Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x

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

xANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

2023

OR

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission File Numberfile number 001-39982

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Novus Capital Corporation II

(Exact name of Registrantregistrant as specified in its Charter)

charter)
Delaware85-3230987
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

8556 Oakmont Lane
Indianapolis, IN
46260
4360 Park Terrace Drive, Suite 100
 Westlake Village, California
91361
(Address of principal executive offices)Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

(805) 852-0000
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (317) 590-6959code

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

Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on
which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one-third of one redeemable warrantNXU.UNew YorkCommon Stock,
Exchange
Common stock par value $0.0001 per shareNRGVNXUNew York Stock
Exchange
Redeemable warrants, exercisable for shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per shareNXU WSNew York Stock
Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Sectionsection 12(g) of the Act: Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrantregistrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ¨ NO Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark if the Registrantregistrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ¨ NO Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: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 Registrantregistrant was required to file such reports),; and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES Yes x NO ¨

 No o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrantregistrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 Registrantregistrant was required to submit and post such files). YES Yes x NO ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 No o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrantregistrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitiondefinitions of “large accelerated filer”,filer,” “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer¨¨Accelerated filer¨x
Non-accelerated filerxSmall¨Smaller reporting companyx
Emerging growth companyx

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.¨

o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment ofon 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. ¨

o

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 . o
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). o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrantregistrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES .Yes o No x NO ¨

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2023, based on the closing price of $2.73 for shares of the Registrant’s units began trading onClass A common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, on February 4, 2021. The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s shareswas approximately $253.1 million. Shares of common stock outstanding, otherbeneficially owned by each executive officer, director, and holder of more than shares held by5% of our common stock have been excluded in that such persons who may be deemed affiliatesto be affiliates. This determination of the Registrant, at March 24, 2021, was $286,062,500.

As of March 24, 2021, 28,750,000affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The registrant had 147,079,363 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 7,187,500 sharesoutstanding as of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, were issued and outstanding.

Documents IncorporatedMarch 7, 2024.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporates certain information by Reference: None.

reference from the definitive proxy statement for the registrant’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year ended
December 31, 2023, or the Proxy Statement. Except with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Proxy Statement is not deemed to be filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Item 1.
Item 1A1A.
Item 1B1B.
Item 2.1C.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
47
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A9A.
Item 9B.
Item 9C.
PART III51
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
66
Item 15.
Item 16.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report includes, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may include,Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27Athe federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of the Securities Acthistorical facts contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including statements regarding our future results of 1933, as amended,operations or financial condition, business strategy and Section 21Eplans and objectives of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based thesemanagement for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject toinvolve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about usother important factors that are in some cases beyond our control and may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by suchthe forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminologybecause they contain words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,“contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will” or “would” or the negative of such termsthese words or other similar terms or expressions. SuchThese forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, possible business combinations andstatements concerning the financing thereof, and related matters, as well as all other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this annual report. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those describedfollowing:
changes in our other Securitiesstrategy, expansion plans, customer opportunities, future operations, future financial position, estimated revenues and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings. Forward-looking statements in this annual report may include, for example, statements about:

losses, projected costs, prospects and plans;

the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model and growth strategy;
our ability to select an appropriate targetdevelop and maintain our brand and reputation;
developments and projections relating to our business, or businesses;

our competitors, and industry;

the impact of health epidemics on our business and the actions we may take in response thereto;
our expectations regarding our ability to complete obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others;
expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act;
our initial business combination;

future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash;

the international nature of our expectations aroundoperations and the performanceimpact of the prospective target businesswar or businesses;

• our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;

• our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest withhostilities on our business or in approving and global markets;

our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;

• our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;

• our pool of prospective target businesses;

• the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities;

• our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;

• the lack of a marketfunding for our securities;

operations and future growth; and

the useour business, expansion plans and opportunities.
You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of proceeds not held infuture events. We have based the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance;

• the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; or

• our financial performance.

The forward-looking statements contained in this annual report are basedAnnual Report on Form 10-K primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additionally, our discussions of ESG assessments, goals and relevant issues herein or in other locations, including our corporate website, are informed by various ESG standards and frameworks (including standards for the measurement of underlying data), and the interests of various stakeholders.References to “materiality” in the context of such discussions and any related assessment of ESG “materiality” may differ from the definition of “materiality” under the federal securities laws for SEC reporting purposes.Furthermore, much of this information is subject to assumptions, estimates or third-party information that is still evolving and subject to change. For example, we note that standards and expectations regarding greenhouse gas (“GHG”) accounting and the process for measuring and counting GHG emissions and GHG emissions reductions are evolving, and it is possible that our approaches both to measuring our emissions and any reductions may be at some point, either currently or in the future, considered not in keeping with best practices. In addition, our disclosures based on any standards may change due to revisions in framework requirements, availability or quality of information, changes in our business or applicable government policies, or other factors, some of which may be beyond our control.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effectsopinions on us. There canthe relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. While we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be no assurance that future developments affecting us willlimited or incomplete. Our statements should not be thoseread to indicate that we have anticipated.conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
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Any forward-looking statements involve a numberonly speak as of risks, uncertainties (somethe date 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. These risksthis document, and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” 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. Wewe undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future eventswritten or otherwise,oral, to reflect any change, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

ii 

by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

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PART I

References in this annual report to “we,” “us,” “company”

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Organization
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc., (together with its subsidiaries “Energy Vault” or “our company” are tothe “Company”) was originally incorporated under the name Novus Capital Corporation II (“Novus”) as a special purpose acquisition company in the state of Delaware corporation. References to “management” or our “management team” are to our officers and directors. References to our “initial stockholders” are to the holders of our founder shares prior to our initial public offering (“IPO”).

Item 1. Business.

Introduction

We are a blank check company formed forin September 2020 with the purpose of effecting a merger capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this annual report as our initial business combination. We have reviewed a number of opportunities to enter into a business combination. We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenue to date. Based on our business activities, the Company is a “shell company” as defined under the Exchange Act because we have no operations and nominal assets consisting almost entirely of cash.

Our executive offices are located at 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260 and our telephone number is (317) 590-6959. Our corporate website address is novuscapitalcorporationII.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this annual report. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to invest in our securities.

Company History

Novus Capital Corporation II (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on September 29, 2020. The Company is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a 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 Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

In October 2020, we issued an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of our common stock, (the “founder shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, to our initial stockholders.

The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective on February 3, 2021. On February 8, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 28,750,000 units (the “units” and, with respect to the shares of common stock included in the units sold, the “public shares”) at $10.00 per unit including 3,750,000 units issued as a result of the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option in full, generating gross proceeds of $287,500,000.

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of 5,166,666 warrants (the “private warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per private warrant in a private placement to the Company’s founding stockholders (the “initial stockholders”), including NCCII Co-Invest LLC (“Cowen Investments”), an affiliate of the underwriter of our IPO (together with the initial stockholders, the “founders”), generating gross proceeds of $7,750,000.

Following the closing of the IPO on February 8, 2021, an amount of $287,500,000 ($10.00 per unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the IPO and the sale of the private warrants was placed in a trust account (the “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, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (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 funds in the trust account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below, except that interest earned on the trust account can be released to the Company to pay its tax obligations (“permitted withdrawals”).

1

Our activities since February 8, 2021, have consisted of the search and evaluation of potential targets in contemplation of a business combination. All activity for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through February 8, 2021 relates to the Company’s formation and the IPO, which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a business combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the IPO.

Acquisition Strategy

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. We expect that our principal means of identifying potential target businesses will be through the extensive contacts and relationships of our initial stockholders, 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 initial stockholders and their affiliates’ contacts and resources will generate a number of potential business combination opportunities that will warrant further investigation. We also anticipate that target business candidates will 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 may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through direct marketing programs, calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis.

Investment Criteria

Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following criteria to evaluate prospective target businesses. We may however, decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria. We have identified the following criteria that we believe are important in evaluating candidates for our initial business combination:

ŸOperating Stability with Significant Growth Potential. We are generally seeking to acquire businesses that have demonstrated operational stability with consistent historical growth in their financial results, and which are expected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. We may pursue businesses with owners who would be interested in a reverse merger, which is a combination effected via an exchange of equity, that could leave most or all our existing cash available as capital to support growth efforts.

ŸLeadership Position in its Industry. We are generally seeking to identify businesses that have leadership positions in its industry or a defensible niche with a target market as a result of industry leading differentiated technology or other competitive advantages.

ŸUnrealized Potential for Stockholder Value Creation. We are seeking target businesses that are both initially attractive investment candidates and that possess the potential for ongoing stockholder value creation in the long term. Examples of post-acquisition value creating activities include operational improvements in sales and marketing, increasing operating efficiency and reducing costs. Other examples include value created through add on acquisitions or divestitures, or by lowering the cost of capital by opening up new sources of debt or equity financing.

ŸHas the Potential to Grow Through Further Acquisition Opportunities. We are generally seeking to acquire a business that has the potential to grow inorganically through additional acquisitions.

ŸInnovate within an existing market. We are seeking a company that is innovating product or business modeling within an existing market sparing the risk and burden of developing a new and yet to be proven marketplace.

2

ŸEnterprise Value. We intend to focus on companies with valuations between $500,000,000 and $1,500,000,000, as such companies generally have proven business models and offer long term work adjustment return potential.

ŸHas a Committed and Capable Management Team. We are generally seeking to acquire a business with a professional management team whose interests are aligned with those of our investors. Where necessary, we may also look to complement and enhance the capabilities of the target business’s management team by recruiting additional talent through our network of contacts.

ŸBenefit from Being a Publicly Traded Company. We are primarily seeking a target that we believe will benefit from being publicly traded and will be able to effectively utilize the broader access to capital and the public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.

ŸConsideration of ESG Factors. Our board of directors and management intend to consider environmental, social and corporate governances, or ESG, factors in connection with their analysis of target businesses. ESG principles are the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business. These criteria help to better determine the future financial performance of companies.

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 as well as other considerations, factors, criteria and guidelines that our management may deem relevant.

Our Acquisition Process

In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information that will be made available to us.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsors, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsors, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

Members of our management team may own our securities, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.

Our officers and directors are from time to time made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue, for a business combination, but we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination transaction with us.

Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities.

Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. For more information, see the section entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”

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We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

Initial Business Combination

The NYSE rules require that an initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount). We refer to this as the 80% of net assets test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination, although there is no assurance that will be the case.

We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own or acquire shares will own or acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders 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 business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial 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 of a target, or issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. In such cases, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the outstanding 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 by us is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.

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 consummation of our initial business combination.

Lack of business diversification

For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business.

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By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or

dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.

Limited ability to evaluate the target’s management team

Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is highly unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.

We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the post-business combination company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

Following our initial 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 additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.

Stockholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination

We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.

Type of Transaction

Whether Stockholder

Approval is

Purchase of assetsNo
Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the companyNo
Merger of target into a subsidiary of the companyNo
Merger of the company with a targetYes

Under the NYSE’s listing rules, stockholder approval would typically be required for our initial business combination if, for example:

we issue (other than in a public offering for cash) shares of common stock that will either (a) be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding or (b) have voting power equal to or in excess of 20% of the voting power then outstanding;

5

any of our directors, officers or substantial security holders (as defined by the NYSE rules) has a 5% or greater interest, directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired and if the number of shares of common stock to be issued, or if the number of shares of common stock into which the securities may be convertible or exercisable, exceeds either (a) 1% of the number of shares of common stock or 1% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any of our directors and officers or (b) 5% of the number of shares of common stock or 5% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any substantial security holders; or

the issuance or potential issuance will result in our undergoing a change of control.

The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and other reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;

the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;

the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;

other time and budget constraints of the company; and

additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.

Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities

In the event we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our founders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of securities such persons may purchase. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our founders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such purchases or other transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such purchases or other transactions. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in such transactions. Such persons will be subject to restrictions in making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non- public information or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. We will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to (1) refrain from purchasing securities during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and (2) clear all trades with our legal counsel prior to execution. We cannot currently determine whether our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as it will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to, the timing and size of such purchases. Depending on such circumstances, our insiders may either make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or determine that such a plan is not necessary.

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In the event that our founders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.

The purpose of any such transaction could be to (1) vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination, (2) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (3) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such transactions may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

Our founders, officers, directors, advisors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our founders, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders (in the case of public shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our founders, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination. Such persons would select the stockholders from whom to acquire shares based on the number of shares available, the negotiated price per share and such other factors as any such person may deem relevant at the time of purchase. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. Our founders, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.

Any purchases by our founders, officers, directors and/or any of their respective affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will be restricted unless such purchases are made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our founders, officers, directors and/or any of their respective affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.

Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. At completion of the business combination, we will be required to purchase any public shares properly delivered for redemption and not withdrawn. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.

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Manner of conducting redemptions

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either: (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination; or (2) by means of a tender offer. Except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct 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. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20.0% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval. If we structure a business combination transaction with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed business combination. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our 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.

Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, we and our officers and directors will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.

In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).

If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and

file proxy materials with the SEC.

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We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our NYSE listing or Exchange Act registration.

In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.

If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. In addition, our initial stockholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of a business combination.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions. Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).

Limitation on redemption upon completion of our initial business combination if we seek stockholder approval

Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our founders or their affiliates to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our founders or their affiliates at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.

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Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights

We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, rather than simply voting against the initial business combination at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.

There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker a fee of approximately $80 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.

The foregoing is different from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.

Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or two business days prior to the scheduled date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable (unless we elect to allow additional withdrawal rights). Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.

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

If our initial proposed business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a business combination until 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or FebruaryOn September 8, 2023, or during any extension period.

Redemption of public shares and liquidation if no initial business combination

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, to complete our initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such period or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) 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, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), 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 liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware 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 warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period. However, if our initial stockholders or any of our officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates then hold any 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 within the allotted time frame to complete our initial business combination.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock 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 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 following such redemptions.

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 estimated $1,000,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, 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 $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.

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If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account and any tax payments or expenses for the dissolution of the trust, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be $10.00. 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 stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.00. Please see “Risk Factors — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors described above. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. 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 will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and 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 stockholders, 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 only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver 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. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, V Donargo LLC, an entity controlled by Vincent Donargo, our Chief Financial Officer, has agreed2021, Novus announced that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed enteringhad entered into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 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 IPO 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, V Donargo LLC will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether V Donargo LLC has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that its only assets are stock of our company. Therefore, V Donargo LLC may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked V Donargo LLC to reserve for such obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that it would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors 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) $10.00 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 V Donargo LLC 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 V Donargo LLC to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against V Donargo LLC 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 certain instances. For example, the cost of such legal action may be deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or the independent directors may determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. 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 $10.00 per public share. Please see “Risk Factors — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors described above.

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We will seek to reduce the possibility that V Donargo LLC will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and 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. V Donargo LLC will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to an estimated $1,000,000 from the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors.

Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, or during any extension period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) 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, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), 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 liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the end of our acquisition period and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.

Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and 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.

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As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, V Donargo LLC may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below: (1) $10.00 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 IPO 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, V Donargo LLC will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.

If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.00 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors 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 stockholders 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. Please see “Risk Factors — If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.”

A public stockholder 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 public shares that such stockholder has properly elected to redeem, subject to certain limitations; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with our initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. Holders of warrants will not have any rights of proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants.

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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains certain requirements and restrictions that apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre- initial business combination activity, we will provide public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with any such amendment. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:

prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we shall either: (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose, in connection with which, stockholders may seek to redeem their shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable); or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to tender their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein;

we will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination at a duly held stockholders meeting;

if we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per 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, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), 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 liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law; and

prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock.

Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors and that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting.

Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders.

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Certain Potential Conflicts of Interest Relating to Our Officers and Directors

Our officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with other companies. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from such other corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of our execution of a definitive agreement for a business combination (the “Merger Agreement”) with Energy Vault, Inc. (“Legacy Energy Vault”) that would result in Legacy Energy Vault becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Novus (the “Merger”). Upon the closing of the Merger on February 11, 2022 (the “Closing”), Novus was immediately renamed to “Energy Vault Holdings, Inc.”

