Exhibit 99.1

 

Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.

INDEX TO BALANCE SHEET

 

     
      Page  
         
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     2  
         
Balance Sheet     3  
         
Notes to Balance Sheet     4  

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of October 10, 2017. The balance sheet is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the balance sheet based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the balance sheet is free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the balance sheet, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall balance sheet presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. as of October 10, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Marcum LLP
  
Marcum LLP
New York, NY
October 16, 2017

 

2 

 

 

BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

BALANCE SHEET

October 10, 2017

 

ASSETS    
Current assets:     
Cash and cash equivalents  $540,229 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   24,400 
Total current assets   564,629 
      
Cash held in Trust Account   120,600,000 
      
Total assets  $121,164,629 
      
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     
Current liabilities:     
Accounts payable - related party   23,445 
Total current liabilities   23,445 
      
Total liabilities   23,445 
      
Commitments:     
      
Common stock subject to possible redemption, 11,556,336 shares at redemtion value   116,141,182 
      
Stockholders’ equity:     
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding    
Common stock, $.0001 par value; 35,000,000 shares authorized, 4,293,664 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 11,556,336 shares subject to possible redemption) (1)   429 
Additional paid in capaital   5,002,370 
Accumulated deficit   (2,797)
Total stockholders’ equity   5,000,002 
      
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $121,164,629 

 

(1) This number includes an aggregate of up to 450,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters. The underwriters have informed the Company of their intent to exercise their over-allotment option in full (See Note 7).

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

3 

 

 

BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Note 1 – Organization and Plan of Business Operations

 

Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (“BRAC” or the “Company”, “we”, “us” and ”our”) was incorporated in Delaware on May 9, 2017 as a blank check company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”). The Company’s efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region. The Company intends to focus its search on businesses in the energy or energy-related industries with an emphasis on opportunities in the upstream oil and gas industry in North America.

 

As of October 10, 2017, the Company had not yet commenced operations. All activity through October 10, 2017 relates to the Company’s formation and its Initial Public Offering described below. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year-end. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

 

The registration statement for the Company’s initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”) was declared effective on October 4, 2017. The registration statement was initially declared effective for 10,000,000 units (“Units” and, with respect to the common stock included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), but the offering was increased to 12,000,000 Units pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. On October 10, 2017, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 12,000,000 units, generating gross proceeds of $120,000,000, which is described in Note 3.

 

Simultaneous with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 400,000 units (the “Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Unit in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor and sole stockholder prior to the Initial Public Offering, Black Ridge Oil & Gas, Inc. (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $4,000,000, which is described in Note 3.

 

Transaction costs amounted to $2,881,119, consisting of $2,400,000 of underwriting fees and $481,119 of Initial Public Offering costs. In addition, $540,229 of cash was held outside of the Trust Account and is available for working capital purposes.

 

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on October 10, 2017, an amount of $120,600,000 ($10.05 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Placement Units was placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and 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 consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.

 

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and private placement, 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. Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, $10.05 per Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering, including the proceeds of the Private Placements was deposited in a trust account (“Trust Account”) to be held until the earlier of (i) the consummation of its initial Business Combination or (ii) the Company’s failure to consummate a Business Combination within 21 months from the consummation of the Initial Public Offering (the “Combination Period”). Placing funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party claims against the Company. Although the Company will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities it engages, execute agreements with the Company waiving any claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, there is no guarantee that such persons will execute such agreements. The Trust Account is maintained by a third party trustee. The remaining net proceeds (not held in the Trust Account) may be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses. Additionally, the interest earned on the Trust Account balance may be released to the Company for any amounts that are necessary to pay the Company’s income and other tax obligations and up to $50,000 that may be used to pay for the costs of liquidating the Company. The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced below $10.05 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by the Company for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to the Company, but there is no assurance that the Sponsor will be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations if it is required to do so. Additionally, the agreement entered into by the Sponsor specifically provides for two exceptions to the indemnity it has given: it will have no liability (1) as to any claimed amounts owed to a target business or vendor or other entity who has executed an agreement with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, or (2) as to any claims for indemnification by the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Initial Business Combination

 

Pursuant to the Nasdaq Capital Markets listing rules, the Company’s initial Business Combination must be with a target business or businesses whose collective fair market value is at least equal to 80% of the balance in the Trust Account at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such Business Combination, although this may entail simultaneous acquisitions of several target businesses. The fair market value of the target will be determined by the Company’s 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 target business or businesses that the Company acquires may have a collective fair market value substantially in excess of 80% of the Trust Account balance. In order to consummate such a Business Combination, the Company may issue a significant amount of its debt or equity securities to the sellers of such business and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. If the Company’s securities are not listed on NASDAQ after the Initial Public Offering, the Company would not be required to satisfy the 80% requirement. However, the Company intends to satisfy the 80% requirement even if the Company’s securities are not listed on NASDAQ at the time of the initial Business Combination.

