to remain as a publicly traded company and to incur significant transaction costs in pursuit of the consummation of a Business Combination. The Company’s cash and working capital as of December 31, 2022, are not sufficient to complete its planned activities for the upcoming year. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1 to the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Our opinion is not modified with respect to that matter.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 audit, 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 audit 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 audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ UHY LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.

New York, New York

March 29, 2023

Financial Statements:

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

BALANCE SHEETS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND PLAN OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

AIB Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on June 18, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”).

The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of completing a Business Combination, although the Company intends to focus on business in the fintech industry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not pursue a target business that is headquartered in, or conducts a majority of its business in, China or Hong Kong. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity from June 18, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2022, relates to the Company’s formation and Initial Public Offering (“IPO”), which is described below and, since the IPO, the search for a prospective Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income earned on investments from the proceeds derived from the IPO. The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective on January 18, 2022. On January 21, 2022, the Company consummated the IPO of 7,500,000 units (“Units”) with respect to the Class A ordinary shares (“Class A ordinary shares”) included in the Units being offered (the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit generating gross proceeds of $75,000,000, which is discussed in Note 3. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 355,000 private placement units (“Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, AIB, LLC (the “Sponsor”), and Maxim Group, LLC (“Maxim”) generating gross proceeds of $3,550,000 which is described in Note 4.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units, the Company consummated the closing of the sale of 1,125,000 additional Units upon receiving notice of the underwriter’s election to fully exercise its overallotment option (“Overallotment Units”), generating additional gross proceeds of $11,250,000. Simultaneously with the exercise of the overallotment, the Company consummated the private placement of an additional 33,750 Private Placement Units to the Sponsor and Maxim, generating gross proceeds of $337,500.

Offering costs for the IPO and Overallotment Units amounted to $5,941,695, consisting of $1,725,000 of underwriting fees, $3,018,750 of deferred underwriting fees payable (which are held in the Trust Account (defined below)), $56,000 for the underwriter’s unit purchase option (see Note 6), $598,000 for the issuance of representative shares to the underwriters (see Note 7) and $543,945 of other costs. As described in Note 6, the $3,018,750 of deferred underwriting fees payable is contingent upon the consummation of a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. 

Following the closing of the IPO and Overallotment Units, $87,112,500 ($10.10 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO, Overallotment Units, and the Private Placement Units were placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”). The amounts placed in the Trust Account will be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amounts due under the business combination marketing agreement and taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. There is no assurance the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.

The Company will provide the holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) 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 shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.10 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest then in the Trust Account, net of taxes payable).

All of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topis 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) Subtopic 10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Given that the Public Shares will be issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., Public Rights as defined in Note 7), the initial carrying value of the Public Shares classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20 “Debt with Conversion and other Options”. The Public Shares are subject to ASC 480-10-S99. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately. While redemptions cannot cause the Company’s net tangible assets to fall below $5,000,001, the Public Shares are redeemable and are classified as such on the balance sheet until such date that a redemption event takes place.

Redemptions of the Company’s Public Shares may be subject to the satisfaction of conditions, including minimum cash conditions, pursuant to an agreement relating to the Company’s Business Combination. If the Company seeks shareholder approval of the Business Combination, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination, or such other vote as required by law or stock exchange rule. If a shareholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the IPO in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares sold in the IPO, without the prior consent of the Company.

The Company’s Sponsor, officers and directors (the “Initial Shareholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A ordinary shares in conjunction with any such amendment.

If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by January 21, 2023, 12 months from the closing of the IPO, or up to 21 months if extended (see Note 5), (the “Combination Period”), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay (i) its income and franchise taxes and (ii) up to $100,000 of dissolution expenses, if any, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. On January 19, 2023, upon the shareholders’ approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated January 18, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (“Continental”), to extend the date by which the Company would be required to consummate a business combination from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023, or such earlier date as determined by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), in its sole discretion (see Note 9).

On January 20, 2023, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Extension Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of up to $450,000 to AIB LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the Company’s sponsor (the “Extension Funds”), pursuant to which the Extension Funds will be deposited into the Trust Account in monthly installments for the benefit of each outstanding Class A ordinary share of the Company (“Public Share”) that was not redeemed in connection with the extension of the Company’s termination date from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023. The sponsor has agreed to pay $50,000 per month (or $0.05 per public share not redeemed) that the Company decides to take to complete an initial business combination, commencing on January 21, 2023 and continuing through October 21, 2023, or portion thereof, that is needed to complete an initial business combination, for up to an aggregate of $450,000. On January 20, 2023, the first installment of the Extension Funds was deposited into the Trust Account (see Note 9). The Extension Note bears no interest and is repayable in full upon the earlier of (a) the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, and (b) the date of the liquidation of the Company.