Throughout this Annual Report, unless otherwise noted, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” and similar terms refer to Legacy Energy Vault and its subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Merger, and Energy Vault and its subsidiaries after the consummation of the Merger.
Mission
Our mission is to provide energy storage solutions to accelerate the global transition to renewable energy.
About Us
Energy Vault develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to aid in the global transition to a clean energy future.
Our Company’s comprehensive offerings include proprietary gravity, battery, and green hydrogen energy storage solutions, supported by our liquidationtechnology-agnostic energy management software solutions. We incorporate a customer-centric, solutions-based approach toward helping utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users reduce their energy costs while maintaining power reliability. As the world transitions to an economy powered by increasingly intermittent renewable energy such as solar and wind, the ability to provide clean and affordable electricity to a growing global population will depend heavily on the ability to store and distribute energy at appropriate times. We are striving to create a world powered by renewable resources so that everyone will have access to clean, sustainable, and affordable energy.
The core of our existence lies in a sense of urgency to meet today’s energy demands, while enabling prosperity for future generations. We are driven by our respect and commitment to the environment, society, and the economy, and are committed to continuously develop new energy storage solutions that will be powered by renewable resources.
Our Products and Services
Our solutions are designed to address the intermittency issues inherent in the predominant sources of renewable energy production by storing energy produced when renewable energy production is active. Once energy is stored in our solutions, it can be discharged to the grid in a controlled and reliable manner at any time, regardless of the then current ability of the renewable sources to generate power. Our energy storage solutions are designed to accommodate a wide variety of renewable power sources and to achieve an attractive levelized cost of energy relative to fossil fuels. Collectively, these abilities greatly broaden the use cases and time duration scenarios that can be addressed by certain sources of renewable power.
Our solutions include:
B-Vault:Our electrochemical battery energy storage solutions that meet short-duration energy storage needs, typically, in the range of one to four hours. Our B-Vault solutions are designed to utilize purpose-built battery and inverter systems with an innovative architecture that lowers costs, improves performance, and promotes project safety. We believe electrochemical battery energy storage (inclusive of lithium-ion, flow, metal air, and other battery chemistry technologies) is currently the most widely accepted and fastest growing technology for short-duration energy storage applications. During 2023, we completed construction on two B-Vault systems and as of December 31, 2023, one B-Vault system was under construction. All three of these systems were sold to customers.
G-Vault:Our proprietary gravity energy storage solutions that meet long-duration energy storage needs, typically, in the range of four to twelve hours. G-Vault solutions leverage the core, proven energy storage technology of pumped hydroelectric storage, while not being constrained by the same geological factors of pumped hydroelectricity. Our EVx gravity energy storage system incorporates a simplified building design that is modular
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and flexible, which utilizes a patented mechanical process of lifting and lowering composite blocks to store and dispatch electrical energy to support grid reliability and enable renewable energy integration. An EVx lifts composite blocks to an elevated position to store kinetic energy, and when energy is needed, the motors in the EVx act as generators and the system discharges electricity generated from the kinetic energy of the controlled gravitational lowering of the composite blocks. Our EVx solution combines advanced materials science and proprietary machine-vision software to autonomously coordinate the charge, storage, and discharge of electricity in grid-scale applications. As of December 31, 2023, one G-Vault demonstration system was under construction in Snyder, Texas, which will be owned and operated by the Company as a customer demonstration unit.
H-Vault: Our hybrid energy storage solutions (“HESS”), including systems that integrate green hydrogen, are designed to meet customer specific energy storage needs. For example, our H-Vault solutions when combined with B-Vault solutions, enable ultra-long-duration energy storage needs and provide black start and grid forming capabilities for communities supported by microgrids or such time as he ceasesother critical infrastructure. H-Vault supports community-scale microgrid generation that can be less carbon-intensive than using diesel-fueled generators for emergency backup power. For example, green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis and powered by renewable energy, which does not directly emit carbon emissions when used to store energy for long periods of time. As of December 31, 2023, one H-Vault system was under construction, which will be an officerowned and operated by Energy Vault, while providing dispatchable power to a customer under a 10.5 year tolling arrangement.
Software Solutions: Our proprietary software solutions offer technology-agnostic management systems designed to maximize the economic and environmental value of energy generation and storage assets. Our software incorporates artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and software optimization algorithms to provide our customers with efficient and profitable operation of their power generation assets. Our software solutions include:
Vault-OS Energy Management System (“EMS”): Our EMS manages one or director,more of our diverse energy storage mediums and the underlying generation assets to presentoptimize the delivery of power to our companycustomers for their varied and multiple use cases. Two customers are currently utilizing the Company’s EMS in their B-Vault systems.
Vault-Bidder: Vault-Bidder utilizes machine learning algorithms to match node-specific data with real-time weather and asset performance information to generate tailored load, generation, dispatch, and price forecasting across all assets. No customers are currently utilizing the Vault-Bidder platform.
Vault-Manager: Vault-Manager incorporates a forward-looking design to safeguard asset management and to help blend developing technologies seamlessly into existing solutions. No customers are currently using the Vault-Bidder platform.
The Company generates revenue from the sale and licensing of our consideration, priorenergy storage solutions. To date, the Company has primarily generated revenue from the sale of our battery energy storage systems (“BESSs) and from licensing our EVx technology. In addition to presentationthese sources of revenue, in the future we expect to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any fiduciarygenerate revenue from the sale of our gravity energy storage systems (“GESSs”), the sale or contractual obligations he might have.

Our officers and directors have agreed to present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80%licensing of the assets heldCompany’s software solutions, the sale of long-term service agreements to maintain customer owned energy storage systems, and through tolling arrangements in the trust account, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations they have. As more fully discussed in our registration statement on Form S-1 under the section titled “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunityconnection with energy storage systems that might be attractive to any entity to which he has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he may be required to present such initial business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such initial business combination opportunity to us.

Competition

We expect 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.

Manyown and operate.

Industry Overview
We believe climate change poses a monumental risk to humanity and decreasing human generated GHG emissions is currently among the world’s most pressing challenges. Carbon dioxide is the primary GHG emitted through human activities and, according to the International Energy Agency, the energy sector is estimated to account for more than 75% of global human generated GHG emissions. Burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.
Renewable energy sources present environmental advantages over fossil fuels in terms of finite natural resource usage and GHG emission profile. A major obstacle to transitioning to renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar is the intermittent availability of these individualstypes of energy sources. Energy storage solutions are needed to balance the production intermittency of variable renewable energy to support a clean-energy future and entitiesa balanced electrical grid infrastructure.
The growth of the energy storage market that we address is primarily driven by the decreasing cost of energy storage technologies and renewable power generation sources, government mandates, financial incentives to reduce GHG emissions, and increasing geopolitical pressures driving energy independence goals. These dynamics are well-establisheddriving demand for additional renewable power generation and increased capacity and storage duration in energy storage solutions.
According to the 2H 2023 Energy Storage Market Outlook published by BloombergNEF in October 2023, the energy storage market is expected to grow at a “27% compound annual growth rate through 2030, with annual additions reaching
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110 GW/372 GWh, or 2.6 times expected 2023 gigawatt installations.” Both government mandates and companies focused on reducing energy use, cost, and emissions are expected to propel the shift to renewable sources of power.
Governments in countries throughout the world have announced and implemented various policies, regulations, and legislation to support the transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon form of energy, including through the use of energy storage solutions. For example, in August 2022, the United States Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”). The IRA provides incentives for the domestic manufacturing of key components of energy storage solutions as well as the construction of standalone energy storage projects. The resulting improved economics are expected to reduce the cost to implement storage within the domestic market and may amplify and accelerate the adoption of energy storage systems for short, long, and extended duration use cases, like those offered by Energy Vault. Such government policies and programs are becoming increasingly instrumental in stimulating adoption of energy storage solutions across different markets through a variety of methods, including by providing financial support, facilitating grid integration, and supporting research and development.
We believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity through our competitive pricing and scalability, and the environmentally friendly attributes of our energy storage solutions that cover the spectrum from short durations to extended durations.
Strategy, Strengths, and Differentiation
We leverage our sustainable and differentiated technologies to provide our customers with economical solutions to meet their short, long, and extended-duration renewable energy storage needs. Our energy storage solutions are designed to accommodate a wide variety of renewable power sources and to achieve an attractive levelized cost of energy relative to fossil fuels.
We anticipate that our market will be characterized by high growth and rapidly evolving use cases and requirements. We believe that the majority of our competitors are primarily focused on the development and marketing of vertically siloed solutions based on a singular energy storage technology. Alternatively, we have strategically chosen to design an agile and agnostic software platform that can orchestrate the management of not just one energy storage technology, but rather one or more of our diverse storage mediums and the underlying power generation assets to harmonize asset operation and drive competitive operational performance. We expect that this will broaden the use cases and time duration scenarios that can be addressed by certain sources of renewable power, and thereby drive a faster transition to more widespread utilization of renewable power.
Our range of energy storage solutions assures our customers have what they need today, as well as what they will need in the future, thereby protecting their investments in our products within this high-growth market and its rapidly evolving use cases and requirements. For these reasons, we believe we are well positioned to compete successfully in the evolving market for energy storage solutions.
Project Delivery
We primarily rely on two models for project delivery, which are (i) engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) delivery and (ii) engineered equipment (“EEQ”) delivery. Under the EPC model, we generally rely on third-party EPC firms to construct our storage systems, under our supervision with dedicated teams tasked with project management. Under the EEQ model, we are responsible for the delivery and installation of the equipment we provide, as well as resolving issues within our scope of supply.
Our current business model options include:
Building, operating, and transferring energy storage projects to potential customers,
Building, operating, and holding energy storage systems as equity (co-) sponsor that may provide recurring revenue in the future,
Recurring software revenue through licensing software for asset management and use case applications,
Recurring service revenue through long term service agreements, and
Intellectual property licenses and royalties associated with our energy storage technologies that may provide recurring revenues in the future.
Manufacturing and Customer Support
Our manufacturing, assembly, and construction model is designed to support rapid growth, local jobs, and global execution.
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The components of our B-Vault and H-Vault solutions are primarily off-the-shelf in nature and can be procured from multiple sources worldwide. Some of the power components used in these solutions are common and we strive for economies of scale when appropriate. We typically procure batteries at either the cell, module, or rack level, and then use other contractors to integrate and assemble the batteries into outdoor enclosures that are then shipped to the project site.
In 2022, we made an early-stage strategic investment in, and established a large-scale manufacturing supply agreement with KORE Power, Inc. (“KORE”). KORE is currently constructing one of the first domestic U.S. battery manufacturing facilities in Arizona, and we expect that this relationship will give us access to a large volume of batteries at attractive unit economics when the facility becomes operational. Furthermore, we and our customers are expected to receive economic benefits from the IRA when we begin incorporating batteries manufactured in the U.S. into its B-Vault solutions.
The physical structure of our EVx G-Vault solution is based on our novel designs with many of the components manufactured by suppliers uniquely for us. Some of these components are made at the supplier’s factories, while some are made closer to, or at, the project site itself. Most of the electrical system components are off-the-shelf in nature and can be procured from multiple sources worldwide.
Construction at project sites typically involves establishing regional and country level infrastructure to support local deployments through an EPC contracting model.
We provide maintenance, customer support, and repair services for the entire storage system throughout the system’s operating life, including performance of regular preventative maintenance and software upgrades when appropriate..
Supply Chain
We proactively maximize our beneficial involvement in key aspects of the global, domestic, regional, and local supply chains that support our solutions. Through our extensive supply chain procurement process, we aim to deliver our customers a thoroughly vetted and secure source of integrated components for their energy storage needs. Given our technology-agnostic approach, we can procure equipment from a variety of top-tier global suppliers without reliance on a single-source company or geography.
The market our suppliers serve is highly impacted by government legislation. As such, we continue to proactively monitor planned and/or enacted legislation in the countries and regions that we serve. When new legislation is enacted, we seek to find ways to utilize the legislation to reduce our cost to obtain energy storage components. This includes the recent IRA that was passed in the United States for manufacturing and project incentives, and the potential reactionary legislation to follow in response elsewhere in the world. There are also increasing government regulations regarding companies’ supply chains, including certain import or other restrictions on the use of various suppliers or materials/products from certain regions. For more information, see our risk factor titled “The failure or inability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems and their failure or inability to deliver them in a timely manner could cause installation delays, cancellations, penalty payments, and damage to our reputation.”
Marketing and Sales
We believe that our marketing strategy positions us as a leadership brand and a respected and sought-after long-term strategic partner that will contribute to our customers’ growth and profitability. Our marketing strategy includes the following:
Brand Visibility, Awareness, and Education: Through branding and web marketing, we communicate with a broad set of stakeholders and work to establish leadership expertise to lay the foundation for qualified customer and supplier interaction.
Drive Demand: Our corporate outreach strategy is designed to drive demand for lead generation. We work to achieve this through web marketing and initiatives designed to accelerate the customer adoption process.
To achieve this, we employ the following:
Integrated Marketing: We take a targeted approach to strategic integrated marketing campaigns that are designed to maximize available budget while elevating our voice within the marketplace, generate leads, and close deals.
Lead Generation Model: Our campaigns are designed to drive “a call to action” on our website to capture leads. We also engage in a range of other traditional marketing activities such as tradeshows and events, internal / partner sources, and various digital marketing activities such as website, search engine optimization, social media integration, online events, and forums.
Sales Model: Our sales model focuses on winning large and sophisticated energy storage projects where the customers and their use cases demand, and benefit from, the agility of our solutions and organization to provide
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them with the best-fit for their project requirements today and well into the future. Given this sales model, we focus on high growth geographical regions.
While we have global coverage, our primary geographical focus is North America, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia. We have established offices and presence in all of these regions. We have also reached out beyond these regions via a network of representatives and we intend to continue to grow and staff both direct and indirect channels in the future. We offer our customers a range of options on how we transact with them. We believe the flexibility we offer our customers further amplifies the value we bring to them.
Target Customers
Our target customers include independent power producers, government organizations, utilities, grid operators, as well as industrial and commercial organizations with sizeable electricity needs. Because of the unique advantages of our solutions-based approach that offer maximum optionality through its agnostic nature and agile architecture, we believe there is significant demand for our systems to help address the accelerating growth and needs of the global energy storage market.
Competition
We expect competition in energy storage technology to intensify due to a regulatory push for lower-carbon energy sources such as wind and solar, continuing globalization, and consolidation in the energy industry. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the energy storage market include:
levelized cost of energy delivered;
safety, reliability, and quality;
product performance;
historical track record and references for customer satisfaction;
experience in identifyingutilizing the energy storage system for multiple stakeholders;
innovation across a variety of technologies;
comprehensive solution from a single provider;
ease of integration; and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions
seamless hardware and software-enabled service offerings.
Our key competitors within the shorter duration BESS market include Tesla, Inc., Fluence Energy, Inc., Powin Energy Corp., FlexGen Power Systems, Inc., and Sungrow Power Supply Co Ltd. Within the longer duration energy storage market there are system manufacturers with products in various states of companiesviability utilizing various technologies including ESS Inc., Eos Energy Enterprises Inc., Hydrostor Inc., Primus Power, Form Energy, Inc., Gravitricity Ltd., and other solid-state battery manufactures.
Some of our current and potential competitors have longer operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possesshistories and greater financial, technical, humanmarketing and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we dodo. These factors may allow our competitors to respond more quickly or efficiently than we can to new or emerging technologies.
These competitors may engage in more extensive research and development efforts, undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns, and adopt more aggressive pricing policies, which may allow them to more effectively compete for new energy storage projects.
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, unfair competition, and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual restrictions with our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there will be numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offeringemployees, contractors and the sale of the private placement warrants,third parties, to establish, maintain, and protect our proprietary rights. Our success depends in part upon our ability to competeobtain, maintain, and enforce proprietary protection for those aspects of our technology that provide us with respecta competitive advantage, to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others, and to prevent others from infringing our proprietary rights.
We have developed a patent portfolio to protect certain elements of our proprietary technology. As of December 31, 2023, we had 12 issued patents and 19 patent applications pending in the U.S. Outside the U.S., we have seven issued patents and 118 patent applications pending in other countries throughout the world. Our issued patents are expected to start expiring in 2039.
We primarily rely on copyright, trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures and contractual restrictions to protect our software. We also pursue the registration of our domain names and trademarks and service marks in the United States and
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internationally. As part of our overall strategy to protect our intellectual property, we may take legal actions to prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating our intellectual property or from otherwise gaining access to our technology.
Government Regulation and Compliance
Although we are not regulated as a utility, federal, state, and local government statutes and regulations concerning electricity heavily influence the market for our product and services. These statutes and regulations often relate to electricity pricing, net metering, incentives, taxation, competition with utilities and the interconnection of customer-owned electricity generation. In the United States, governments continuously modify these statutes and regulations. Governments, often acting through state utility or public service commissions, change and adopt different rates for commercial customers on a regular basis. These changes could affect our ability to deliver cost savings to our current and future customers for the purchase of electricity.
Several states in the U.S. have an energy storage mandate or policies designed to encourage the adoption of energy storage. Energy storage installations are supported in certain states by state public utility commission policies that require utilities to consider alternatives such as energy storage before they can build a new generation facility. In February 2018, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (“FERC”) issued Order 841 directing regional transmission operators and independent system operators to remove barriers to the acquisitionparticipation of certain target businessesenergy storage in wholesale electricity markets and to establish rules to help ensure energy storage resources are compensated for the services they provide. An appeal of Order 841 filed by utility trade associations and other parties challenging the extent of FERC’s jurisdiction over energy storage resources connected to distribution systems (among other issues) was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in July 2020.
Each of our installations or customer installations must be designed, constructed, and operated in compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations, codes, standards, guidelines, policies, and laws. To install and operate energy storage systems on its platform, we, our customers or our partners, as applicable, are required to obtain applicable permits and approvals from local authorities having jurisdiction to install energy storage systems and to interconnect the systems with the local electrical utility.
Energy storage systems typically require interconnection agreements from the applicable local electricity utilities in order to operate. In almost all cases, interconnection agreements are standard form agreements that are sizable will be limitedhave been pre-approved by our available financial resources. Our initial stockholders or any of their affiliates may make additional investments in us, although our they have no obligationthe local public utility commission or other dutyregulatory body with jurisdiction over interconnection agreements. As such, no additional regulatory approvals are typically required once interconnection agreements are signed.
Our operations are subject to do so. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuingstringent and complex federal, state and local laws, and regulations governing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combinationoccupational health and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by target businesses. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating and completing an initial business combination.

