UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On October 17, 2023, ESGEN Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) issued an amended and restated promissory note (the “Restated Note”) in the principal amount of up to $2.5 million to ESGEN LLC, the Company’s sponsor (“Sponsor”). The Restated Note amends, restates, replaces and supersedes that certain promissory note dated April 5, 2023, in the principal amount of $1.5 million, executed by the Company in favor of the Sponsor. The Restated Note may be drawn down by the Company from time to time prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (the “Business Combination”). The Note does not bear interest, matures on the date of consummation the Business Combination and is subject to customary events of default. The Restated Note will be repaid only to the extent that the Company has funds available to it outside of its trust account established in connection with its initial public offering.
The foregoing description of the Restated Note is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Restated Note, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The disclosure contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
| Item 3.01 | Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
On October 16, 2023, the Company received a written notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that, since the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2023 reported total holders below the round lot holder requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(2) (the “Round Lot Requirement”), the Company no longer complies with Nasdaq’s Listing Rules. The Notice does not impact the listing of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A ordinary shares”), on the Nasdaq Global Market at this time.
The Notice provided that the Company has a period of 45 days to submit a plan to regain compliance and then, if the plan is accepted, an additional up to 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice, or until April 13, 2024 (the “Compliance Date”), to regain compliance with the Round Lot Requirement. During this period, Class A ordinary shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market. If the plan is not accepted, under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5815(a), the Company may appeal the decision to a Hearings Panel. If the Company does not regain compliance with the Round Lot Requirement by the Compliance Date, the Staff may provide a written notification to the Company that Class A ordinary shares will be subject to delisting.
The Company intends to monitor its Round Lot Requirement between now and the Compliance Date, and may, if appropriate, evaluate available options to resolve the deficiency under the Round Lot Requirement and regain compliance with the Round Lot Requirement. The Company may also try to transfer from the Nasdaq Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market, which would require the Company to meet the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550 at the time of the application to transfer. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain or maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing criteria or meet the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Company’s ability to regain and maintain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and generally relate to future events or the Company’s future financial or other performance metrics. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.
In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company or its directors, officers or employees or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this Report represent the views of the Company as of the date of this Report. Subsequent events and developments may cause that view to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company as of any date subsequent to the date of this Report.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 10.1 | Amended & Restated Promissory Note in favor of ESGEN LLC, dated October 17, 2023. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL). | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ESGEN Acquisition Corporation | ||||||
| October 17, 2023 | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Nader Daylami | |||||
| Name: | Nader Daylami | |||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||||
Exhibit 10.1
THIS AMENDED & RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE (“NOTE”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
AMENDED & RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE
| Principal Amount: up to $2,500,000 | Dated as of October 17, 2023 | |
| (as set forth on the Schedule of Borrowings attached hereto) |
ESGEN Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company and blank check company (the “Maker”), promises to pay to the order of ESGEN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest (the “Payee”), or order, the principal sum of up to two million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars ($2,500,000) (as set forth on the Schedule of Borrowings attached hereto) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below. All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise determined by the Maker to such account as the Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.
1. Principal. The principal balance of this Note shall be repayable on the consummation of the Maker’s initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”). Under no circumstances shall any individual, including but not limited to any officer, director, employee or shareholder of the Maker, be obligated personally for any obligations or liabilities of the Maker hereunder.
2. Interest. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.
3. Application of Payments. All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.
4. Events of Default. The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”):
(a) Failure to Make Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note within five (5) business days of the date specified above.
(b) Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
(c) Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.
5. Remedies.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 4(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 4(b) and 4(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee.
6. Waivers. Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.
7. Unconditional Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.
8. Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be: (i) in writing and delivered personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing; (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party; and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
9. Construction. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.
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10. Severability. Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
11. Trust Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account in which the proceeds of the IPO conducted by the Maker (including the deferred underwriters discounts and commissions) and certain of the proceeds of the sale of the warrants issued in a private placement in connection with the consummation of the IPO were deposited, as described in greater detail in the registration statement and prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.
12. Amendment; Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of the Maker and the Payee.
13. Assignment. No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void.
14. Amendment and Restatement. This Note amends, restates, supersedes and replaces in its entirety that certain Promissory Note made by Maker, dated as of April 5, 2023, payable to the Payee in the stated principal amount of one million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars ($1,500,000) (the “Prior Note”). This Note does not, however, evidence or effect a refinancing or novation of all or any portion of Maker’s obligations under the Prior Note or a waiver of Maker’s obligations to repay Payee under the Prior Note.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.
| ESGEN ACQUISITION CORPORATION a Cayman Islands exempted company | ||
| By: | /s/ Nader Daylami | |
| Name: | Nader Daylami | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
[Signature Page to Promissory Note]
SCHEDULE OF BORROWINGS
The following increases or decreases in this Promissory Note have been made:
| Date of Increase or Decrease |
Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Promissory Note |
Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Promissory Note |
Principal Amount of this Promissory Note following such decrease or increase |
|||||||
| April 18, 2023 |
— | $ | 150,000.00 | $ | 150,000.00 | |||||
| May 15, 2023 |
— | $ | 250,000.00 | $ | 400,000.00 | |||||
| June 14, 2023 |
— | $ | 115,862.20 | $ | 515,862.20 | |||||
| July 12, 2023 |
— | $ | 135,862.20 | $ | 651,724.40 | |||||
| August 15, 2023 |
— | $ | 215,862.20 | $ | 867,586.60 | |||||
| September 18, 2023 |
— | $ | 170,862.20 | $ | 1,038,448.80 | |||||
| September 29, 2023 |
— | $ | 200,000.00 | $ | 1,238,448.80 | |||||
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