In connection with the shareholders’ vote at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. Shareholders holding 7,623,698 shares of the Company’s ordinary shares exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Company’s Trust Account. As a result, $78,324,476 (approximately $10.27 per share) was removed from the Trust Account to pay such holders (Note 9).

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

The Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Initial Shareholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the IPO, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to its deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.10 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

Risks and Uncertainties

Management is currently evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 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 financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

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

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax. The IR Act applies only to repurchases that occur after December 31, 2022.

Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination. Because there is a possibility that the Company may acquire a U.S. domestic corporation or engage in a transaction in which a domestic corporation becomes our parent or our affiliate and our securities will trade on Nasdaq following the date of this prospectus, we may become a “covered corporation”.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

Liquidity and Going Concern 

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $44,217 in its operating bank account, and working capital deficit of $59,776.

The Company’s liquidity needs up to the closing of the IPO on January 21, 2022 had been satisfied through proceeds from notes payable and advances from related party and from the issuance of ordinary shares.

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company with working capital. The Company’s management plans to continue its efforts to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period after the closing of the Initial Public Offering.

On January 20, 2023, the Company issued the Extension Note in the aggregate principal amount of up to $450,000 to its sponsor, pursuant to which the Extension Funds will be deposited into the Trust Account in monthly installments for the benefit of each outstanding Public Share that was not redeemed in connection with the extension of the Company’s termination date from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023. The sponsor has agreed to pay $50,000 per month (or $0.05 per public share not redeemed) that the Company decides to take to complete an initial business combination, commencing on January 21, 2023 and continuing through October 21, 2023, or portion thereof, that is needed to complete an initial business combination, for up to an aggregate of $450,000. On January 20, 2023, the first installment of the Extension Funds was deposited into the Trust Account (see Note 9). The Extension Note bears no interest and is repayable in full upon the earlier of (a) the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, and (b) the date of the liquidation of the Company.

On January 23, 2023, the Company, issued a promissory note (the “2023 Note”) in the principal amount of up to $500,000 to the Sponsor. The 2023 Note was issued in connection with advances the Sponsor has made, and may make in the future, to the Company for working capital expenses. The 2023 Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Company consummates its initial business combination and (ii) the date that the winding up of the Company is effective. At the election of the Sponsor, up to $500,000 of the unpaid principal amount of the 2023 Note may be converted into units of the Company, each unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share of the Maker and one right exchangeable into one-tenth of one Class A ordinary share of the Company (the “Conversion Units”), equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of this 2023 Note being converted, divided by (y) $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of units. The Conversion Units are identical to the units issued by the Company to the Sponsor in the private placement upon consummation of the Company’s initial public offering. The Conversion Units and their underlying securities are entitled to the registration rights set forth in the Note (see Note 9).

If our estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain other financing either to complete our business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. If we are unable to complete our business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following our business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.

On January 19, 2023, upon the shareholders’ approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal, the Company entered into the Trust Amendment to extend the date by which the Company would be required to consummate a business combination from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023, or such earlier date as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion (see Note 9). As a result, we have up to 21 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering on January 21, 2022 to consummate a Business Combination, unless further extended as permitted by our charter. It is uncertain that we will be able to consummate a Business Combination by this time. If a Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements — Going Concern”, management has determined that mandatory liquidation, should a Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance of the financial statements.

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the accounting and disclosure rules and regulations of the SEC.

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 of 2002, 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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the 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 financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

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 $44,217 and $45,370 in cash and did not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Investments Held in Trust Account

At December 31, 2022, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held in U.S. Treasury securities. The Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of investments held in Trust Account are included in interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account in the accompanying statement of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in Trust Account are determined using available market information.

The securities are presented on the balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Earnings on these securities are included in dividends, interest earned, and unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying statements of operations and are automatically reinvested. The fair value for these securities is determined using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, interest earned from the Trust account amounted to $1,383,127 (including $624,913 accrued interest on investments purchased on October 27, 2022 maturing on January 26, 2023) of which $758,165 was reinvested and $49 was held in Cash in the Trust Account. $29,948 was also recognized as unrealized gain on investments held in the Trust account during the year ended December 31, 2022. There were no withdrawals made during the year ended December 31, 2022.