Facilities

We currently maintain our executive offices at 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260 which is provided to us by Robert J. Laikin, our Chief Executive Officer at no cost. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

Employees

We currently have two officers and do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completionsafety of our initial business combination. Members of our management teamemployees and wage regulations. For example, we are not obligatedsubject to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to 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 will devote in any time period to our company will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.

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Periodic Reporting and Financial Information

We will register our units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchangefederal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, and comparable U.S. state laws that protect and regulate employee health and safety.

There are government regulations pertaining to the disposal of hazardous materials. We and our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accounting firm.

We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target businesssuppliers, as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders 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 will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event weapplicable, 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 comply with these regulations to sell our systems into the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirementsmarket.

Environmental, Social, and Governance
Energy Vault is committed to sustainability as reflected in our core mission, our focus on sustainable business management practices, and our dedication to sustainable production design and supply chain management. Our focus in 2023 was on designing more sustainable products and taking steps to implement a cohesive sustainability strategy across business lines and geographies. Our sustainability directive is to enable a renewable world through the implementation of sustainable business practices that will ultimately yield a positive impact on the environment. We respect our business relationships and strive to be a responsible partner to our suppliers and customers around the world.
In 2023, the Company continued to dedicate resources to further develop its three key pillars of its sustainability strategy, which are (i) Purpose, (ii) Products, and (iii) Partnerships. These efforts were validated when Energy Vault received an S&P Global ESG score of 51, putting it in the 94th percentile within its industry.
Purpose: The Company aims to embed sustainable business management strategies across departments within the organization and to infuse our ESG philosophy throughout our business operations, product development, and accountability reporting. The Company’s Sustainability Team works to develop sustainable business management strategies for the organization through an evaluation of Company operations and by implementing monitoring and reporting systems to track and improve all areas of impact. The Sustainability Team works with the Company’s business units to implement an “environment first” approach to key operational processes, including reporting and disclosure
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frameworks, environmental policy compliance, professional education, and other key support processes for innovation and responsible development.
The Company has a Sustainability Task Force to help encourage interdepartmental collaboration and cross-functional support in an effort to embed sustainability into the nucleus of our employee’s behavior. The Sustainability Task Force is responsible for setting and communicating sustainability metrics, goals, and performance in addition to coordinating internal and external sustainability-related communications such as the annual Sustainability Report.
Products: Offering high-quality products that provide environmental benefits is the key to delivering energy storage solutions of which we can be proud. The foundation for the successful delivery of our energy storage solutions starts with quality and environmental management systems that are globally recognized and accepted. As part of delivering quality products, Energy Vault is certified to Internal Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 9001, a quality management standard that promotes a commitment to customer satisfaction, purpose-driven leadership, and equitable involvement for all employees. In addition, our commitment to improving the environment is demonstrated by our certification of the ISO 14001 standard, which requires an organization to implement and demonstrate compliance with an effective environmental management system to identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, products, and services; continually improve environmental performance; and implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets.
We demonstrate our commitment to resource preservation and environmental impacts by investing significant resources into the research and development of low carbon, innovative materials and construction practices. We have performed several material science projects to reduce the carbon content of materials, introduce the use of waste materials in our mobile masses for G-Vault, help understand end-of-life management for our energy storage solutions, and help contribute to a circular economy. To date, we have completed lifecycle assessments on our internal control over financial reporting. A target business may not beG-Vault and B-Vault based on ISO 14040 standards, and we plan to conduct life cycle assessments on other energy storage system technologies as they are developed.
Partnerships: The Company believes that strong partnerships are a key to our success. Our partnerships are aligned with a shared pursuit to accelerate the decarbonization of our planet, which includes incorporating considerations from standards and sustainability frameworks such as those from the ISO, Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”), United Nations (“UN”), Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”), and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”). We joined the UN Global Compact and participated in compliancetheir accelerators to engage with like-minded global businesses to better align 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 timeUN Sustainable Development Goals. We have announced emissions reduction goals and costs necessaryhad our near-term emissions reduction targets for Scope 1 & 2 emissions validated by SBTi. We continue to complete any such acquisition.

the Corporate Sustainability Assessment with S&P Global and we will work closely with our vendors and partners to evaluate and assess components and materials for a chain of custody that identifies responsible and ethical sourcing, environmental product declarations, and end-of-life solutions. For example, we have partnered with Cemex to reduce carbon content and test remediated waste in our G-Vault mobile masses and have created relationships with institutes of higher learning.

ESG Conclusion: Maintaining an environment of transparency and accountability allows us to share our passions and commitments with all of our stakeholders. Our strong dedication to transparency with respect to sustainability and ESG is reflected by our plan to publish annual Sustainability Reports, which can be accessed on our website, and which reports and other information on our website are explicitly not incorporated into this filing by reference.
Human Capital Management
At Energy Vault, we place immense value on our workforce, recognizing their critical role in our success. We are committed to fostering a positive, equitable, and secure work environment. In our pursuit of transparency, we look to engage in regular communication with our employees through various channels, including emails and all-hands meetings, to promote clear and open dialogue between the executive leadership team and the entire organization.
As of December 31, 2023, we employed 179 full-time employees and 4 part-time employees, distributed across 7 different countries. In the United States, none of our employees are represented by a labor union. In Switzerland, one of our employees is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.a collective bargaining agreement. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspendnot encountered any employment-related work stoppages, and we believe we maintain strong relations with our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummationemployees.
As part of our initial business combination.

commitment to diversity and inclusion, Energy Vault launched a comprehensive series of workshops in 2023, known as the Energy Vault Way. These workshops focus on effectively communicating Energy Vault’s purpose, vision, mission, and values statements, with a specific emphasis on nurturing a culture of recognition and continuous feedback. To enhance these initiatives, we also introduced an employee recognition platform during 2023. By December 31, 2023, we achieved an 81.3% activation rate on this platform, further reflecting our commitment to a workplace that honors and celebrates every employee's contribution.

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Corporate Information
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 ourfile or furnish periodic reports and amendments thereto, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and exemptions fromother information with the requirementsSecurities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In addition, the SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. Our website is located at http://energyvault.com and our reports, amendments thereto, proxy statements, and other information are also made available, free of holding a non-binding advisory votecharge, on executive compensation and stockholder approval ofour investor relations website at http://https://investors.energyvault.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such information with the SEC. The information posted on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report or 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 other securities filings unless specifically incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Certain factors 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 IPO, or February 8, 2022, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the datematerial adverse effect 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 Item 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 common stock 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 common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this annual report before making a decision to invest in our securities. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and operatingprospects. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, as well as the other information in this Annual Report, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below, or of additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, results may be materially adversely affected.of operations, financial condition, and prospects. In thatsuch an event, the tradingmarket price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating

Risk Factor Summary
Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our common stock speculative or subject to Business Operations, risk. This summary does not address all of the risks facing our business. You should consider the risks in this summary together with the detailed discussion of risks that immediately follows this summary in this section titled “Risk Factors,” as well as the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination

We are a newly incorporated company with nolimited operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on whichour rapidly evolving industry make it difficult to evaluate our abilitybusiness, the risks and challenges we may face, and future prospects.

The engineering of our systems is in continuous refinement to improve system cost and efficiency. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in implementing all improvements under the expected schedule.
Our GESSs are based on established principles that are deployed in a novel way to create new technologies to store energy and potential customers may be hesitant to make a significant investment in our technology or abandon the technology they are currently using.
Our systems’ performance may not meet our customers’ expectations or needs.
There is no assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indications of interest, including awards, submitted proposals or short-lists, will result in binding orders or sales. Customers may cancel or delay the non-binding letters of intent and other indications of interest in our sales pipeline. As a result, our operating results and cash flows may be materially lower than our expected results of operations.
The failure or inability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems and their failure or inability to deliver them in a timely manner or to the quality standards required, could cause installation delays, cancellations, penalty payments and damage to our reputation.
Our business is subject to risks associated with construction, cost overruns and delays, including those related to obtaining government permits and approvals, electrical interconnection, and other contingencies that may arise in the course of completing installations.
Material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could have a significant adverse effect on our business and the price of our common stock.
We are an early-stage company with a history of losses, and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future, and we may not be able to achieve profitability in the future.
Our total backlog and bookings may not be indicative of our future revenue, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, objective.

Wefinancial condition, and results of operations.

Our energy storage systems involve a lengthy sales and installation cycle, and if we fail to close sales on a regular and timely basis it could harm our business. Moreover, the long sales cycles for our energy storage systems may cause us to incur significant expenses without offsetting revenues.
Our systems include complex software and technology systems and do not have a meaningful history of operation, and there can be no assurance such systems and technology will perform as expected or that software, engineering or other technical defects will not be discovered until after a system is installed and operated by a customer. If our energy storage systems contain manufacturing or construction defects, our business and financial results could be harmed. In addition, the development and updating of these systems will require us to incur potentially significant costs and expenses.
If any of our products are a newly incorporated company with noor are alleged to be defective in design or manufacturing or experience other failures, we may be compelled to undertake corrective actions, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results. Becauseresults, reputation and financial condition.
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If we lack anfail to protect, defend, maintain, or enforce intellectual property rights on which our business depends, including against existing or future competitors, our growth and success may be adversely affected.
Third parties may assert that we are infringing upon their intellectual property rights, which could divert management’s attention, cause us to incur significant costs, and prevent us from selling or using the technology to which such rights relate.
Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry
Our limited operating history you have no basis upon whichand our rapidly evolving industry make it difficult to evaluate our business, the risks and challenges we may face and future prospects.
Prior to the first half of 2022, we focused principally on developing and proving our fundamental gravity energy storage technology, including our GESSs, which we are seeking to further refine and commercialize. Beginning in 2022, we expanded our offerings to include BESSs and HESSs. To date, we have only built two BESSs and one GESS, which was the EV1 Tower in Lugano, Switzerland (the “EV1 CDU”), which served as a commercial demonstration unit until its decommissioning in September 2022. As a result, we have a limited history operating our business and constructing energy storage systems, and therefore a limited history upon which you can base an investment decision.
Our future growth in a nascent and rapidly-evolving industry is dependent on a number of factors, including rising demand for clean electric power solutions that can provide electric power with lower carbon emissions and replacement of conventional generation sources and the adoption speed of digital software applications to modernize the efficiency of power assets and the electric grid. Among other renewable energy market trends, we expect our business results to be driven by declines in the cost of generation of renewable power, decreases in the cost of manufacturing battery modules and cells, customer needs for services and digital applications, commercial, legal, regulatory, and political pressure for the reduced use of and reliance on fossil fuels and electric power generation that relies on fossil or other non-renewable fuels, and a rapidly growing energy storage market driven by increasing demand from utilities, independent power producers, and large energy users. However, predicting future revenues and appropriately forecasting and budgeting for our expenses is difficult, and we have limited operating history to predict trends that may emerge and take hold and materially affect our business. Our future operations and strategy is therefore subject to all of the risks inherent in light of the expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the growth of any new business in a nascent industry, as well as those that are specific to our business in particular.
Our projections are subject to significant risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. As a result, our projected revenues, market share, expenses and profitability may differ materially from our expectations.
Our projections are subject to significant risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Such projections reflect our current views with respect to future events or our future financial performance, are based on assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by our projections. We may not actually achieve the plans, expectations or objectives contained in our projections, and the underlying assumptions may prove incorrect. Such deviations may be due to factors outside our control or currently unknown to us. For example, our actual revenues, market share, timing for achieving business milestones, expenses and profitability may differ materially from our expectations. Therefore, undue reliance should not be placed on any of our projections.
Our business model depends on acceptance of our technology by our customers, retaining existing customers, and the success of our business model .
As a recent market entrant in a developing industry, our results of operations and financial condition are dependent upon our success in establishing or entering new markets, developing and commercializing our energy storage systems, and undertaking marketing activities. We face significant risks associated with our business strategy of targeting utilities, independent power producers, and large energy users and deploying our energy storage systems at a scale that leads to broad market acceptance and profitability. The relative success of our energy systems will be dependent upon a number of factors, including their ability to achieveprovide our customers with reliable and dependable energy storage for the durations that they require, while still being cost-effective, and our ability to effectively manage any customer concerns.
In addition to the development and acceptance of our core energy storage technologies, we anticipate further developing and marketing our digital platform for the management and optimization of energy storage systems. If this platform is not adopted by users of our energy storage products or on a standalone basis, we may not recoup our investment in its development and our results of operation may be negatively impacted.
We depend on a limited number of customers for the majority of our revenue, and the loss of any one of these customers could substantially reduce our revenue and impact our liquidity.
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The loss of any significant customers or partners or reduction in our business objectiveactivities could cause our revenues to decrease significantly and increase our losses from operations. If our products are not successful and we cannot broaden our customer base, we will continue to depend on a few customers for the majority of completing our initialrevenues. Additionally, if we are unable to negotiate favorable business combinationterms with one these customers in the future, our revenues and gross profits may be insufficient to allow us to achieve and/or sustain profitability, continue operations, or remain a going concern.
The engineering of our systems is in continuous refinement to improve system cost and efficiency. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in implementing all improvements under the expected schedule.
Our business depends on our ability to succeed in implementing our energy storage systems and introduce innovative and competitive energy storage technologies. As our energy storage systems are highly complex, this process is costly and time-consuming.
Any future full energy storage deployments may incur more target businesses.costs than we expect. Our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected if we do not successfully implement our systems or to the extent that such implementation occurs later or costs more than we expect, or if innovations by our competitors achieve broader or earlier market acceptance. Examples of costs that we cannot control include the costs of electronics due to global allocation shortages or costs associated with construction delays.
If we are not able to reduce our cost structure in the future, our ability to become profitable may be impaired.
Over time, we must effectively manage the equipment and construction costs of our energy storage systems to expand our market. While we have sought, and will continue to seek, to manage our costs, the cost of components and raw materials, for example, could increase in the future. Any such increases could slow our growth and cause our financial results and operational metrics to suffer. In addition, we may face increases in our other expenses, including increases in wages or other labor costs, as well as installation, marketing, sales or related costs. We may continue to make significant investments to drive growth in the future. To the extent that the price of electricity from the grid is low in certain markets, we will need to continue to reduce our costs to maintain our expected margins in those markets. Increases in any of these costs or our failure to achieve projected cost reductions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and harm our business and prospects. If we are unable to reduce our cost structure sufficiently in the future, we may not be able to achieve profitability, which could have no plans, arrangementsa material adverse effect on our business and prospects.
Operational costs can be difficult to predict and may include costs from requirements related to the decommissioning of our systems.
We rely heavily on complex machinery for our operations and our production involves a significant degree of uncertainty and risk in terms of operational performance and costs. When fully operational, our energy storage systems will consist of large-scale machinery comprised of many components assembled on-site for our customers. The components of our energy storage systems are likely to suffer unexpected malfunctions from time to time and will depend on repairs and spare parts to resume operations, which may not be available when needed. Unexpected malfunctions of our energy storage systems or understandingstheir constituent components may significantly affect the intended operational efficiency and performance. In addition, our energy storage systems may need to be decommissioned from time to time, and the related costs could be significant given the size and complexity of our energy storage systems. Operational performance and costs, including those related to project stoppage, can be difficult to predict and are often influenced by factors outside of our control, such as, but not limited to, scarcity of natural resources, environmental hazards and remediation, costs associated with any prospective targetconstruction, commissioning, testing or decommissioning of machines, labor disputes and strikes, difficulty or delays in obtaining governmental permits, damages or defects in electronic systems, industrial accidents, fire, seismic activity and natural disasters. Should operational risks materialize, it may result in the personal injury to or death of workers, the loss of production equipment, damage to demonstration facilities, monetary losses, delays and unanticipated fluctuations in production, environmental damage, administrative fines, increased insurance costs and potential legal liabilities, all which could have a material adverse effect on our business, concerning aresults of operations, cash flows, financial condition or prospects.
Furthermore, in recent periods, our internal operations have grown in complexity. We may in the future continue to grow our operations, both in terms of complexity and headcount. Any continued growth could increase our operational costs and failure to manage such growth could lead to additional costs in the future.
Our energy storage systems have significant upfront costs, and our customers may need to obtain financing to help finance purchases. If our customers are unable to procure third-party financing or if the cost of such financing exceeds our estimates, our business combinationwould be adversely affected.
Our energy storage systems have significant upfront costs, and certain customers may need, or may prefer to acquire, third-party financing to purchase our systems.
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Therefore, our growth, including the deployment of our energy storage systems, may to an extent depend on our customers’ ability to attract third-party financing partners. Their ability to obtain third-party financing depends on many factors that are outside of our control, including the ability of third parties to utilize tax credits and other government incentives, interest rate and/or currency exchange fluctuations, their perceived creditworthiness and the condition of credit markets generally. We expect that the financing of customer purchases of our energy storage systems will be subject to customary conditions such as the customer’s credit quality, and if these conditions are not satisfied, such customers may be unable to completefinance purchases of our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.

