v3.25.1
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration Rights

The holders of the founder shares, the representative shares, placement units (including component securities contained therein) and units (including securities contained therein) that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the placement warrants and any shares of Class A common stock and warrants (and underlying Class A common stock) that may be issued upon conversion of the units issued as part of the Working Capital Loans and Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the founder shares, 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, requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to the Class A common stock). The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The registration rights agreement does not contain liquidated damages or other cash settlement provisions resulting from delays in registering the Company’s securities.

Underwriting Agreement

On December 15, 2021, the Company paid a cash underwriting discount of 1.0% per Unit, or $2,875,000, as part of the underwriting fee.

Additionally, the underwriter is entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the IPO gross proceeds or $10,062,500, as a result of the underwriter’s over-allotment exercised in full upon the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.

On April 26, 2024, the Company and EF Hutton amended the Underwriting Agreement signed on December 10, 2021. EF Hutton shall acknowledge the satisfaction and discharge of the deferred underwriting discount and shall acknowledge that the Company’s obligations to pay the deferred underwriting discount in its entirety under the Underwriting Agreement have automatically been satisfied and discharged, if on the Closing of the Merger Agreement the Company pays in cash $1,500,000 to EF Hutton.

Representative Shares

On December 15, 2021, the Company issued to the representative or its designees 431,250 of Class A common stock (“Representative Shares”). The aggregate fair value of the Representative shares was $3,456,652, or $8.02 per share and recorded as offering costs. The Company accounted for the Representative Shares as an offering cost of the Initial Public Offering, with a corresponding credit to stockholders’ equity.

The holders of the Representative Shares have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any such shares without the Company’s prior consent until the completion of its initial Business Combination. In addition, the holders of the Representative Shares have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights (or right to participate in any tender offer) with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the IPO. The representative shares are deemed to be underwriters’ compensation by FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110. Please see Note 9 for valuation methodology and assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Representative Shares.

Right of First Refusal

Subject to certain conditions, the Company granted the representative, for a period of 15 months after the date of the consummation of the Business Combination, an irrevocable right of first refusal to act as sole investment banker, sole book runner, and/or sole placement agent, at the representative’s sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings for the Company or any of the Company’s successors or current or future subsidiaries. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

2023 Non-Redemption Agreements

The Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements (“2023 Non-Redemption Agreements”) with various stockholders of the Company (the “Non-Redeeming Stockholders”), pursuant to which these stockholders agreed not to redeem a portion of their shares of Company common stock (the “Non-Redeemed Shares”) in connection with the Special Meeting held on March 10, 2023, but such stockholders retained their right to require the Company to redeem such Non-Redeemed Shares in connection with the closing of the Business Combination. The Sponsor has agreed to transfer to such Non-Redeeming Stockholders an aggregate of 1,149,412 the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor immediately following the consummation of an initial Business Combination. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of such 1,149,412 Founder Shares transferrable to the Non-Redeeming Stockholders pursuant to the 2023 Non-Redemption Agreement to be $8,758,683 or $7.62 per share. The fair value was determined using the probability of a successful Business Combination of 75%, an implied volatility of 4.16%, and the value per shares as of the valuation date of $10.24 derived from an option pricing model for publicly traded warrants. Each Non-Redeeming Stockholder acquired from the Sponsor an indirect economic interest in such Founder Shares. The excess of the fair value of such Founder Shares was determined to be an offering cost in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A. Accordingly, in substance, it was recognized by the Company as a capital contribution by the Sponsor to induce these Non-Redeeming Stockholders not to redeem the Non-Redeemed Shares, with a corresponding charge to additional paid-in capital to recognize the fair value of the Founder Shares subject to transfer as an offering cost.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”)

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 of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. 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.

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. Finally, based on recently issued interim guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury, subject to certain exceptions, the excise tax should not apply in the event of our liquidation.

On March 10, 2023, in connection with the Company’s Special Meeting, the Company’s stockholders redeemed 22,119,297 Class A shares of Common Stock for a total of $227,776,035. On December 11, 2023, in connection with the Company’s Second Special Meeting, the Company’s stockholders redeemed 2,285,040 Class A shares of Common Stock for a total of $24,539,002, the amounts redeemed were paid out to stockholders on January 5, 2024. On December 9, 2024, in connection with the Company’s Special Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders redeemed 241,120 Class A shares of Common Stock for a total of $2,774,658, the amounts redeemed were paid out to stockholders on December 12, 2024.

The Company evaluated the current status and probability of completing a Business Combination as of December 31, 2024 and concluded that it is probable that a contingent liability should be recorded. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $2,550,897 and $2,523,150, respectively, of excise tax liability calculated as 1% of shares redeemed on March 10, 2023, December 15, 2023 and December 9, 2024.

During the second quarter, the IRS issued final regulations with respect to the timing and payment of the excise tax. Pursuant to those regulations, the Company would need to file a return and remit payment for any liability incurred during the period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 on or before October 31, 2024.

The Company is currently evaluating its options with respect to payment of this obligation. If the Company is unable to pay its obligation in full, it will be subject to additional interest and penalties which are currently estimated at 10% interest per annum and a 5% underpayment penalty per month or portion of a month up to 25% of the total liability for any amount that is unpaid from November 1, 2024 until paid in full. As a result, as of December 31, 2024, the Company accrued $310,728 for penalties and interest related to the redemptions that occurred in year ended December 31, 2023 that have not been paid or filed by December 31, 2024.