Class A Ordinary shares subject to Possible Redemption

The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480. Shares of Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s Public Shares sold in the IPO feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, on December 31, 2022, 8,625,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheet. There were no Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption outstanding as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2022, the shares of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected on the balance sheet are reconciled on the following table:

Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering

Offering costs consist principally of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs directly related to the IPO. Offering costs amounted to $5,941,695 which were charged against shareholders’ deficit upon the completion of the IPO.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021 the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. 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, 2022 and 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

The Company is a Cayman Islands exempted company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the period presented.

Net Income (Loss) Per Ordinary Share

The Company has two outstanding classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”). Class A shares include redeemable and non-redeemable shares. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares which includes Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares and between the redeemable and the non-redeemable shares. The 9,095,975 Class A ordinary shares for which the outstanding Public Rights and Private Placement Rights are exercisable were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the period ended December 31, 2022 because they are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met. As a result, diluted net income per ordinary share is the same as basic net income per ordinary share for the period. The table below presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share for each class of shares.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

NOTE 3 — INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Pursuant to the IPO, the Company sold 8,625,000 Units (including 1,125,000 Overallotment Units) at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary shares and one right (the “Public Rights”). Each Public Right entitles the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of a Business Combination (see Note 7).

NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENT

On January 21, 2022, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and sale of the Overallotment Units, the Company consummated the issuance and sale of 388,750 Private Placement Units (including 33,750 Private Placement Units purchased simultaneously with the Overallotment Units) in a private placement transaction at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds of $3,887,500 to the Sponsor (345,625 Private Placement Units) and Maxim (43,125 Private Placement Units). Each Private Placement Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary shares and one right (the “Private Placement Rights”). Each Private Placement Right will entitle the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Class A ordinary (“Private Placement Share”) share upon the consummation of a Business Combination. 

A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Units were added to the proceeds from the IPO to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law), and the Private Placement Units and any underlying securities will be worthless.

NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On July 30, 2021, the Sponsor purchased 1,437,500 Founder Shares for an aggregate price of $25,000. (See Note 7). On September 13, 2021, the Company effected a 0.5-for-1 split of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, such that the Sponsor owned 2,156,250 Founder Shares. The Founder Shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A ordinary shares at the time of the Company’s initial Business Combination and are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in Note 7. Holders of Founder Shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B ordinary shares into an equal number of shares of Class A ordinary shares, subject to adjustment, at any time. The Initial Shareholders agreed to forfeit up to 281,250 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. Since the overallotment option was exercised in full, the 281,250 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

The Sponsor has agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) six months after the completion of a Business Combination; and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, amalgamation, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.

Administrative Services Agreement 

The Company intends to pay the Sponsor a fee of up to $10,000 per month for the use of office and administrative support services following the consummation of the IPO until the earlier of the consummation of the Business combination or liquidation for office space and administrative services. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred and paid $114,000 fees for these services. For the period from June 18, 2021 (Inception) through December 31, 2021, no amounts have been accrued under this agreement.

Promissory Note – Related Party

On July 30, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to the First Note. The First Note is non-interest bearing. On January 21, 2022, the First Note was repaid in full.

Related Party Loans

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into units of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. These units would be identical to the Private Placement Units. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021 there were no Working Capital Loans outstanding.

Related Party Extension Loans

As discussed in Note 1, the Company may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to three times, each by an additional three months (for a total of 21 months to complete a Business Combination). In order to extend the time available for the Company to consummate a Business Combination, the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $862,500 ($0.10 per Public Share or an aggregate of $2,587,500), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline, for each three month extension. Any such payments would be made in the form of a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note. Such notes would be paid upon consummation of a Business Combination. The Sponsor and its affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the Trust Account to extend the time for the Company to complete a Business Combination.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

On January 20, 2023, the Company issued the Extension Note in the aggregate principal amount of up to $450,000 to the Sponsor, the Company’s Sponsor, pursuant to which the Extension Funds will be deposited into the Trust Account in monthly installments for the benefit of each outstanding Public Share that was not redeemed in connection with the extension of the Company’s termination date from January 21, 2023 to October 21, 2023 (see Note 9).

On January 23, 2023, the Company, issued the Third Note in the principal amount of up to $500,000 to the Sponsor. The Third Note was issued in connection with advances the Sponsor has made, and may make in the future, to the Company for working capital expenses (see Note 9).

Advance from Related Party

As of December 31, 2022 the Sponsor have paid for expenses totaling $67,910 on behalf of the Company. Amounts due from the Sponsor amounting to $26,445 was offset against the advance. $41,465 is included in advance from related party on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2022.