 

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BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

The Company will provide the public stockholders, who are the holders of the Common stock which was sold as part of the Units in the Initial Public Offering, whether they are purchased in the Initial Public Offering or in the aftermarket, or “Public Shares”, including the Sponsor to the extent that they purchase such Public Shares (“Public Stockholders”), with an opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares of the Company’s Common stock, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or if the Company conducts a tender offer, upon the completion of the initial Business Combination either (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination, or (ii) by means of a tender offer, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest (net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. The amount in the Trust Account is $10.05 per Public Share. The common stock subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified a temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”. The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and in the case of a stockholder vote, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion, based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require it to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. If a stockholder vote is not required and the Company decides not to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to the proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (i) conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and (ii) file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing the initial Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.

 

The Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as described in Note 6) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of the initial Business Combination, and the Company’s executive officers and directors have also agreed to vote any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of the initial Business Combination. The Sponsor entered into a letter agreement, pursuant to which it agreed to waive its redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares, shares included in the Placement Units and Public Shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination. In addition, the Sponsor has agreed to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares and shares included in the Placement Units if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within the prescribed time frame. However, if the Sponsor (or any of the Company’s executive officers, directors or affiliates) acquires Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, it will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares in the event the Company does not complete the initial Business Combination within such applicable time period.

 

Failure to Consummate a Business Combination

 

If the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company must: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

 

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BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying balance sheet is presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the 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 of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and 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 accountant standards used.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of October 10, 2017.

 

Cash held in Trust Account

 

As of October 10, 2017, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in cash.

 

Common Stock subject to possible redemption

 

The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. The Company’s common stock features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of October 10, 2017, common stock subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.

 

Offering costs

 

Offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs amounting to $2,881,119 were charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.

 

6

 

 

BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC Topic 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 Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of October 10, 2017. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.

 

The Company may be subject to potential examination by federal, state and city taxing authorities in the areas of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with federal, state and city tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.

 

Concentration of credit risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution which, at times may exceed the Federal depository insurance coverage of $250,000. As of October 10, 2017, the Company had not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of the balance sheet 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 as of the date of the balance sheet. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

 

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

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

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

 

Note 3 — Initial Public Offering and Private Placement

 

Initial Public Offering

 

Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 12,000,000 Units at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock, one right (“Public Right”) and one warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each Public Right will convert into one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of a Business Combination (see Note 6). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 (see Note 6).

 

Private Placement

 

Simultaneous with the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 400,000 Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit (or an aggregate purchase price of $4,000,000). Each Placement Unit consists of one share of common stock (“Placement Share”), one right (“Placement Right”) and one warrant (each, a “Placement Warrant”) to purchase one share of the common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The proceeds from the Placement Units were added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds of the sale of the Placement Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Placement Rights and Placement Warrants will expire worthless.

 

7

 

 

BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

The Placement Units are identical to the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering except that the Placement Warrants (i) are not redeemable by the Company and (ii) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or any of its permitted transferees. In addition, the Placement Units and their component securities may not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the consummation of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.

 

Note 4 — Related Party Transactions

 

Founder Shares

 

In connection with the organization of the Company, a total of 2,875,000 shares of common stock were sold to the Sponsor at a price of approximately $0.0087 per share for an aggregate of $25,000 (“Founder Shares”). On October 4, 2017, the Company effected a stock dividend of 0.2 shares for each of the then outstanding shares, resulting in 3,450,000 Founders Shares including an aggregate of up to 450,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full or in part (as disclosed in Note 7 the underwriters have given notice of their intent to exercise their over-allotment option in full). The Sponsor will be required to forfeit only a number of shares of common stock necessary to continue to maintain the 20.0% ownership interest in our shares of common stock after giving effect to the offering and exercise, if any, of the underwriters’ over-allotment option (excluding the Placement Shares and any shares included in units acquired in the Initial Public Offering).

 

Subject to certain limited exceptions, 50% of the Founder Shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold until the earlier of: (i) one year after the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing 150 days after the initial Business Combination, and the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold until one year after the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination, or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of shareholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

Related Party Loans

 

Prior to the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s Sponsor advanced the Company an aggregate of $125,000. The advances were non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on demand. The advances were repaid upon the consummation of the Initial Public Offering on October 10, 2017.

 

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we consummate an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units of the post business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the Placement Units.

 

Administrative Services Agreement

 

Commencing on the effective date of the initial public offering through the earlier of our consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation, the Sponsor will make available to us certain general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative support, as we may require from time to time. The Company has agreed to pay the Sponsor $10,000 per month for these services. Management fee expense of $1,935 was recognized by the Company for the period from the effective date, October 4, 2017, through October 10, 2017.

 

8

 

 

BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Sponsor Commitment for Over-allotment

 

The Sponsor has also committed that it will purchase an aggregate of up to 45,000 Placement Units at $10.00 per Placement unit (for a total purchase price of $450,000) from the Company if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part necessary to maintain in the Trust Account $10.05 per Unit sold to the public in the Initial Public Offering. As disclosed in Note 7, the underwriters have informed the Company of their intent to exercise their option in full. These additional Placement Units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option.

 

Accounts payable – related party

 

Accounts payable – related party represents balances due to the Sponsor for administrative services and offering costs paid by the Sponsor on behalf of the Company.

