Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On October 25, 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering costs of the Company in consideration for 7,187,500 shares of Series B common stock (the “Founder Shares”). On January 13, 2022, the Company effectuated a 1.044-for-1 stock split, resulting in an aggregate of 7,503,750 Founder Shares outstanding (see Note 7). Due to the underwriters’ election to partially exercise their overallotment option, 3,750 shares were forfeited.

The Sponsor, founders, executive officers and directors have agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until one year after the completion of a Business Combination that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Series A common stock for cash, securities, or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Series A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, 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, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then such securities will be released from these restrictions. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the founders with respect to any Founder Shares.

On October 25, 2021, the Sponsor transferred 250,000 Founder Shares to five director nominees (50,000 shares to each director nominee) for no consideration, to serve in his or her capacity as an independent director of the Company. The Company assigned the number of shares of Series B common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share. The transfer of the Founders Shares to five director nominees is within the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date and expensed when earned. Shares granted to these directors are forfeited if their status as director is terminated for any reason prior to the date of a Business Combination and, as such, there has been no stock-based compensation expense recognized in the accompanying financial statements.

On December 1, 2021, the Company and Apeiron Investment Group Ltd. (“Apeiron”) entered into an Agreement to which Apeiron will serve as an advisor to the Company in connection with identifying one or more businesses with which the Company may effectuate a Business Combination. As consideration for Apeiron’s willingness to provide the service set forth in the Agreement, the Sponsor shall pay or transfer to Apeiron (or its designee) on behalf of the Company anon-refundable fee in the form of 50,000 shares of the Company’s Series B common stock (“Fee Shares”). The transfer of the Founder Shares to Apeiron is not directly related to or in connection with the Initial Public Offering and not within the scope of offering costs as defined in Note 2. The transfer of the Fee Shares is in the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The fair value of the 50,000 Fee Shares granted to Apeiron was $362,500 or $7.25 per share. The Founders Shares were granted subject to a performance condition (i.e., the closing date of the Initial Public Offering). Compensation expense related to the Founders Shares is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence under the applicable accounting literature in this circumstance. As of December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $362,500 in the operations as stock-based compensation expense as the Company determined that the performance condition has been met at the date of issuance/closing of the Initial Public Offering.

On August 16, 2024, ACAB advanced Abpro $103,000 in connection with a promissory note (“August note”) entered into between Abpro and Shahraab Ahmad on August 16, 2024 for expenses related to the Business Combination, whereas Shahraab Ahmad would receive repayment of $206,000. The August Note was cancelled and replaced with a promissory note to ACAB providing for the payment of $103,000 principal on the Closing Date. As such the Company has recorded a due from related party - Abpro on the condensed consolidated balance sheets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 in the amount of $103,000.

Working Capital Loans

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has committed to advance the Company up to $1,750,000 to fund the expenses relating to investigating and selecting a target business and other working capital requirements after the Initial Public Offering and prior to a Business Combination. In addition, our Sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us additional funds as may be required. If the Company consummated a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans. 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. Up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into additional warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. Prior to the completion of the Business Combination, the Company does not expect to seek loans from parties other than the Sponsor or its affiliates as the Company does 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 the Trust Account. There are no Working Capital Loans outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Extension Promissory Notes — Related Party

On October 14, 2023 and November 14, 2023, the Company issued non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes in the principal amount of $80,000, respectively, (the “Extension Promissory Notes”) to the Sponsor. The $80,000 of cash proceeds was deposited into the Company’s trust account in order to extend the amount of time that the Company has available to complete a Business Combination. Upon the closing of a Business Combination by the Company, the Sponsor may elect to either receive repayment under the Notes or to convert all or a portion of the amount loaned under the Extension Promissory Notes into Series A common stock of the Company at a price equal to $10.20 per share. In the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination, the amounts loaned under the Extension Promissory Notes will be repaid to the Sponsor only from funds held outside the Trust Account or will be forfeited, eliminated, or otherwise forgiven. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company owed $160,000 under the Extension Promissory Notes with no further borrowings available.

On December 18, 2023, the Company amended the Extension Promissory Notes to remove the Sponsors right to convert the note into Series A common stock at a price equal to $10.20 per share.

Expense Advancement Agreement

On May 30, 2024, the Company and the Sponsor entered into an expense advancement agreement (the “Expense Advancement Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to advance to the Company up to $600,000 in the aggregate, including previous amounts advanced from the Sponsor to the Company, on an interest-free basis as may be necessary to cover working capital expenses, fund certain redemptions of the Company’s common stock and cover costs and expenses in connection with the consummation of the Company’s proposed business combination with. Each advance under the Expense Advancement Agreement will be evidenced by a promissory note, the form of which is included as an exhibit to the Expense Advancement Agreement. This agreement replaces the previous Extension Promissory Notes in the aggregate amount of $160,000. The Expense Advance Agreement as of this filing has borrowed $160,000, with $440,000 available for withdrawal.

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Sponsor advanced the Company $2,270,051 and $1,655,000, respectively, and is reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.