Our public stockholders may not be affordedenergy storage systems, which would have an opportunity to voteadverse effect on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may completerevenue in a particular period. To the extent our initial business combination even though a majoritycustomers are unable to arrange future financings for any of our public stockholders do notcurrent or potential projects, our business would be negatively impacted.

In attempting to attract new customers to support such a combination.

We may not hold a stockholder voteour growth, we intend to approverefine our initial business combination unless the business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, the NYSE rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will becustomer agreements based on a varietyexperience. Moreover, new types of factors, such as the timing of the transaction. Accordingly, weproduct offerings may consummaterequire our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our outstanding public shares do not approve of the business combination we consummate. Please see “Proposed Business — Stockholders May Not Have the Abilitycustomers to Approve Our Initial Business Combination” for additional information.

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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreedfind partners willing to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need 10,781,251, or 37.5% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted), or 1,796,876, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted), of the 28,750,000 public shares sold in our IPO to be voted in favor of a transaction, in order to have such initial business combination approved. We expect that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees will own at least 20.0% of our outstanding shares of common stock at the time of any such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.

Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of such business combination.

At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any target businesses. Additionally, since our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.

The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets,finance these new projects, which may make it difficult for ushave different terms and financing conditions from prior transactions. If the terms of these transactions or the structure of these projects fails to enter into a business combination with a target.

Weattract financiers, we may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with thegrowing our business combination. In no event will we redeemand our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement whichpotential for growth may be contained inlimited. Additionally, financing options are also limited by the agreement relatingcustomer’s willingness to commit to making fixed payments regardless of the performance of the energy storage systems or our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target). Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us.

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The abilityperformance of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number ofobligations under the customer agreement

Further, our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.

At the time we enter into an agreementsales process for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights and, therefore, we will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of sharestransactions that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements or arrange for third-party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-partyrequire financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.

If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful increases. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.

The requirementrequire that we completeand our initial business combination withincustomers make certain assumptions regarding the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limitcost of financing capital. If the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approachcost of financing ultimately exceeds our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.

Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business,estimates, we may be unable to completeproceed with some or all of the impacted projects or our initialrevenue from such projects may be less than our estimates. Actual financing costs for potential customers may vary from our estimates due to factors outside of our control, including changes in customer creditworthiness, macroeconomic factors, the returns offered by other investment opportunities available to our financing partners, and other factors.

If our customers are unable to procure financing partners willing to finance deployments of our products or if the cost of such financing exceeds our estimates, our business combinationwould be negatively impacted.
The economic benefit of our energy storage systems to our customers depends on the cost of electricity available from alternative sources, including local electric utility companies, which cost structure is subject to change.
The economic benefit of our energy storage systems to our customers includes, among other things, the benefit of reducing such customer’s payments to the local electric utility company. The rates at which electricity is available from a customer’s local electric utility company is subject to change and any changes in such rates may affect the relative benefits of our energy storage systems. Further, the local electric utility may impose “departing load,” “standby” or other charges on our customers in connection with their acquisition of our energy storage systems, the amounts of which are outside of our control and which may have a material impact on the economic benefit of our energy storage systems to our customers. Changes in the rates offered by local electric utilities and/or in the applicability or amounts of charges and other fees imposed by such utilities on customers acquiring our energy storage systems could adversely affect the demand for our energy storage systems.
Additionally, the electricity stored and released by our systems may not currently be cost-competitive in some geographic markets, and we may be unable to reduce our costs to a level at which our energy storage systems would be competitive in such markets. As such, unless the cost of electricity in these markets rises or we are able to generate demand for our energy storage systems based on benefits other than electricity cost savings, our potential for growth may be limited.
Our energy storage systems’ performance may not meet our customers’ expectations or needs.
Our energy storage systems will be subject to various operating risks that may cause them to generate less value for our customers than expected. These risks include a failure or wearing out of our equipment or the equipment that our equipment connects into, an inability to find suitable replacement equipment or parts, or disruption in our distribution systems. Any extended interruption or failure of our customer’s projects, including systems we operate under long term service agreements, for any target business. This risk will increasereason to generate the expected amount of output could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our customers’ willingness to acquire additional systems or services from us may be impacted in the future if any of our systems incur operational issues that indicate expected future cash flows from the system are less than the carrying value. Any such outcome could adversely affect our operating results or ability to attract new customers.
If our estimates of the useful life for our energy storage systems are inaccurate or we do not meet service and warranties and performance guarantees, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.
We provide limited warranties and performance guarantees for our energy systems. To date, we have deployed two operational BESSs and our estimates about product performance and life may prove to be incorrect. Failure to meet these
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warranties and performance guarantee levels may require the purchase price to be adjusted downward based on agreed-upon performance targets, or require us to make cash payments to the customer based on actual performance, as compared to expected performance.
We intend to explore alternative, co-active use case opportunities for our systems, but there is no assurance that such opportunities exist or that they would be as beneficial to us as we get closerexpect.
We intend to explore alternative, co-active use case opportunities for our energy storage systems. For example, we intend to explore opportunities in energy-intensive industries such as vertical farming, data centers, direct air carbon capture where our systems may be able to benefit from existing infrastructure, including physical enclosures and electrical systems, that are built into the designs for our energy storage systems. Even after we spend time and resources exploring such opportunities, there is no assurance that they exist on terms that are commercially acceptable to us. Moreover, even if we enter into agreements to make use of such opportunities, such opportunities may not be as beneficial to us as we expected at the time of entering into the underlying agreement. Any of the foregoing may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results or operations and prospects.
There is no assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indications of interest, including awards, submitted proposals or short-lists, will result in binding orders or sales. Customers may cancel or delay the non-binding letters of intent and other indications of interest in our sales pipeline. As a result, our operating results and cash flows may be materially lower than our expected results of operations.
Our success depends on our ability to generate revenue and operate profitably, which depends in part on our ability to identify target customers and convert such contacts into meaningful orders or expand on current customer relationships. To date, we have only deployed two operational energy systems. While our contracts do provide that our customers will be obligated to pay us certain fees in the event of termination for their convenience, such fees may not be sufficient to cover our costs and we would not realize the expected revenue associated with such cancelled contracts. Potential and contracted customers may abandon their indications of interest, or fail to honor contractual obligations and non-binding letters of interest may be cancelled or delayed by a customer for any reason or its terms may be amended in an manner adverse to us in connection with negotiating a definitive sales agreement. For that reason, there can be no assurance that any current or future indications of interest (including awards, submitted proposals or short-lists) or non-binding letters of intent will result in binding orders or sales. Furthermore, in light of our limited operating history, it is difficult for us to predict the rates at which the non-binding letters of intent or other indications of interest in our pipeline will result in binding orders or sales. It is also difficult for us to predict how quickly we will be able to fill binding orders in the event that we obtain multiple orders. In addition, revenue is expected to be recognized in stages, and customers may in some cases delay actual cash payments regardless of progressive billings. Additionally, a customer’s ability to make payments could decline during the sales process, even to the endpoint of insolvency or bankruptcy. As a result, our operating results and cash flow may be materially lower than we expect.
Our future growth depends upon our ability to maintain relationships with third parties, and the terms and enforceability of many of these relationships are not certain.
We expect to rely on engineering, procurement, construction, or EPC, firms as third-party general contractors to install energy storage systems at our customers’ sites. We are likely to work with a limited number of such EPC firms, which may impact our ability to facilitate customer installations as planned. Our work with contractors or their sub-contractors may have the effect of our being required to comply with additional rules (including rules unique to our customers), working conditions, site remediation and other union requirements, which can add costs and complexity to an installation project. In the future, the timeliness, thoroughness and quality of installation-related services performed by our general contractors and their sub-contractors may not meet our expectations and standards and it may be difficult to find and train third-party general contractors that meet our standards at a competitive cost.
In addition, a key component of our growth strategy is to develop or expand our relationships with third parties. For example, we are investing resources in establishing strategic relationships with market players across a variety of industries, including, large renewable project developers, commercial agents, environmental organizations and unions, to generate new customers or to grow our business. These programs may not roll out as quickly as planned or produce the results we anticipated. A significant portion of our business depends on attracting new partners and retaining existing partners, and such relationships may not be predicated on enforceable agreements or any agreements at all.
We depend upon component and product manufacturing and logistical services provided by third parties, many of whom are located outside of the timeframe described above.U.S.
A significant amount of our components, including batteries utilized in our BESS offerings, and products are manufactured in whole or in part by a few third-party manufactures. Many of these manufacturers are located outside of the U.S. If a catastrophic event occurs relative to these third-party manufacturers, or the political, social, or economic conditions shift
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within their respective geographies or between trade partners, we could experience business interruptions, delayed delivery of products, or other adverse impacts to our ongoing business. We have also outsourced much of our transportation and logistics management. While these arrangements may lower operating costs, they also reduce our direct control over production and distribution. Such diminished control could have an adverse effect on the quality or quantity of our products as well as our flexibility to respond to changing conditions. In addition, we rely on third-party manufacturers to adhere to the terms and conditions of the agreements in place with each party. For example, although arrangements with such manufacturers may contain provisions for warranty expense reimbursement, we may remain responsible to the customer for warranty service in the event of product defects. Any unanticipated product or warranty liability, whether pursuant to arrangements with contract manufacturers or otherwise, could adversely affect our reputation, financial condition, and operating results.
The failure or inability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems and their failure or inability to deliver them in a timely manner could cause installation delays, cancellations, penalty payments and damage to our reputation.
We rely on a limited number of third-party suppliers for some of the components and raw materials such as steel, cement, polymers and, in certain cases, coal ash waste and retired wind turbine blades, and other materials that may be of limited supply for our GESSs and batteries, inverters, enclosures, and transformers for our BESSs. If any of our suppliers fail or are unable to provide sufficient components or raw materials at the level of quality required, or if our suppliers fail or are unable to or unwilling to provide us with the contracted quantities (as we have limited or in some case no alternatives for supply), or if our suppliers cancel the contracted quantities without sufficient lead time to conductorder the materials from another supplier, or if our suppliers fail or are unable to deliver the components or raw materials in a timely manner, then delays, cancellations, penalty payments, or damage to our reputation could occur, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations. If we fail to develop or maintain our relationships with any of our suppliers, or if there is otherwise a shortage, lack of availability, or cancellation of the purchase of any required raw materials or components, we may be unable to manufacture our energy storage systems or such products may be available only at a higher cost or after a long delay.
Additionally, there are increasing expectations in various jurisdictions that companies monitor the environmental and social performance of their suppliers, including sourcing of materials and compliance with a variety of labor practices, as well as consider a wider range of potential environmental and social matters, including the end-of-life considerations for products. In addition, increasing concern and focus on limiting forced labor may result in additional regulations targeting the markets we operate in and from which we source products and materials. Certain existing laws impose prohibitions on the importation of goods made with forced labor or compulsory prison labor, including the Tariff Act of 1930, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”), and other global laws against forced labor. The UFLPA places restrictions on imports from Xinjiang, a key source of materials in global supply chains. Compliance can be costly, require us to establish or augment programs to diligence or monitor our suppliers, or to design supply chains to avoid certain regions altogether. Failure to comply with such regulations can result in fines, reputational damage, import ineligibility for our products or product components, or otherwise adversely impact our business. Current or future supply chain interruptions that could be exacerbated by global political tensions, such as the situation in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and public health emergencies, could also negatively impact our ability to acquire necessary raw materials and components. Such delays could prevent us from delivering our energy storage systems to customers within required time frames and cause order cancellations. Developing required raw materials and constructing required components for our products are time and capital intensive. Accordingly, the number of suppliers we have for some of our components and materials is limited and, in some cases, sole sourced. We may be unable to obtain comparable components from alternative suppliers without considerable delay, expense, or at all. If our suppliers face difficulties obtaining the credit or capital necessary to expand their operations when needed, they could be unable to supply necessary raw materials and components needed to support our planned sales and services operations, which would negatively impact our sales volumes and cash flows.
Our systems often rely on interconnections to distribution and transmission facilities that are owned and operated by third parties, and as a result, are exposed to interconnection and transmission facility development and curtailment risks.
A primary potential use case for our energy storage systems involves interconnection with electric distribution and transmission facilities owned and operated by regulated utilities, and independent system operators, necessary to deliver the electricity that our energy storage systems produce. A failure or delay in the operation or development of these distribution or transmission facilities could result in a loss of revenues or breach of a contract because such a failure or delay could limit the amount of renewable electricity that our energy storage systems deliver or delay the completion of our customers’ construction projects. In addition, certain of our energy storage systems’ generation may be curtailed without compensation due diligenceto distribution and transmission limitations, reducing our revenues and impairing our ability to capitalize fully on a
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particular customer project’s potential. Such a failure or curtailment at levels above our expectations could adversely affect our business.
Our business is subject to risks associated with construction, cost overruns and delays, including those related to obtaining government permits and approvals, electrical interconnection, and other contingencies that may arise in the course of completing installations.
Our business is subject to risks relating to construction, cost overruns and delays. The installation and operation of our energy storage systems at a particular site is generally subject to oversight and regulation in accordance with national, state, tribal, and local laws and ordinances relating to building codes, health and safety, environmental protection, FERC and specific Independent System Operators regulation and related matters, and typically requires obtaining and keeping in good standing various local and other governmental approvals and permits, including environmental approvals and permits, that vary by jurisdiction. In some cases, these approvals and permits require periodic renewal. It is difficult and costly to track the requirements of every individual authority having jurisdiction over energy storage system installations, to design our energy storage systems to comply with these varying standards, which may change over time, and for us and our customers to obtain all applicable approvals and permits. We cannot predict whether or when all permits and approvals required for a given project will be granted or whether the conditions associated with the permits and approvals will be achievable. The denial of a permit or approval or utility connection that is essential to a project or the imposition of impractical conditions would impair our or our customer’s ability to develop the project. In addition, we cannot predict whether the permitting and approvals process will be lengthened due to complexities and appeals. Delay in the review and permitting process for a project can impair or delay our or our customers’ abilities to develop that project or increase the cost so substantially that the project is no longer attractive to our customers. Furthermore, unforeseen delays in the review and permitting process could delay the timing of the installation of our energy storage systems and could therefore adversely affect the timing of the recognition of revenue related to hardware acceptance by our customer, which could adversely affect our operating results in a particular period. Delays relating to constructions may also bring about cost overruns, which could further adversely affect our business.
In addition, the successful installation of our energy storage systems is dependent upon the availability of and timely connection to the local electric grid. Before beginning construction on an energy storage system, we may be unable to obtain in a timely fashion or at all the required consent and authorization of local utilities to ensure successful interconnection to energy grids to enable the successful discharge of renewable energy to customers. Any delays in our customers’ ability to connect with utilities, delays in the performance of installation-related services or poor performance of installation-related services will have an adverse effect on our results and could cause operating results to vary materially from period to period. FERC issued Order No. 2023 on July 28, 2023 in an attempt to address interconnection queue backlogs and related issues with the interconnection process, including with respect to energy storage facilities. Transmission owners and operators are in the process of developing proposed rules to implement Order No. 2023, the results of which remain uncertain at this time.
The size of our GESSs may negatively impact our ability to enter into contracts with customers or obtain government permits and approvals.
Our GESSs require a considerably larger space for their deployment than comparable systems based on certain technologies such as lithium-ion technology, and this can result in a significant delay in the permitting process. In addition, the size of our GESSs may represent an impediment for deployment in denser areas or areas with restrictions on the height of buildings. And, in light of the size of our systems, we generally require hard soil or the ability to get to bedrock in order to deploy our systems. These factors may negatively impact our ability to enter into customer contracts or obtain government permits and approvals, each of which may materially affect our business.
Our GESSs are based on established principles that are deployed in a novel way to create new technologies to store energy and potential customers may be hesitant to make a significant investment in our technology or abandon the technology they are currently using.
The design of our GESSs are based on established principles that are deployed in a novel way; the GESSs are intended to provide longer energy storage durations than are provided by other types of energy storage systems. We believe that the continued growth and acceptance of energy storage generally will depend significantly on continued investment by the public and private sectors in the renewable energy industry, the regulatory environment focused on transitioning away from carbon-intensive power generation and the speed of transition towards electric mobility.
The adoption of renewable energy may not proceed as quickly as (or at the levels that) we expect and may be influenced by changes in regulatory environments, including incentives, fuel prices, public policy concerns and other factors beyond our control. Additionally, potential customers who previously invested in alternatives to our GESS solution may not deem a transition to our existing or future GESS solutions to be cost-effective. Moreover, given the limited history of our GESS
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technology, potential customers may be hesitant to make a significant investment in our products. Our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be adversely affected to the extent that customers, for any reason, do not adopt our systems or migrate to our systems from another energy storage technology.
We face additional risks to the extent that customers choose to purchase energy storage and dispatch of electricity from systems we build and in which we retain an ownership interest rather than purchase an energy storage system.
In certain circumstances we expect to enter tolling arrangements in which customers purchase the energy storage and dispatch of electricity from us while we retain an ownership interest in the system. To date, we have entered into one such tolling arrangement in respect to a battery plus green hydrogen hybrid energy storage system.
We could face additional risks when we own and operate energy storage systems, as compared to when the customer owns and operates energy storage systems that we build. For example, we may need to seek equity and/or debt financing to fund the construction and operation of any energy storage systems built in connection with a project for a customer who chooses to enter into our initial business combinationa tolling arrangement. Such financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Moreover, we expect that weany such indebtedness would have rejected uponbe secured by a more comprehensive investigation.