NOTE 6 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units and units that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and all underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO. The holders of a majority of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However the registration rights provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period. The registration rights agreement does not contain liquidating damages or other cash settlement provisions resulting from delays in registering the Company’s securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. 

Underwriting Agreement

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the final prospectus relating to the IPO to purchase up to 1,125,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On January 21, 2022, the underwriters fully exercised their over-allotment option and purchased 1,125,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit.

The underwriters were paid an underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $1,725,000 in the aggregate (including the Overallotment Units), upon the closing of the IPO. An additional $0.35 per unit, or $3,018,750 in the aggregate, is payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

Right of First Refusal

Subject to certain conditions, the Company granted Maxim Group LLC, for a period beginning on the closing of the IPO and ending 18 months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, a right of first refusal to act as lead left book-running managing underwriter with at least 75% of the economics; or, in the case of a three-handed deal 50% of the economics, for any and all future public and private equity, convertible and debt offerings for the Company or any of the Company’s successors or subsidiaries. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(E)(i), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the IPO.

Unit Purchase Option

The Company sold to the underwriters, for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 431,250 Units exercisable, in whole or in part, at $11.00 per Unit, commencing on the consummation of our initial Business Combination (the “Unit Purchase Option”). The purchase option may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and expires five years from January 18, 2022. The option and the 431,250 Units, as well as the 431,250 shares of Class A ordinary shares, and the rights to receive 43,125 shares of Class A ordinary shares upon a Business Combination that may be issued upon exercise of the option, have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following January 18, 2022 pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s Rules, during which time the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative or put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities. Additionally, the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a one-year period (including the foregoing 180-day period) following January 18, 2022 except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners. The option grants to holders demand and “piggy-back” rights of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the underwriters and their related persons may not (i) have more than one demand registration right at our expense, (ii) exercise their demand registration rights more than five (5) years from January 18, 2022, and (iii) exercise their “piggy-back” registration rights more than seven (7) years from January 18, 2022. The Company will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities, other than underwriting commissions which will be paid for by the holders themselves. The exercise price and number of units issuable upon exercise of the option may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the option will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. The Company has no obligation to net cash settle the exercise of the purchase option or the rights underlying the purchase option. The holder of the purchase option will not be entitled to exercise the purchase option unless a registration statement covering the securities underlying the purchase option is effective or an exemption from registration is available. If the holder is unable to exercise the purchase option or underlying rights, the purchase option or rights, as applicable, will expire worthless.

The Company accounted for the Unit Purchase Option, inclusive of the receipt of $100 cash payment, as an expense of the IPO resulting in a charge directly to shareholder’s deficit. The Company estimated the fair value of Unit Purchase Option to be $56,000 based a binomial model.

NOTE 7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY

Preference Shares —The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preference shares with a par value of $0.0001 per shares with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no preference shares issued and outstanding.

Class A Ordinary shares —The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. As of December 31, 2022 there were 470,975 shares of Class A ordinary shares outstanding (excluding 8,625,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption) and none were outstanding as of December 31, 2021.

Class B Ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue 3,000,000 shares of Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were 2,156,250 shares of Class B ordinary shares outstanding. 

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

Holders of shares of Class A ordinary shares and shares of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of shareholders.

The shares of Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A ordinary shares at the time of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B ordinary shares shall convert into shares of Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of the IPO plus all shares of Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to the Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to the Company). Holders of Founder Shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B ordinary shares into an equal number of shares of Class A ordinary shares, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time.

Rights — Except in cases where the Company is not the surviving company in a Business Combination, each holder of a Public Right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Class A ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of a Public Right converted all shares held by him, her or it in connection with a Business Combination or an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated 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 a Business Combination, each holder of a Public Right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of a share underlying each Public Right upon consummation of the Business Combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of Public Rights in order to receive his, her or its additional shares of Class A ordinary share upon consummation of a 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 the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary share basis.

The Company will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of Public Rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of local law. As a result, the holders of the Public Rights must hold rights in multiples of 10 in order to receive shares for all of the holders’ rights upon closing of a Business Combination. 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 Public Rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their Public Rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such Public Rights, and the Public Rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the Public Rights upon consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 18, 2021

(INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021

NOTE 8 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:

Level 1:  Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2:  Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

At December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in treasury funds. All of the Company’s investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. As of December 31, 2021, there were no assets held in the Trust Account.

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2022 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value.