 

Note 5 — Commitments

 

Agreements with underwriters

 

The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,800,000 additional Units to cover the over-allotment in the Initial Public Offering, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. As disclosed in Note 7, the underwriters have informed the Company of their intent to exercise their option in full.

 

The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of two percent (2.0%) of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $2,400,000.

 

The Company engaged the underwriters as advisors in connection with our Initial Business Combination to assist us in holding meetings with our shareholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities, assist us in obtaining shareholder approval for the business combination and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the business combination. The Company will pay the underwriters a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering (exclusive of any applicable finders’ fees which might become payable).

 

On October 10, 2017, the Company sold to the underwriter (and/or its designees), for $100, an option to purchase up to 600,000 Units exercisable at $11.50 per Unit (or an aggregate exercise price of $6,900,000) commencing on the later of the first anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement related to the Initial Public Offering and the consummation of a Business Combination. The unit purchase option may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and expires five years from the effective date of the registration statement related to the Initial Public Offering. The Units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to those offered in the Initial Public Offering. The Company accounted for the unit purchase option, inclusive of the receipt of $100 cash payment, as an expense of the Initial Public Offering resulting in a charge directly to stockholders’ equity. The Company estimated the fair value of this unit purchase option to be approximately $1,778,978 (or $2.97 per Unit) using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the unit purchase option granted to the underwriters was estimated as of the date of grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 35%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 1.94% and (3) expected life of five years. The option and such units purchased pursuant to the option, as well as the common stock underlying such units, the rights included in such units, the common stock that is issuable for the rights included in such units, the warrants included in such units, and the shares underlying such warrants, have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA’s NASDAQ Conduct Rules. Additionally, the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a one-year period (including the foregoing 180-day period) following the date of Initial Public Offering except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the Initial Public Offering and their bona fide officers or partners. The option grants to holders demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the effective date of the registration statement with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the option. 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 the Company’s recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the option will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price.

 

9

 

 

BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Registration Rights

 

The holders of our founders’ shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units and any units our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (and all underlying securities), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the founders’ shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these shares of common stock are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the private units and units issued to our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

 

Note 6 — Stockholders’ Equity

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of October 10, 2017, no preferred stock is issued or outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue 35,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of October 10, 2017, there were 4,293,664 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, excluding 11,556,336 shares of common stock subject to possible redemption.

 

In connection with the organization of the Company, a total of 3,450,000 shares of common stock were sold to the Sponsor at a price of approximately $0.01 per share for an aggregate of $25,000 (“Founder Shares”). The 3,450,000 Founders Shares included an aggregate of up to 450,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full or in part. As disclosed in Note 7, the underwriters have informed the Company of their intent to exercise their option in full.

 

Rights

 

Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if a holder of such right converted all ordinary shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon exchange of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Initial Public Offering. 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 shares of common stock will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into shares of common stock basis and each holder of rights will be required to affirmatively covert its rights in order to receive 1/10 of a share of common stock underlying each right (without paying additional consideration). The shares of common stock issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company).

 

If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.

 

The rights included in the Private Units sold in the Private Placement are identical to the rights included in the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that, among others, the rights including the shares issuable upon exchange of such rights, are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of such rights (including underlying securities) is registered under the Securities Act.

 

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BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Warrants

 

Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the consummation of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the effective date of the registration statement relating to the Initial Public Offering. No Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants is not effective within 30 days from the consummation of a Business Combination, the holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise the Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis. The Warrants will expire five years from the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

 

The Private Warrants will be identical to the Warrants underlying the Units being sold in the Initial Public Offering, except the Private Warrants will be exercisable for cash (even if a registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such Private Warrants is not effective) or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and will not be redeemable by the Company, in each case so long as they are still held by the Sponsor or its affiliates.

 

The Company may call the Warrants for redemption (excluding the Private Warrants but including any outstanding Warrants issued upon exercise of the unit purchase option issued to EarlyBirdCapital), in whole and not in part, at a price of $.01 per Warrant:

 

  at any time while the Warrants are exercisable,
     
  upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Warrant holder,
     
 

if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the shares of common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to Warrant holders, and

     
 

if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such Warrants at the time of redemption and for the entire 30-day redemption period and continuing each day thereafter until the date of redemption.

 

If the Company calls the Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement.

 

The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of Warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their Warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such Warrants. Accordingly, the Warrants may expire worthless.

 

Note 7 — Subsequent Events

 

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

 

On April 12, 2017, the Company received notice from the underwriters of their intent to exercise their overallotment in full and purchase an additional 1,800,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds for the Company of $18,000,000. Simultaneous with the sale of the additional Units, the Company will sell an additional 45,000 Placement Units at $10.00 per Placement Unit, generating additional gross proceeds of $450,000. Transaction costs for underwriting fees on the sale of the over-allotment units will be $360,000. A total of $18,090,000 of the net proceeds will be placed in the Trust Account, bringing the total aggregate proceeds held in the Trust Account to $138,690,000. The transactions are expected to close on October 18, 2017

 

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BLACK RIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET

 

Upon the exercise of the over-allotment in full, 450,000 shares Founders Shares will no longer be subject to forfeiture.

 

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