Welien on the related energy storage system, and the governing debt agreement may contain covenants imposing operating and financial restrictions on our operations. In addition, until any such debt is repaid, we may not be able to generate meaningful cash flow from the project. Moreover, the failure of our customers to make payments could trigger an event of default under such governing debt agreements, which could result in the acceleration of repayment of our outstanding indebtedness or even entitle our lender to foreclose on the collateral securing our debt. In addition, to the extent equity financing is also used, our right to receive cash flows from the project could be subordinated to the other equity investors.

Additionally, there could be a material adverse effect on our operating results and our cash flows to the extent we own and operate our energy storage systems for the benefit of customers under tolling arrangements. For example, we would not expect to receive any payments from the customer until the system is completed and expenses relating to insurance premiums, personnel, and our interest payments under debt agreements would be increased, and such increases may be material. We could also be required to provide ongoing maintenance and repair services or could face liability for any damages or injuries if the system malfunctions. Additionally, we would be subject to the risks of termination of the agreement by the customer and the inability to replace the customer would result in the system failing to generate revenue. We may also incur liabilities as a result of a performance failure or other breach of our obligations in connection with the operation of the system.
We may also be subject to additional legal and regulatory restrictions to the extent we own and operate an energy storage system, including relating to the transmission of energy. Such legal and regulatory restrictions could increase the costs of compliance and potentially subject us to threatened or actual litigation or administrative proceedings, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Although we don’t expect a significant majority of our revenue to come from owning and operating energy storage systems based on our current outlook, there is no assurance that this type of revenue will not account for a significant portion of our business in the future.
Increasing attention to, and scrutiny of, ESG matters could increase our costs, harm our reputation, impact our share price or access to or cost of capital, or otherwise adversely impact our business.
Companies across industries are facing increasing scrutiny from a variety of stakeholders related to their ESG and sustainability practices. Expectations regarding voluntary ESG initiatives and disclosures and consumer demand for alternative forms of energy may result in increased costs (including but not limited to increased costs related to compliance, stakeholder engagement, contracting and insurance), changes in demand for certain products, enhanced compliance or disclosure obligations, or other adverse impacts to our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
While we may at times engage in voluntary initiatives (such as voluntary disclosures, certifications, or goals, among others) to improve the ESG profile of our company or to respond to stakeholder expectations, such initiatives may be costly and may not have the desired effect. Expectations around company’s management of ESG matters continues to evolve rapidly, in many instances due to factors that are out of our control. For example, we may ultimately be unable to complete certain initiatives or targets, or execute on any opportunities we have identified, either on the timelines initially announced or at all, due to technological, cost, or other constraints, which may be within or outside of our initial business combination withincontrol. Moreover, actions or statements that we may take based on based on expectations, assumptions, or third-party information that we currently believe to be reasonable may subsequently be determined to be erroneous or be subject to misinterpretation. If we fail to, or are perceived to fail to, comply with or advance certain ESG initiatives (including the prescribed time frame,timeline and manner in which case we complete such initiatives), or to not keep pace with peers on ESG initiatives and/or disclosures, we may be subject to various adverse impacts, including reputational damage and potential stakeholder engagement and/or litigation, even if such initiatives are currently voluntary. For example, there have been increasing allegations of greenwashing against
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companies making significant ESG claims due to a variety of perceived deficiencies in performance or methodology, including as stakeholder perceptions of sustainability continue to evolve.
Certain market participants, including major institutional investors and capital providers, use third-party benchmarks and scores to assess companies’ ESG profiles in making investment or voting decisions. Unfavorable ESG ratings could lead to increased negative investor sentiment towards us, which could negatively impact our share price as well as our access to and cost of capital. To the extent ESG matters negatively impact our reputation, it may also impede our ability to compete as effectively to attract and retain employees, customers, and/or business partners, which may adversely impact our operations. While many stakeholders expect companies to pursue ESG initiatives, other may seek to reduce companies’ efforts on certain ESG-related matters. Both advocates and opponents to certain ESG matters are increasingly resorting to a range of activism forms, including media campaigns and litigation, to advance their perspectives. In addition, there are also increasing levels of regulation, disclosure-related and otherwise, with respect to ESG matters. We may ultimately be subject to regulations that are not uniform in nature or reflective of shared regulatory goals. Our efforts to respond to varying requirements may not be successful and/or may subject us to additional stakeholder engagement. This and other stakeholder expectations will also likely lead to increased costs as well as scrutiny that could heighten all of the risks identified in this risk factor. Additionally, many of our customers and suppliers may be subject to similar expectations, which may augment or create additional risks, including risks that may not be known to us.
Should we pursue acquisitions in the future, it would cease all operations exceptbe subject to risks associated with acquisitions.
We may acquire additional assets, products, technologies, or businesses that are complementary to its existing business. The process of identifying and consummating acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new assets and businesses into our own business would require attention from management and could result in a diversion of resources from its existing business, which in turn could have an adverse effect on its operations. Acquired assets or businesses may not generate the expected financial results. Acquisitions could also result in the use of cash, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the occurrence of goodwill impairment charges, amortization expenses for other intangible assets and exposure to potential unknown liabilities of the purpose of winding upacquired business.
If we complete future acquisitions, we may not ultimately strengthen our competitive position or achieve our goals and business strategy. We may be subject to claims or liabilities assumed from an acquired company, product, or technology; acquisitions we complete could be viewed negatively by our customers, investors, and securities analysts; and we would redeemmay incur costs and expenses necessary to address an acquired company’s failure to comply with laws and governmental rules and regulations. Additionally, we may be subject to litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, former stockholders or other third parties, which may differ from or be more significant than the risks our public sharesbusiness faces. If we are unsuccessful at integrating future acquisitions in a timely manner, or the technologies and liquidate, inoperations associated with such acquisitions, our revenue and operating results could be adversely affected. Any integration process may require significant time and resources, which casemay disrupt our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances,ongoing business and our warrants will expire worthless.