Capital Markets Advisor Fees

On September 9, 2024, BurTech entered into an Advisory Services Engagement Letter with Jefferies to serve as its exclusive capital markets advisor in connection with the contemplated transaction involving Legacy Blaize (i.e., the Business Combination) (the “Jefferies Engagement Letter”), pursuant to which Jefferies would be eligible for a fee of $4,500,000 contingent upon the closing of a Business Combination and for reimbursement of expenses up to $500,000. The Business Combination was completed in January 2025, and as of December 31, 2024, no liability has been recognized for the contingent fee as the contingency (completion of the Business Combination) did not occur until after the balance sheet date.

On April 7, 2025, Jefferies commenced a lawsuit against the Company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, seeking summary judgment in lieu of complaint. The lawsuit alleges that pursuant to the Jefferies Engagement Letter, Jefferies was entitled to receive a fee of $4,500,000 conditional on the Closing of the Business Combination, with the option for the Company to defer up to $1,000,000 of this fee for up to 12 months post-closing, and $500,000 in reimbursable expenses. Jefferies alleges that as of March 31, 2025, no fees have been paid to Jefferies under the Jefferies Engagement Letter. Jefferies seeks $3,500,000 for its fees, as well as $500,000 in expense reimbursement, as well as pre-and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees and legal costs incurred in connection with the lawsuit. The Company has retained counsel and intends to vigorously defend the litigation, but there can be no assurances that the litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Company Support Agreement

On December 22, 2023, concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of Legacy Blaize entered into a Company Support Agreement (the “Company Support Agreement”) with the Company and Legacy Blaize, pursuant to which such stockholders have agreed to, among other things, (i) support and vote in favor of (a) the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination, (b) the conversion of each issued and outstanding share of preferred stock of Legacy Blaize into one share of Blaize common stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (c) any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval with respect to the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.

Sponsor Support Agreement

On December 22, 2023, concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company and Legacy Blaize entered into an agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) with the Sponsor, pursuant to which, among other things, in connection with the Closing, the Sponsor agreed o (i) vote all its shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in favor of (a) each Transaction Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), including, without limitation, the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination, and (b) any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval with respect to the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.

Registration Rights Agreement

The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, Blaize, the Sponsor, certain significant securityholders of Legacy Blaize and certain of their respective affiliates will enter into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Blaize will agree to register for resale, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), certain shares of Blaize common stock and other equity securities of Blaize that are held by the parties thereto from time to time on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.

Lock-up Agreement

The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, Blaize will enter into lock-up agreements (the “Lock-up Agreements”) with (i) certain of Blaize’s directors and officers, (ii) certain stockholders of Blaize and (iii) Burkhan, in each case, restricting the transfer of Blaize common stock and any shares of Blaize common stock issuable upon the exercise or settlement, as applicable, of Blaize Options or Blaize RSUs held by it immediately after the Effective Time from and after the Closing. The restrictions under the Lock-up Agreements begin at the Closing and end on the earlier of (x) the date that is 180 days after the Closing, (y) the last reported sale price of Blaize common stock reaching $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 the Closing and (z) the liquidation of Blaize. On January 13, 2025, immediately following the Closing, the Company entered into the Lock-up Agreements discussed above.

Backstop Subscription Agreement

On April 22, 2024, the Sponsor entered into a backstop subscription agreement (the “Backstop Subscription Agreement”) with the Company and Legacy Blaize. Pursuant to the Backstop Subscription Agreement, in the event that the amount of cash in the Company’s trust account following redemptions and before payment of expenses (the “Trust Amount”) is less than $30,000,000 (the “Backstop Amount”), the Sponsor shall purchase, prior to or substantially concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination, a number of shares of Class A common stock of the Company equal to the quotient of (a) the difference of (x) $30,000,000 minus (y) the Trust Amount divided by (b) $10.00, at a per share purchase price of $10.00 per share.

The Company accounts for its Backstop Subscription Agreement in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging”, under which the Backstop Subscription Agreement does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the Backstop Subscription Agreement as a liability at its fair value and adjusts the Backstop Subscription Agreement to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations (see Note 9). The Backstop Subscription Agreement was waived at the execution of the Non-Redemption Agreements (below).

Non-Redemption Agreement

On December 31, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement (“Non-Redemption Agreement”) with one or more unaffiliated stockholders of the Company (each, an “Investor”) who agreed not to redeem (or validly rescind any redemption requests on) their shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company, in connection with the Special Meeting held on December 23, 2024. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem the Non-Redeemed Shares, Legacy Blaize and the Sponsor, have agreed to guarantee that each Investor receives a return of $1.50 per Non-Redeemed Share whether Investor (i) sells the Non-Redeemed Shares in the open market or (ii) exercises its option to require the Company to repurchase the Non-Redeemed Shares in accordance with the Non-Redemption Agreement. Entering into the Non-Redemption Agreement is expected to increase the amount of funds that remain in the Company’s trust account following the Business Combination.

The Company accounts for its Non-Redemption Agreement in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging”, under which the Non-Redemption Agreement does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the Non-Redemption Agreement as a liability at its fair value and adjusts the Non-Redemption Agreement to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations (see Note 9).