Our initial stockholders, officersdivert management’s attention, and directors have agreed that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023. We may not be able to findmanage the integration process successfully or in a suitable targettimely manner. We may not successfully evaluate or utilize the acquired technology or personnel, realize anticipated synergies from the acquisition, or accurately forecast the financial impact of an acquisition transaction and integration of such acquisition, including accounting charges and any potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets recognized in connection with such acquisitions. We may have to pay cash, incur debt, or issue equity or equity-linked securities to pay for any future acquisitions, each of which could adversely affect our financial condition or the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, the sale of equity or issuance of equity-linked debt to finance any future acquisitions could result in dilution to our stockholders. The occurrence of any of these risks could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Our operations are international, and expanding operations in some international markets could expose us to additional risks.
Our operations are international, and we continue to expand our business internationally as we seek to partner with customers, suppliers and other partners around the world. We currently have operations in Switzerland, Australia, United Kingdom, sales agents in other territories, and our signed purchase order and letters of intent are with counterparties around the world. Managing further international expansion will require additional resources and controls including additional support, manufacturing, and assembly facilities. Any expansion internationally could subject our business to risks associated with international operations, including:
conformity with applicable business customs, including translation into foreign languages and associated expenses;
lack of availability of government incentives and subsidies;
challenges in arranging, and availability of, financing for our customers;
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potential changes to our established business model;
cost of alternative power sources, which could be meaningfully lower outside the United States;
availability and cost of raw materials, labor, equipment for manufacturing or assembling our energy storage systems;
difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations in an environment of diverse culture, laws, and customers, and the increased travel, infrastructure, finance, and legal and compliance costs associated with international operations;
installation challenges which we have not encountered before which may require the development of a unique model for each country;
compliance with multiple, potentially conflicting and changing governmental laws, regulations, and permitting processes including construction, environmental, banking, employment, tax, safety, security, grid minimum performances, and data privacy and protection laws and regulations;
compliance with U.S. and foreign anti-bribery laws including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Anti-Bribery Act;
greater difficulties in securing or enforcing our intellectual property rights in certain jurisdictions, or greater chance potential infringement of third-party intellectual property rights in new jurisdictions;
difficulties in funding our international operations;
difficulties in collecting payments in foreign currencies and associated foreign currency exposure;
restrictions on repatriation of earnings;
compliance with potentially conflicting and changing laws of taxing jurisdictions where we conduct business and completecompliance with applicable U.S. tax laws as they relate to international operations, the complexity and adverse consequences of such tax laws, and potentially adverse tax consequences due to changes in such tax laws;
increases or decreases in our initialexpenses caused by fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates;
changes in import tariffs imposed by local governments;
changes in regulations regarding the use of waste materials in our products;
changes in regulations that would prevent us from doing business combination within such time period. in specified countries;
failure of the supply chain in local countries to provide us with materials of a sufficient quality and quantity delivered on timelines we expect;
the impacts of government spending on infrastructure projects and more broadly, including any impacts of government debt defaults or budget crises (including in the United States);
the outbreak of war or other hostilities; and
regional economic and political conditions.
As a result of these risks, any potential future international expansion efforts that we may undertake may not be successful.
In addition, nearly all of our letters of intent are denominated in U.S. dollars, and certain of our definitive agreements could be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. A strengthening of the U.S. dollar could increase the cost of our solutions to our international customers, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. In addition, if an increased portion of our operating expenses is incurred outside the United States and is denominated in foreign currencies, we would be subject to increased financial impacts resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. If we become more exposed to currency fluctuations and are not able to successfully hedge against the risks associated with currency fluctuations, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our future growth is dependent upon the pace and depth of renewable energy adoption and energy storage technologies, which are emerging industries, as well as our competition. If the markets for renewable energy and energy storage do not develop as we expect, or if they develop more slowly than we expect, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.
Our future growth depends upon factors in our industry, including with respect to our competition, the speed at which the market adopts renewable energy, our ability to completepenetrate such market and the state of energy storage technologies. Because renewable energy and energy storage are emerging industries, they are evolving and characterized by rapidly changing
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technologies, changing government regulation and industry standards and changing consumer demands and behaviors. If the markets for these do not develop as we expect, including if they develop more slowly than we expect, demand for our initialenergy storage systems or any digital platform that we may develop, our business, combinationprospects, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.
Additionally, the energy storage market is largely driven by installed capacity of renewable electricity generation and increasing demand for renewable sources of power. Since many of these renewable sources of power are intermittent, like wind and solar, the energy produced by them must be stored for use when there is demand. Should government requirements for these intermittent power sources be relaxed or social desires for lower-carbon sources of energy decline, there could be a detrimental impact on one of our primary markets.
Even if renewable energy and energy storage become more widely adopted, our energy storage technology may not achieve widespread market acceptance or may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatilityless cost-effective as compared to competing technologies.
Our business depends on the acceptance of our products in the marketplace. Even if renewable energy and energy storage become more widely adopted than they have been to date, potential customers may choose energy storage products from our competitors that are based on their technologies. If they do so, it may be difficult to later transition such potential customers to products offered by us. Moreover, the marketplace for renewable energy storage products is rapidly evolving, and competing technologies of which we are currently unaware may emerge in the future. If the energy storage technology that supports our products does not achieve market acceptance, then our business and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.
The growth and profitability of our business is dependent upon our technology being more cost-effective than competing energy storage technologies. To the extent our offerings are not eligible for various regulatory incentives, while those of our competitors are, it may adversely impact our competitiveness or otherwise adversely impact our business.
We operate in highly competitive energy industries and there is increasing competition. Many of our competitors and future competitors may have significantly more financial and other resources than we do and if we do not compete effectively, our competitive positioning and our operating results will be harmed.
The energy markets in which we compete continue to evolve and are highly competitive. Many of our current and potential competitors are large entities at a more advanced stage in development and commercialization than we are and in some cases have significantly more financial and other resources, including larger numbers of managerial and technical personnel, to increase their market share. For example, several companies, such as ESS Inc., Eos Energy Enterprises Inc., Hydrostor Inc. and Primus Power, have each announced plans and demonstrated prototypes of products that would compete in the energy storage market, and battery vendors with whom we compete, such as Tesla, Inc., Fluence Energy, Inc., LG Chem, Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, have already commercialized their respective energy storage solution products. Companies such as Tesla, Inc., Fluence Energy, Inc. and Wartsila Corporation have developed or are developing their own energy management software. If our competitors continue to penetrate the renewable energy, energy storage and energy management software markets, we may experience a reduction in potential and actual market share. Furthermore, certain industry participants against whom we do not currently compete (including, in some cases, our suppliers) may shift their strategic focus and begin competing directly with us. To date, we have focused our efforts on recruiting management and other employees, business planning, raising capital, selecting applicable third-party technologies, establishing and debtattempting to establish partnerships with potential suppliers, customers and ecosystem partners, developing our gravity, battery, and green hydrogen energy storage systems, a digital platform, and general corporate development.
We expect competition in energy storage technology to intensify due to a regulatory push for lower-carbon energy sources, including intermittent sources such as wind and solar, continuing globalization, and consolidation in the energy industry. Developments in alternative technologies or improvements in energy storage technology made by competitors may materially adversely affect the sales, pricing and gross margins of our future energy storage systems and any digital platform. If a competing process or technology is developed that has superior operational or price performance, our business would be harmed.
Furthermore, our energy storage technology also competes with other emerging or evolving technologies, such as thermal storage, chemical storage, and carbon capture storage and sequestration. If we are unable to keep up with competitive developments, including if such technologies achieve lower prices or enjoy greater policy support than our technology, our competitive position and growth prospects may be harmed, which would adversely affect our business, prospects and financial condition.
Some of our current and potential competitors have longer operating histories and greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. These factors may allow our competitors to respond more quickly or efficiently than we can to new or emerging technologies. These competitors may engage in more extensive research and development efforts,
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undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns and adopt more aggressive pricing policies, which may allow them to more effectively compete for new energy storage projects and energy management software customers.
We intend to continue committing significant resources to establish a competitive position. There is no assurance we will successfully identify the right partners or produce and bring our energy storage systems and a digital platform to market on a timely basis, if at all, or that products and technologies developed by others will not render our energy storage systems and any digital platform that we may develop obsolete or noncompetitive, any of which would adversely affect our business, prospects and operating results.
If we are unable to attract and retain key employees and hire qualified management, technical, engineering, and sales personnel, including a highly skilled and diverse management team with experience in the energy storage sectors, our ability to compete and successfully grow our business could be harmed.
We believe that our success and our ability to reach our strategic objectives are highly dependent on the contributions of our key management, technical, engineering and sales personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key employees could disrupt our operations, delay the development and introduction of our products and services, including with respect to our prototype products, and negatively impact our business, prospects and operating results. In particular, we are highly dependent on the services of Robert Piconi, our Chief Executive Officer, Marco Terruzzin, our Chief Product Officer, and Andrea Pedretti, our Chief Technology Officer. None of our key employees is bound by an employment agreement for any specific term. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully attract and retain senior leadership necessary to grow our business. Furthermore, there is increasing competition for talented individuals in our field, and competition for qualified personnel is especially intense in the renewable energy and energy storage industry in the U.S., Australia, and Switzerland, where our offices are located. Our failure to attract and retain our executive officers and other key technology, sales, marketing and support personnel, could adversely impact our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
We believe that it is vital to our operating success that we recruit and retain key personnel, including a highly skilled and diverse management team with experience in the renewable energy and energy storage sectors. If we fail to maintain a highly skilled and diverse management team, we may not be able to achieve our strategic objectives, which would negatively impact our business and operating success. In addition, because our industry is still in a nascent stage, there is and will continue to be a scarcity of skilled personnel with experience in our industry. If we lose a member of our management team or key employee, it may prove difficult for us to replace such employee with a similarly qualified individual with experience in the renewable energy and energy storage industry, which could impact our business and operating success.
Labor disputes could disrupt our ability to serve our customers and/or lead to higher labor costs.
As of December 31, 2023, we employed 179 full-time employees and 4 part-time employees, none of whom are represented by unions, except that one employee is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. If a union sought to organize any of our other employees, such organizing efforts or collective bargaining negotiations could potentially lead to work stoppages and/or slowdowns or strikes by certain of our employees. Additionally, the EPC firms that we rely upon to install our energy storage systems may have employees represented by unions or collective bargaining agreements. Any work stoppages and/or slowdowns by certain of our employees or certain employees at the EPC firms we contract with, could adversely affect our ability to serve our customers.
Further, settlement of actual or threatened labor disputes or an increase in the number of our employees covered by collective bargaining agreements could lead to higher labor costs and could impair productivity and flexibility.
Our management has limited experience in operating a public company.
Our executive officers have limited experience in the management of a publicly traded company. Our management team may not successfully or effectively manage the current transition to a public company that is subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under federal securities laws. Their limited experience in dealing with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies could be a significant disadvantage in that it is likely that an increasing amount of their time may be devoted to these activities which results in less time being devoted to the management and growth of our business. We may not have adequate personnel with the appropriate level of knowledge, experience, and training in the accounting policies, practices or internal controls over financial reporting required of public companies in the United States. The development and implementation of the standards and controls necessary for us to achieve the level of accounting standards required of a public company in the United States may require costs greater than expected. It is possible that the Company will be required to expand its employee base and hire additional employees to support our operations as a public company which will increase our operating costs in future periods.
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Changes in business, economic, or political conditions, including overall changes in demand, are beyond our control and could impact our business, resulting in lower revenues and other adverse effects to our results of operations.
Economic uncertainty and associated macroeconomic conditions, including heightened inflation, capital markets volatility, interest rate and currency rate fluctuations, and economic slowdown or recession, have resulted and may continue to result in unfavorable conditions that negatively affect demand for our products and exacerbate some of the other risks described herein. For example,that affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Both domestic and international markets experienced inflationary pressures in 2022 and parts of 2023 and, while inflation has moderated recently, inflation rates in the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow bothU.S., as well as in other countries in which we operate, may increase again in the near-term. In addition, the Federal Reserve in the U.S. and globallyother central banks in various countries have raised, and whilemay again raise, interest rates in response to concerns about inflation, which, coupled with reduced government spending and volatility in financial markets, has had and may continue to have the effect of further increasing economic uncertainty and heightening these risks. Interest rate increases or other government actions taken to reduce inflation have resulted in recessionary pressures in many parts of the world. Furthermore, currency exchange rates have been especially volatile in the recent past, and these currency fluctuations have affected, and may continue to affect, the reported value of our assets and liabilities, as well as our cash flows.
A significant downturn in the domestic or global economy may cause our customers to pause, delay, or cancel spending on our offerings or seek to lower their costs by exploring alternatives. To the extent purchases of our offerings are perceived by customers and potential customers as discretionary, our revenue may be disproportionately affected by delays or reductions in energy storage spending. Also, competitors may respond to challenging market conditions by lowering prices and attempting to lure away our customers.
Similarly, our business depends on the impactoverall business and global or regional political conditions, which are beyond our control.
We cannot predict the timing, strength, or duration of any economic slowdown or any subsequent recovery generally, or any industry in particular or how global business and political conditions may change. To the pandemic onextent that general business, economic or political conditions, including overall changes in demand for our products, decline, our business, financial condition and results of operations, including revenues, could be materially adversely affected.
The productivity of our or our customers’ facilities, the operation of our supply chain, the demand, performance and availability of our products, our services, our systems and our business in general may be affected by factors outside of our control, which could result in harm to our business and financial results.
The productivity of our or our customers’ facilities, the operation of our supply chain, the demand, performance and availability of our products, our services, our systems and our business in general could be adversely affected by events outside of our control, such as natural catastrophic events, geographical instability, wars, and other calamities. We cannot assure you that, collectively, our process and procedures to recover from a disaster or catastrophe will be adequate to protect us will depend on future developments, it could limitfrom the effects of fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, cyberattacks and other information security incidents, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks, pandemics, or similar events outside of our ability to complete our initial business combination, includingcontrol, certain of which may become more frequent or intense as a result of climate change. For more information, see our risk factor titled “We are subject to a series of risks related to climate change.”. The severity of such factors and frequency at which they occur are also outside our control. If such factors occur our business, financial condition and results of operations, including revenues, could be materially adversely affected.
We are subject to a series of risks related to climate change.
There are inherent climate-related risks wherever business is conducted. Certain of our facilities, as well as third-party infrastructure on which we rely, are located in areas that have experienced, and are projected to continue to experience, various meteorological phenomena (such as drought, heatwaves, wildfire, storms, flooding, freezes, and winter storms, among others) or other catastrophic events that may disrupt our or our suppliers’ operations (as well as grid connections), require us to incur additional operating or capital expenditures, result in facility shutdowns, decrease productivity, result in operational risks and increased risks to employee safety, or otherwise adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Climate change may increase the frequency and/or intensity of such events. For example, in certain areas, there has been an increase in power shutoffs associated with wildfire prevention. Climate change may also result in various chronic changes to the physical environment, such as changes to water levels, air quality, and/or ambient temperature and precipitation patterns. Physical risks may also compound and contribute to further or more intense impacts. While we may take various actions to mitigate our business risks associated with climate change, this may require us to incur substantial costs and may not be successful, due to, among other things, the uncertainty associated with the longer-term projections associated with managing climate risk. For example, to the extent such events become more frequent or intense, we may not be able to procure insurance to cover all potential losses on terms we deem acceptable.
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We are subject to certain risks associated with the energy transition. We anticipate there will be costs associated with transitioning to lower emissions technologies, as well as risks associated with newer technologies, including risks that particular technologies we invest in may not ultimately prove successful or financially viable, as well as other risks that may not presently be known to us. Similarly, the price and availability of various inputs for the products we offer, including electricity and various metals, vary in response to market trends, which may result in higher costs and/or operational disruptions, or other adverse impacts. These impacts may also be exacerbated by various responses from policymakers, including in manners that may for national security or other factors that do not promote the availability or affordability of such materials.
Additionally, we expect to be subject to increased regulations, reporting requirements, standards, or expectations regarding the environmental impacts of our business. For example, policymakers in various jurisdictions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, European Union, and the State of California, among others, have adopted or are considering adopting GHG pricing mechanisms, GHG emission limits, and/or requirements for the disclosure of certain climate-related information, which may require us to incur significant additional costs to comply and impose increased oversight obligations on our management and board of directors (“Board”). Such regulations may also impact our supply chain and the cost of various materials used in our offerings; while we are working to find alternatives to certain materials, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find suitable alternatives at a cost, quality, or timeframe that is acceptable to us. Government efforts to promote climate resiliency may also result in increased regulatory obligations across a range of laws, not all of which may be primarily climate-related. The expectations of various stakeholders, including customers and employees, regarding such matters likewise continues to evolve. For more information, see our risk factor titled “Increasing attention to, and scrutiny of, environmental, social, and governance matters could increase our costs, harm our reputation, impact our share price or access to or cost of capital, or otherwise adversely impact our business.” Changing market dynamics, global and domestic policy developments, and the increasing frequency and impact of meteorological phenomena have the potential to disrupt our business, the business of our suppliers and/or customers, or otherwise adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Fuel prices, including volatility decreased market liquidityin the cost of diesel or natural gas or a prolonged period of low gasoline and third-party financing beingnatural gas costs, could decrease incentives to transition to renewable energy.
A portion of the current and expected demand for renewable energy results from concerns about volatility in the cost of gasoline and other petroleum-based fuel, the dependency of the United States on oil from unstable or non-aligned countries, government regulations and economic incentives promoting fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy, as well as concerns about climate change resulting in part from the burning of fossil fuels. If the cost of gasoline and other petroleum-based fuel decreases significantly, the outlook for the long-term supply of oil to the United States improves, the government eliminates or modifies its regulations or economic incentives related to fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy or there is a change in the perception in the cost-benefit analysis regarding the effects of burning fossil fuels on the environment, the demand for renewable energy, including energy storage products such as ours, could be reduced, and our business and revenue may be harmed.
Diesel, gasoline, natural gas, and other petroleum-based fuel prices have historically been extremely volatile, and it is difficult to ascertain whether such volatility will continue to persist. Lower gasoline and natural gas costs over extended periods of time may lower the perception in government and the private sector that cheaper, more readily available energy alternatives, such as wind and solar, should be developed and produced. If gasoline or other petroleum-based fuel prices remain at deflated levels for extended periods of time, the demand for renewable energy may decrease notwithstanding incentives to transition to renewable energy, which would have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Our insurance coverage, customer indemnifications or other liability protections may be unavailable or inadequate to cover all of our significant risks, which could adversely affect our profitability and overall financial position.
We endeavor to obtain insurance to cover significant risks and liabilities (including, for example, natural disasters, cybersecurity, defective hardware and software and products liability). Not every risk or liability can be insured, and insurance coverage is not always reasonably available. The policy limits and terms of coverage reasonably obtainable may not be sufficient to cover actual losses or liabilities. Even if insurance coverage is available, we are not always able to obtain it at a price or on terms acceptable to us or without increasing exclusions. Disputes with insurance carriers over the availability of coverage, and the insolvency of one or more of our insurers may affect the availability or timing of recovery, as well as our ability to obtain insurance coverage at all.reasonable rates in the future. In some circumstances we may be entitled to certain legal protections or indemnifications from our suppliers through contractual provisions, laws or otherwise. However, these protections are not always available, are difficult to negotiate and obtain, are typically subject to certain terms or limitations, including the availability of funds, and may not be sufficient to cover our losses or liabilities. If
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insurance coverage, customer indemnifications and/or other legal protections are not available or are not sufficient to cover risks or losses, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Liquidity
Material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could have a significant adverse effect on our business and the price of our common stock.
As a public reporting company, we are subject to the rules and regulations established from time to time by the SEC and NYSE. These rules and regulations require, among other things, that we have, and periodically evaluate, procedures with respect to our internal control over financial reporting. Reporting obligations as a public company are likely to continue to place a considerable strain on our financial and management systems, processes and controls, as well as on our personnel.
In addition, as a public company we are required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act so that our management can certify as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Likewise, our independent registered public accounting firm is required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
In connection with the preparation of our financial statements and the audit of our financial results for 2022, we had identified a material weakness in our internal controls relating to the recognition of revenue from certain licensing contracts. Although the material weakness has been remediated as of December 31, 2023, there can be no assurance that we will not identify additional material weaknesses in the future.
In future periods, if our senior management is unable to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, or to certify the effectiveness of such controls, or if our independent registered public accounting firm cannot render an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, or if additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting are identified, we may be required to restate our financial statements and could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, a loss of public and investor confidence, and to litigation from investors and stockholders, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and the price of our common stock.
In addition, if we do not maintain adequate financial and management personnel, processes and controls, we may not be able to manage our business effectively or accurately report our financial performance on a timely basis, which could cause a decline in our common stock price and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, our business has grown rapidly over the last several years and may continue to grow in the future. In the event of further growth, our internal controls over financial reporting may not be adequate to support our operations. Failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, the NYSE or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
We are an early stage company with a history of losses, and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future, and we may not be able to achieve profitability in the future.
Since our inception in October 2017, we have incurred significant net losses and have used significant cash in our business. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had accumulated deficits of $248.1 millionand $147.3 million, respectively, and net losses of $98.4 million and$78.3 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. We expect to continue to expand our operations, including by investing in manufacturing, sales and marketing, research and development and infrastructure to support our growth. We anticipate that we will incur net losses for the foreseeable future and there is no guarantee that we will achieve or maintain profitability. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the future will depend on a number of factors, including:
successfully implementing our products on a commercial scale;
achieving meaningful sales volume;
the successful and timely development of our suite of software solutions;
attracting customers;
expanding into geographical markets;
the ability of future customers to obtain financing in a timely basis and with attractive terms to enable them to purchase our solutions;
continuing to improve the expected useful life of our GESS technology and reducing our warranty servicing costs;
the cost of producing our energy storage systems;
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successful continued development and deployment of our energy storage systems, including our GESS, BESS, and HESS;
ability to execute on our strategy to reduce costs, in the amount and on the timing projected;
ability to add waste material, such as coal ash and wind turbine blades, in the production of mobile masses;
improving the efficiency and predictability of our construction processes;
entering into agreements with suppliers and service providers for the maintenance of our systems and other strategic relationships;
improving the effectiveness of our sales and marketing activities and any independent sales representatives that we may engage;
attracting and retaining key talent in a competitive marketplace;
the amount and timing of stock-based compensation expenses;
identifying new opportunities for other business to integrate our product into their operations;
fluctuations in the costs of steel and raw materials, including due to the enactment of tariffs in various countries (including the U.S.);
legal and commercial acceptance of the incorporation of waste material (including, but not limited to, coal ash) into our mobile masses; and
delays associated with obtaining construction permits and potential regulatory review.
The implementation of our business plan and strategy may require additional capital. If we are then unable to achieve sufficient sales to generate that capital or otherwise raise capital, it may create substantial doubt about our ability to pursue our business objectives and achieve profitability or to continue as a going concern. If adequate capital is not available to us, including due to the cost and availability of funding in the capital markets, our business, operating results and financial condition may be harmed.
The development, design, construction, and sale of our energy storage systems is a capital-intensive business. As a result, we can be expected to continue to incur substantial operating expenses without generating sufficient revenues to cover expenditures. Over time, we may need to raise additional funds, including through entry into new joint venture arrangements, through the issuance of equity, equity-linked or debt securities or through obtaining credit from financial institutions to fund, together with our principal sources of liquidity, ongoing costs such as research and development relating to our products and technologies, the construction and tooling of prototypes, the implementation of our systems for our future customers, any significant unplanned or accelerated expenses, and new strategic investments. We cannot be certain that additional capital will be available on attractive terms, if at all, when needed, which could be dilutive to stockholders, and our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. Disruptions in the global capital markets and credit markets as a result of an economic downturn, economic uncertainty, changing interest rate yield curves, changing or increased regulations, or failures of significant financial institutions could adversely affect our cash resources or access to additional capital needed for business in the future.
The Company maintains the majority of its cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major U.S. and multi-national financial institutions, and our deposits are invested in short duration U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds holding U.S. Treasury bills, and similarly rated agency indebtedness.
If adequate capital is not available to us, it may create substantial doubt among third parties, including suppliers and potential customers, about our ability to pursue our objectives, to achieve profitability or to continue as a going concern. Such doubt could materially and adversely impact our business, reputation and prospects.
Our energy storage systems involve a lengthy sales and installation cycle, and if we fail to close sales on a regular and timely basis it could harm our business. Moreover, the long sales cycles for our energy storage systems and other factors may result in significant fluctuations in our results from period to period.
While our customers are increasingly familiar with our technology, the period between initial discussions with a potential customer and the sale of even a single product typically depends on a number of factors, including the potential customer’s attitude towards innovative products, their budget and decision as to the type of financing it chooses to use, as well as the arrangement of such financing. While our customers are evaluating our products, we have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, substantial sales, marketing, and research and development expenses to customize our products to the customer’s needs. As a result, these long sales cycles may cause us to incur significant expenses without ever receiving revenue to offset those expenses
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This lengthy decision making process is followed by substantial fulfillment periods. Currently, we believe the time between the entry into a sales contract with a customer and the installation of our EVx systems could range from 18 to 36 months and BESSs could range from 9 to 18 months, in each case subject to significant risks.
These lengthy sales and installation cycles increase the risk that our customers fail to satisfy their payment obligations or cancel orders before the completion of the transaction or delay the planned date for installation.
In addition, we expect that long sales cycles and the expected limited number of customers for our energy storage systems will cause fluctuations in our operating results from period to period. As a result of how we recognize revenue and other factors beyond our control, small fluctuations in the timing of the completion of our sales transactions could also cause operating results, financial condition and results of operations to vary materially from period to period.
In addition to the other risks described herein, the following factors could also cause our financial condition and results of operations to fluctuate on a quarterly basis:
fluctuations in costs associated with the first few groups of energy storage systems that we deploy;
the timing of customer installations of our energy storage systems, which may depend on many factors such as availability of inventory, product quality or performance issues, or local permitting requirements, utility requirements, environmental, health and safety requirements, weather and customer facility construction schedules, customer interconnection timing, availability and schedule of our third-party general contractors;
size of particular customer installations and number of sites involved in any particular quarter;
delays or cancellations of purchases and installations;
the timing of when control of uninstalled materials transfers to the customer;
fluctuations in our service costs;
weaker than anticipated demand for our energy storage systems due to changes in government regulation, incentives and policies;
weaker than anticipated demand for our energy storage systems due to our customers’ inability to finance their projects;
interruptions in our supply chain;
the timing and level of additional purchases by existing customers;
unanticipated expenses incurred due to changes in governmental regulations, permitting requirements by local authorities at particular sites, utility requirements and environmental, health and safety requirements;
disruptions in our sales, production, service or other business activities resulting from our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
shortage of raw materials from our suppliers and associated price increases due to fluctuations in commodities prices; and
availability of spare parts from our suppliers.
Finally, our revenue, key operating metrics, and other operating results in future quarters may fall short of the expectations of investors and financial analysts, which could have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
Our total backlog and bookings may not be indicative of our future revenue, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our backlog represents the amount of revenue we expect to realize in the future on uncompleted construction contracts, including new contracts under which work has not yet begun, as well as the remaining revenue to be recognized under the Company’s intellectual property licensing agreements. As of December 31, 2023, backlog totaled $144.2 million. Our bookings represents the aggregate contracted value for energy storage systems, tolling arrangements, and license and service agreements signed. The aggregate contracted value excludes any potential future variable payments or royalties. For the year ended December 31, 2023, bookings totaled $205.8 million. There can be no assurance that our backlog and bookings will result in actual revenue in the future in any particular period. This is because the actual receipt, timing, and amount of revenue under contracts included under backlog and bookings are subject to various contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Our failure to realizing revenue from contracts included in the total amounts estimated under backlog and bookings could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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In addition, our contracts with customers are subject to cancellation. Generally, a customer can cancel an order prior to installation, and, notwithstanding the fact that a customer’s termination for convenience will obligate the customer to pay us certain fees, we may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire. It may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this ‘‘Risk Factors’’ section, such as those related to the market for our securities and cross-border transactions.

If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) 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, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), 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 liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approvalrecover some of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than $10.00 per share, on the redemption of their shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our founders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may enter into certain transactions, including purchasing shares or warrants from the public, which may influence the outcome of our proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our securities.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptionscosts in connection with design, permitting, installation, and site preparations incurred prior to cancellation. Cancellation rates in our initial business combination pursuantindustry could increase in any given period, due to factors outside of our control including an inability to install an energy storage system at the customer’s chosen location because of permitting or other regulatory issues, unanticipated changes in the cost or availability of alternative sources of electricity available to the tender offer rules,customer, or other reasons unique to each customer. Our operating expenses are based on anticipated sales levels, and certain of our founders, directors, officers, advisorsexpenses are fixed. If we are unsuccessful in closing sales after expending significant resources or anyif we experience delays or cancellations, our business could be materially and adversely affected.

Our ability to use net operating losses and other tax attributes to offset future taxable income may be subject to certain limitations.
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $55.2 million, $38.6 million, and $79.1 million of federal, state and foreign net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, respectively, that will generally carry forward to offset future taxable income (if any), until such NOLs expire (if at all). The federal NOL carryforwards do not expire, but are subject to limitation on their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions oruse equal to 80% of the taxable income in the open market either prioryear of use. The state NOL carryforwards will begin to expire, if unutilized, beginning in 2039. The foreign NOL carryforwards will begin to expire, if unutilized, beginning in 2025. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state research tax credit carryforwards of and $2.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The federal research tax credit carryforwards will begin to expire, if unutilized, in 2042. The state tax research credits do not expire.
Our NOL carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the applicable tax authorities. In addition, in general, under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a cumulative change of more than 50 percentage points (by value) in its equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research and development tax credits) to offset its post-change income or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation or other duty to do so.

Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such public stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our founders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling public stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The price per share paid in any such transactiontaxes may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our founders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliateslimited. We may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. Please see “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to enter into transactions with. The purpose of any such transaction could be to (1) vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination, (2) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (3) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such transactions may resultexperience ownership changes in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock or warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.

We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer or proxy materials documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. Please see “Proposed Business — Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights.”

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Our public stockholders do not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate their investment, therefore, our public stockholders may be forced to sell their public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.

Our public stockholders 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 shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023 or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we have not completed an initial business combination within the required time period for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond the end of such period before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.

Our public stockholders are not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.

Since the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the U.S. securities laws. However, because we have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors are not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units are immediately tradable and we have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419.

If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of our IPO, or until February 8, 2023, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.

The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of our IPO, or until February 8, 2023, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans.

We believe that, the funds available to us outside of the trust account are sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of our IPO, or until February 8, 2023; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whetherfuture as a result of subsequent changes in our breachstock ownership, some of which are outside our control. Similar provisions of state and foreign tax law may apply and future regulatory changes could also limit our ability to utilize NOL carryforwards. Accordingly, we may not be able to utilize a material portion of our NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income.

Changes in tax laws and regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and result of operations.
New income, sales, use, or otherwise), we might notother tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances could be enacted at any time, which could affect the tax treatment of any of our future U.S. and non-U.S. earnings. Further, existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified, or applied adversely to us. Generally, future changes in applicable U.S. and non-U.S. tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application, potentially with retroactive effect, could have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a prospective target business. If wean adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, and results of operations. We are unable to completepredict whether such changes will occur and, if so, the ultimate impact on our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

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business.

If the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our founders or management team to fund our search, to pay our taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain such loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.

Of the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, only approximately $1,000,000 is available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our initial stockholders, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Neither our initial stockholders, members of our management team nor any of their respective affiliates is under any obligation or other duty to loan funds to, or invest in, us in such circumstances. Any such loans may be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial 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 such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per- share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

Subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination, weWe may be required to subsequently take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and thestock price, of our securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you

Unexpected risks may arise that this diligence will identify all material issues that may be present with a particular target business, that it would be possiblecause us to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence,write down or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-offwrite off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cashnoncash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue ofsubject. Accordingly, our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholdersshares.
Incorrect estimates or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.

Pursuant to an agreement entered intoassumptions by management in connection with the preparation of our IPO,consolidated financial statements could adversely affect our reported assets, liabilities, income, revenue or expenses.

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make critical accounting estimates and any agreementassumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income, revenues or expenses during the reporting periods. Incorrect estimates and assumptions by management could adversely affect our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income, revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. If we make incorrect assumptions or estimates, our reported financial results may be entered into atover- or after the timeunderstated, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of our initial business combination, our initial stockholdersoperations.
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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the resale of their founder shares after those shares convert to shares of our Class A common stock. In addition, (1) our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the resale of the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants and (2) holders of warrants thatTechnology
We may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register the resale of such warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to complete. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the securities described above are registered for resale.

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Because we are neither limited to evaluating target businesses in a particular industry, sector or geographic area nor have we selected any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the meritsprotect, defend, maintain or risks of any particular target business’s operations.

We may seek to complete aenforce intellectual property rights on which our business combination with an operating company in any industry, sectordepends, including as against existing or geographic area. However, we are not permitted ,under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

We may seek acquisition opportunities in acquisition targets that may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.

Although we expect to focus our search for a target business that is at the forefront of high technology and are enabling the future evolution of smart technologies, such as 5G communication, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, spatial computing, cloud analytics, machine learning, hardware and software distribution, value added customized logistics services, sustainable smart city systems and AgTech. We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s areas of expertise if such business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this annual report regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors relevant to such acquisition. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

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Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.

Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes, including satisfying ESG considerations. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.

We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel.

Many participants in the industries in which we intend to focus our search for target businesses are early stage companies. To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.

We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm regarding fairness. Consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

Unless we complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsors, officers or directors, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.

Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.

We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.

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Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.

When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. As a result, we may need to reconstitute the management team of the post-transaction company in connection with our initial business combination, which may adversely impact our ability to complete an acquisition in a timely manner or at all.

Since our initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to any public shares they may hold), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.

In October 2020, our initial stockholders purchased an aggregate of 7,187,500 founder shares for a capital contribution of $25,000. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares represent 20.0% of the outstanding shares of common stock (not including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants). The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination.

In addition, our initial stockholders purchased an aggregate of 5,166,666 private placement warrants for a purchase price of $7,750,000, or $1.50 per warrant, that will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination.

The personal and financial interests of our officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the deadline for completing our initial business combination nears.

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Cowen and Company, LLC may have a conflict of interest in rendering services to us in connection with our initial business combination.

Pursuant to a Business Combination Marketing Agreement, we have engaged Cowen and Company, LLC to provide certain specified services to us in connection with our initial business combination, though such services will not include the provision of any M&A-related advisory services We will pay Cowen and Company, LLC the Marketing Fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of our IPO, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option. In the ordinary course of business, Cowen and Company, LLC and its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for its own account and the accounts of customers, in the debt or equity securities of us, our affiliates or other entities that may be involved in the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, and may provide advisory and other services to one or more actual or potential business combination targets, investors or other parties to any business combination or other transaction entered into by us, for which services Cowen and Company, LLC or one or more of its affiliates may be paid fees, including fees conditioned upon the closing of a particular business combination or other transaction or transactions. This financial interest may result in Cowen and Company, LLC having a conflict of interest when providing the services to us in connection with an initial business combination. See “Underwriting — Business Combination Marketing Agreement.”

We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination,competitors, which may adversely affect our leveragegrowth and financial conditionsuccess.

We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.

Although we have no commitmentsunfair competition laws, as of the date of this annual report to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following our IPO, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:

default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;

our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;

our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;

using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitionswell as confidentiality and other general corporate purposes;

limitations oncontractual provisions with our flexibility in planning forcustomers, suppliers, employees, and reactingothers to changes inestablish, maintain, and enforce our businessintellectual property and in the industry in which we operate;

increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industryproprietary rights. However, our rights under these laws and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.

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We mayagreements afford us only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of our IPO limited protection and the sale of the private placement warrants, which will cause usactions we take to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may materially negatively impactestablish, maintain, and enforce our operations and profitability.

The net proceeds from our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants provided us with $[278,437,500] assuming no redemptions, after payment of the Marketing Fee of $10,062,500, that we may use to complete our initial business combination (and prior to any post-IPO working capital expenses).

We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, weintellectual property rights may not be able to effectuateadequate. For example, our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operationsowned or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

solely dependent upon the performance of a single business,licensed intellectual property or asset; or

dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.

We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.

If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that 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 business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, 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. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.

We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and werights could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

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Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualificationschallenged, invalidated, or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.

We may structure our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own or acquire shares will own less than 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of a target business, 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 business sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the targetcircumvented, and us in our initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target, or issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. In such cases, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.

We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our founders, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).

In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments, including our warrant agreement, in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that some of our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.

In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination. To the extent any such amendment would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of any of our securities, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities.

Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.

The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. 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.

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Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other events, and the status of debt and equity markets.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected, and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) could adversely affect, the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if concerns relating to COVID-19 continue to restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investorsdetect when our intellectual property rights are infringed or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.

In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases), including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.

As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.

In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination.

In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.

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Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.

In recent months, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed. The premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.

The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.

In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity will likely need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.

If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.

If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign market, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:

costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;

rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;

complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;

laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;

tariffs and trade barriers;

regulations related to customs and import/export matters;

longer payment cycles;

changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic;

tax consequences;

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currency fluctuations and exchange controls;

rates of inflation;

challenges in collecting accounts receivable;

cultural and language differences;

employment regulations;

crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;

deterioration of political relations with the United States;

obligatory military service by personnel; and

government appropriation of assets.

We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so,misappropriated. Additionally, we may be unable to complete such combinationeffectively assert our intellectual property rights or if we complete such combination, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

If our management following our initial business combination is unfamiliar with U.S. securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.

Following our initial business combination, any or all of our management could resign from their positions as officers of the post-business combination company, and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination could remain in place. Management of the target businessintellectual property rights may not be familiarsufficient to provide us with U.S. securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with U.S. securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.

Risks Relating to Our Management

Past performance by members of our management team and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.

Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, members of our management team and their respective affiliates, is presented for informational purposes only. Any past experience and performance, including related to acquisitions, of members of our management team and their respective affiliates, is not a guarantee either: (1) that we will be able to successfully identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination; or (2) of any results with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their affiliates’ performance, as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward.

Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.

Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other responsibilities. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our business combination. Each of our officers and directors is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers and directors are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors also serve as officers and/or board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. Please see “Management — Directors and Executive Officers” for a discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs.

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We are dependent upon our officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.

Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of,competitive advantage, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.

Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post- combination business.

Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained.

Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, we do not currently expect that any of them will do so. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.

In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.

Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination, and a particular business combination may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may cause our key personnel to have conflicts of interest in determining whether to proceed with a particular business combination. However, we do not expect that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination.

Our key personnel may be able to remain with our company after the completion of our initial business combination only 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 such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination.

Such negotiations also could make such key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination, as we do not expect that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

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Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity or other transaction should be presented.

Until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our sponsors and officers and directors are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business. We do not have employment contracts with our officers and directors that will limit their ability to work at other businesses.

Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Mr. Laikin is a director of AppHarvest, Inc. Additionally, our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business, including other blank check companies that may have acquisition objectives that are similar to our company. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.

Our officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.

We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with one or more of our sponsors, directors or officers. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.

We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our initial stockholders, officers or directors which may raise potential conflicts of interest.

In light of the involvement of our initial stockholders, officers and directors, and their affiliates with other businesses, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with or competitive with our initial stockholders, officers and directors, and their respective affiliates. Our directors also serve as officers and/or board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no substantive discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business — Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our sponsors, officers or directors, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.

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Moreover, we may, at our option, pursue an affiliated joint acquisition opportunity with an initial stockholder or one of their affiliates or with other entities to which an officer or director has a fiduciary, contractual or other obligation or duty. Any such parties may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by making a future issuance of securities to any such parties, which may give rise to certain conflicts of interest.

Risks Relating to Our Securities

The NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

Our units are listed on the NYSE and our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on NYSE on or promptly after their date of separation. We cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on the NYSE in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on the NYSE prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. In general, we must maintain a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 public stockholders).

Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with the NYSE’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than the NYSE’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE. For instance, in order for our Class A common stock to be listed upon the consummation of our initial business combination, at such time, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share, our global market capitalization would be required to be at least $200,000,000, the aggregate market value of publicly-held shares would be required to be at least $100,000,000 and we would be required to have at least 400 round lot holders. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.

If the NYSE delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the- counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

reduced liquidity for our securities;

a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;

a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and

a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on the NYSE, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on the NYSE, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent.

However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions.

Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.

Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on our redemption of their stock, and our warrants will expire worthless.

We expect 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 have and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there will be numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. Our initial stockholders or any of their affiliates may make additional investments in us, although our initial stockholders and their affiliates have no obligation or other duty to do so. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by target businesses. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating and completing an initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

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If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per- share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us.

Although we seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and 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 stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not 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 only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue. 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 have not completed our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, 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. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.

V Donargo, an entity controlled by Vincent Donargo, our Chief Financial Officer, has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party 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) $10.00 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 IPO 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, V Donargo LLC will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether V Donargo LLC has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that its only assets are stock of our company. V Donargo may not have sufficient funds available to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked V Donargo LLC to reserve for such obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set aside to cover any such obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. Except as set forth above, none of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

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Our independent directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of V Donargo LLC, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 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 V Donargo LLC asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against V Donargo LLC to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against V Donargo LLC 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 certain instances. For example, the cost of such legal action may be deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or the independent directors may determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.

The securities in which we invest the funds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. While short-term U.S. government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination or make certain amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income, net of taxes paid or payable (less, in the case we are unable to complete our initial business combination, $100,000 of interest).  Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.

If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our public stockholders in connection with our liquidation would be reduced.

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Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, (or the end of any extension period) in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.

Because we do not intend to comply with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, consultants, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.

We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination and you will not be entitled to any of the corporate protections provided by such a meeting.

We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by the NYSE) and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL. Until we hold an annual meeting of stockholders, public stockholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with management. In addition, prior to our business combination (a) as holders of our Class A common stock, our public stockholders will not have the right to vote on the appointment of our directors and (b) holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock may remove a member of our board of directors for any reason.

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We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the warrants could be converted into cash or stock, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.

Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that (a) the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in our registration statement on Form S-1, or defective provision or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants and (b) all other modifications or amendments require the vote or written consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or working capital warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants or working capital warrants, at least 50% of the then outstanding private placement warrants or working capital warrants, respectively. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.

We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.

We have the ability to redeem outstanding public warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, among other things, the last reported sales price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the public warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise the warrants.

Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to: (1) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so; (2) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants; or (3) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, we expect would be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.

In addition, we have the ability to redeem outstanding public warrants commencing ninety days after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.10 per warrant if, among other things, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. In such a case, the holders will be able to exercise their warrants for cash or on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares of Class A common stock determined by reference to the table set forth under “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described in “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” The value received upon exercise of the warrants (1) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised their warrants at a later time where the underlying share price is higher and (2) may not compensate the holders for the value of the warrants, including because the number of shares received is capped at 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remaining life of the warrants.

None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our initial stockholders or their permitted transferees.

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Our public warrants, founder shares and private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.

We issued warrants to purchase 9,583,333 shares of our Class A common stock, at a price of $11.50 per whole share (subject to certain adjustments), as part of the public units and, simultaneously with the closing of our IPO, we issued in a private placement an aggregate of 5,166,666 private warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Our initial stockholders currently hold 7,187,500 founder shares. The founder shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth herein. In addition, if our founders, affiliates of our founders or certain of our officers and directors make any working capital loans, up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private warrants.

To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to effectuate our initial business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants or conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the Class A common stock issued to complete the business combination. Therefore, our public warrants, founder shares and private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.

Further, unlike the warrants offered by many other blank check companies, whose warrants become exercisable on the later of (i) 30 days following their initial business combination and (ii) twelve months after the date their initial public offering, our warrants become exercisable 30 days after an initial business combination, even if that date is less than twelve months after our initial public offering. The possibility that our warrants may become exercisable more quickly than the warrants of other blank check companies may make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business relative to other blank check companies and may cause our warrants to have a greater or more immediate adverse effect on the market price for our securities or our ability to obtain future financing. In addition, as our warrants may become exercisable sooner, you may experience dilution to your holdings sooner.

A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.

Unlike most blank check companies, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity- linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our initial stockholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our initial stockholders or their affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “newly issued price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the completion of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we complete our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the newly issued price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the newly issued price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.

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General Risks

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:

restrictions on the nature of our investments; and

restrictions on the issuance of securities;

each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:

registration as an investment company with the SEC;

adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and

reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and compliance with other rules and regulations that we are currently not subject to.

In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete a business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.

We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.

We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investmentsfinancial condition or operating results.

The laws of some countries do not protect intellectual property rights as fully as do the laws of the United States. Therefore, our intellectual property rights may not be as strong or as easily enforced outside of the United States and efforts to protect against the unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights, technology and other proprietary rights may be more expensive and difficult outside of the United States. Further, we have not established our intellectual property rights in all countries in the world, and competitors may copy our designs and technology and operate in countries in which we have not prosecuted out intellectual property. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights could result in our competitors using our intellectual property to offer products, and competitors’ ability to design around our intellectual property would enable competitors to offer similar or better batteries, in each case potentially resulting in the loss of some of our competitive advantage and a decrease in our revenue, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Our patents and patent applications, if issued, may not provide adequate protection to create a barrier to entry. The provisional and non-provisional patent applications that we own may not issue as patents or provide adequate protection to create a barrier to entry, which may hinder our ability to prevent competitors from selling products similar to ours.
We cannot be certain that our pending patent applications will result in issued patents or that any of our issued patents will afford protection against a competitor. The status of patents involves complex legal and factual questions, and the breadth of claims allowed is uncertain. As a result, we cannot be certain that the patent applications that we file will result in patents being issued or that our patents and any patents that may be issued to us in the future will afford sufficient protection against competitors with similar technology. In addition, patent applications filed in foreign countries are subject to laws, rules, and procedures that differ from those of the United States, and thus we cannot be certain that foreign patent applications related to issued U.S. patents will be issued in other regions. Furthermore, even if these patent applications are accepted and the associated patents are issued, some foreign countries provide significantly less effective patent enforcement than in the United States.
We intend to continue to regularly assess opportunities for seeking patent and other intellectual property protections for certain aspects of our technology, designs and methodologies that we believe provide a meaningful competitive advantage. However, our ability to do so may be limited until such time as we are able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or otherwise raise sufficient capital to continue to invest in our intellectual property. For example, maintaining patents in the United States and other countries requires the payment of maintenance fees, which may result in loss of our patent rights if we are unable to pay. If we are unable to so invest in our intellectual property, our ability to protect it or prevent others from infringing on our proprietary rights may be impaired.
In addition, patents issued to us may be infringed upon or designed around by others and others may obtain patents that we need to license or design around, either of which could increase our costs and may adversely affect our business, our prospects, and our operating results.
We may be subject to third-party claims of infringement, misappropriation or other violation of intellectual property rights, or other claims challenging our agreements related to intellectual property, which may be time-consuming and costly to defend, and could result in substantial liability.
Companies, organizations, or individuals, including our competitors, hold numerous patents or other intellectual property rights related to technology used in our industry, some of which may prevent, limit, or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, or sell our products or services, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. Those holding intellectual property rights allegedly relating to our products or services could, in the future, make claims or bring suits alleging infringement, misappropriation, or other violations of such rights, or otherwise assert their rights by seeking royalties or injunctions, which may become more likely if we gain greater recognition in the market. If a claim is
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successfully brought in the future and we or our products or services are determined to have infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated a third party’s intellectual property rights, we may be required to do one or more of the following:
cease selling or using our products or services that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;
pay substantial damages (including treble damages and attorneys’ fees if our infringement is determined to be willful);
obtain a license from the holder of the relevant intellectual property rights, which may not be available on reasonable terms or at all; or
redesign our products, services, or means of production, which may not be possible or cost-effective.
Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition. In addition, any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could harm our reputation, result in substantial costs and divert resources and management attention.
We also license technology from third parties and incorporate components supplied by third parties into our products. We may in the future face claims that our use of such technology or components infringes or otherwise violates the rights of others, which would subject us to the risks described above. We may in some cases seek indemnification from our licensors or suppliers under our contracts with them, but our rights to indemnification or our suppliers’ resources may be unavailable or insufficient to cover our costs and losses.
We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants, or advisors have wrongfully used or disclosed proprietary information or know-how of their current or former employers or claims asserting ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property rights.
Many of our employees, consultants, and advisors are currently or were previously employed or engaged at other companies in our field, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants, and advisors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these individuals have used or disclosed intellectual property rights, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such individual’s current or former employer. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property rights to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property rights to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in fact, conceives or develops intellectual property rights that we regard as our own. Additionally, the assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing, or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property rights. Any of the foregoing could harm our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
We utilize open-source software, which may pose particular risks to our proprietary software and solutions.
We use open-source software in our solutions and will use open-source software in the future. Companies that incorporate open-source software into their solutions have, from time to time, faced claims challenging the use of open-source software and compliance with open-source license terms. Some licenses governing the use of open-source software contain requirements that we make available source code for modifications or derivative works we create based upon the open-source software, and that we license such modifications or derivative works under the terms of a particular open-source license or other license granting third parties certain rights of further use. By the terms of certain open-source licenses, we could be required to release the source code of our proprietary software, and to make our proprietary software available to others under open-source licenses or other unfavorable license terms. Although we monitor our use of open-source software, we cannot assure you that all open-source software is reviewed prior to use in our solutions, that our developers have not incorporated open-source software into our solutions, or that they will not do so in the future. Additionally, the terms of many open-source licenses to which we are subject have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts. There is a risk that open-source software licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to market or provide our solutions as currently marketed or provided. Companies that incorporate open-source software into their products have, in the past, faced claims seeking enforcement of open-source license provisions and claims asserting ownership of open-source software incorporated into their product. If an author or other third party were to allege that we had not complied with the conditions of an open-source license, we could incur significant legal costs defending ourselves against such allegations. In the event such claims were successful, we could be subject to significant damages or be enjoined from the distribution of our software. As a result of our current or future use of open-
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source software, we may face claims or litigation, be required to release our proprietary source code, pay damages for breach of contract, re-engineer our solutions, discontinue making our solutions available in the event re-engineering cannot be accomplished on a timely basis, or take other remedial action. Any such re-engineering or other remedial efforts could require significant additional research and development resources, and we may not be able to successfully complete any such re-engineering or other remedial efforts. Further, in addition to risks related to license requirements, use of certain open-source software can lead to greater risks than use of third-party commercial software, as open-source licensors generally do not provide warranties or controls on the origin of software. Any of these risks could be difficult to eliminate or manage, and, if not addressed, could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Cyberattacks and other security breaches affecting, or significant interruptions to, information technology systems on which we rely could have an adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition, including through harm to our reputation and exposure to liability.
In the ordinary course of our business, we collect, store, and transmit confidential information, including intellectual property, proprietary business information, and personal information of customers, our employees, and contractors (collectively, “Confidential Information”). We also rely on computer systems, hardware, software, technology infrastructure, and online sites and networks for both internal and external operations that are critical to our business and the operation of our energy storage systems (collectively, “IT Systems”). We own and manage some of these IT Systems but also rely on third parties for a range of IT Systems and related products and services. We face numerous and evolving cybersecurity risks that threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our IT Systems and Confidential Information, including computer malware and viruses (e.g., ransomware), malicious code, misconfigurations, bugs or other vulnerabilities, physical or electronic break-ins, cyberattacks, phishing attacks and other social engineering schemes, employee theft or misuse, human error, fraud, denial or degradation of service attacks and attacks by sophisticated nation-state and nation-state-supported actors, terrorism, war, infrastructure changes and capacity constraints, telecommunication and electrical failures, and similar attacks or disruptions. Any of these could lead to interruption and delays in our services and operations and the loss, misuse or theft of Confidential Information.
Such attacks against online networks have become more prevalent and there is an increased likelihood they may occur on our IT Systems or those of our third-party service providers in the future. Furthermore, because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to, or to sabotage, systems change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures. We may also experience security breaches that may remain undetected for an extended period. Even if identified, we may be unable to adequately investigate or remediate incidents or breaches due to attackers increasingly using tools and techniques—including artificial intelligence—that are designed to circumvent controls, to avoid detection, and to remove or obfuscate forensic evidence. Due to the political uncertainty involving Russia and Ukraine, there is an increased likelihood of an escalation of tensions that could result in cyberattacks or cybersecurity incidents that may either directly or indirectly impact our operations.
We and certain of our service providers are from time to time subject to cyberattacks and security incidents. While we do not believe that we have experienced any significant system failure, accident or security breach to date, any successful attempt by cyberattackers or other disruption to our services or IT Systems, could harm our business, result in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, expose us to legal liability, cause us to incur material costs, including to provide required notifications to third-parties including data subjects, result in the misappropriation of funds or other intellectual property, be expensive to investigate and remedy and damage our reputation or brand and ability to attract and retain customers. Insurance may not be sufficient to cover significant expenses and losses related to cyberattacks or other interruptions to our systems. Efforts to prevent cyberattackers from entering IT Systems are expensive to implement, and there can be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including our policies, controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting our IT Systems and Confidential Information, and we may not be able to ensure the implementation or enforcement of the same with respect to our third-party vendors.
We continue to implement processes and procedures designed to enable us to quickly recover from a disaster or catastrophe and continue business operations. We have tested this capability under controlled circumstances, however, there are several factors ranging from human error to data corruption that could materially impact the efficacy of such processes and procedures, including by lengthening the time services are partially or fully unavailable to customers and users. It may be difficult or impossible to perform some or all recovery steps and continue normal business operations due to the nature of a particular cyber incident, disaster or catastrophe, especially during peak periods, which could cause additional reputational damage, or loss of revenues, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial results. In addition, we have experienced rapid growth and may continue to grow in the future. In the event of such growth, our IT Systems may not be adequate, as currently designed, to protect us from data security breaches and other disruptions. In the
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future our energy storage systems and any digital platform that we develop may experience outages and other performance problems due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, third-party service providers, human or software errors and capacity constraints. We may also face changes in our energy storage systems, which could lead to damages, accidents and or system disruptions. We may in the future experience blackmail for our proprietary software or any software underpinning any digital platform that we may develop, which could shut down operation of our IT Systems, those of our potential customers, or cause other damage to such systems.
We have service agreements with data center providers and other third-party service providers, and interruptions to their services, their network providers or with the systems allocating capacity among their users, including us, could adversely affect our ability to serve our customers or perform our administrative work. Our third-party service providers could decide to close their facilities without adequate notice. Any financial difficulties, such as bankruptcy or reorganization, faced by our third-party service providers or any of the service providers with whom they contract may have negative effects on our business, the nature and extent of which are difficult to predict. If our third-party service providers are unable to keep up with our needs for capacity, this could have an adverse effect on our business. In the event that our agreements with any of our third-party service providers are terminated, or we add additional cloud infrastructure service providers, we may experience significant costs or downtime in connection with the transfer to, or the addition of, new cloud infrastructure service providers. Any of the above circumstances or events may harm our reputation and brand or increase our costs, and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our systems include complex software and technology systems and do not have a meaningful history of operation, and there can be no assurance such systems and technology will perform as expected or that software, engineering or other technical defects will not be discovered until after a system is installed and operated by a customer. If our energy storage systems contain engineering or construction defects, our business and financial results could be harmed. In addition, the development and updating of these systems will require us to incur potentially significant costs and expenses.
To date, we have deployed two fully operational BESSs. Our products may contain defects in design, engineering, or construction that may cause them not to perform as expected or may require repair. An EVx system is unique proprietary technology to Energy Vault, and because one has not yet been fully constructed or deployed, we currently have no frame of reference by which to evaluate the performance of our EVx systems. Additionally, our energy storage systems use a substantial amount of software to operate which may require modification and updates over the life of such systems. Software products are inherently complex and often contain defects and errors when first introduced. These defects and errors can manifest in any number of ways in our products, including through diminished performance, security vulnerabilities, malfunctions, or even permanently disabled products. Additionally, it is difficult for us to evaluate the manufacturing and construction of our energy storage systems until there are working examples that have been manufactured, constructed, and used by us and/or our customers.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix any defects in the hardware or software of our energy storage systems, and such defects may not become apparent until a system is installed and operated by a customer. Our energy storage systems may not perform consistent with customers’ expectations or consistent with other energy storage systems which may become available. Any product defects or any other failure of our energy storage systems to perform as expected could harm our reputation and result in negative publicity, lost revenue, delivery delays, product liability claims and significant warranty and other expenses, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects. Any defects, errors, or other vulnerabilities discovered in our software after release could allow third parties to manipulate or exploit our software, lower revenue, and expose us to claims for damages, any of which could seriously harm our business. We also could face claims for product liability, tort, or breach of warranty. Defending a lawsuit, regardless of its merit, is costly and may divert management’s attention and seriously harm our reputation and our business.
In addition, further development and updating of our energy storage systems will require us to incur potentially significant costs and expenses.
Any failure to offer high-quality technical support services may adversely affect our relationships with our customers and adversely affect our financial results.
We anticipate that our customers will depend on our support organization to resolve any technical issues relating to the hardware and software included in our systems. In addition, our sales process is likely to depend highly on the quality of our hardware and software-enabled services, on our business reputation, and on strong recommendations from our existing customers. Any failure to maintain high-quality and highly-responsive technical support, or a market perception that we do not maintain high-quality and highly-responsive support, could adversely affect our reputation, our ability to sell our products to existing and prospective customers, and our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We intend to offer technical support services alongside our systems. While we have a designated team of engineers to support our customers, they may be unable to respond quickly enough to accommodate short-term increases in demand for support services, particularly as we increase the size of our customer base. We also may be unable to modify the format of our support services to compete with changes in support services provided by competitors. At our current stage, it is difficult to predict demand for technical support services and if demand were to increase significantly beyond our expectations, we may be unable to provide satisfactory support services to our customers. Additionally, increased demand for these services, without corresponding revenue, could increase costs and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If any of our products are or are alleged to be defective in design or manufacturing or experience other failures, we may be compelled to undertake corrective actions, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results, reputation and financial condition.
Our energy storage systems are complex and incorporate technology and components that may contain design and manufacturing-related defects and errors and may in the future contain undetected defects or errors. Additionally, we have limited experience from which to evaluate the long-term performance of our energy storage systems. There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix any defects in any of our energy storage system systems prior to the sale to potential consumers.
Generally, we do not manufacture the components of our energy storage systems and we rely on suppliers and subcontractors to manufacture such components. We provide installation, construction, and commissioning services for our customers that purchase our products. Although we have implemented quality control initiatives to help prevent defects and issues, defects and issues may still occur in the future that may result in significant expenses or disruptions of our operations.
Since we do not manufacture certain components of our energy storage systems, our ability to seek recourse for liabilities and recover costs from our suppliers and subcontractors depends on our contractual rights as well as the financial condition and integrity of such suppliers and subcontractors. Furthermore, our suppliers and subcontractors may be unable or not required to correct manufacturing defects or other failures of such components of our energy storage systems in a manner satisfactory to our customers, which could adversely affect customer satisfaction, market acceptance, and our business reputation.
For example in a GESS system, mobile masses may fall or the system may otherwise fail to perform as expected. For BESSs, on rare occasions, lithium-ion batteries can rapidly release the energy they contain by venting smoke and flames in a manner that can ignite nearby materials as well as other lithium-ion batteries. Any defective performance could subject us to lawsuits, product recalls, or redesign efforts, all of which would be time consuming and expensive. Additionally, negative public perception regarding the suitability of the components in our energy applications could adversely affect our business and reputation.
Any defects or errors in product or services offerings, or the perception of such defects or errors, or other performance problems could result in any of the following, each of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations:
expenditure of significant financial and product development resources, including recalls, in efforts to analyze, correct, eliminate, or work around errors or defects;
significant re-engineering work;
loss of existing or potential customers or partners;
interruptions or delays in sales;
delayed or lost revenue;
delay or failure to attain market acceptance;
delay in the development or release of new functionality or improvements;
negative publicity and reputational harm;
sales credits or refunds;
security vulnerabilities, data breaches, and exposure of confidential or proprietary information;
diversion of development and customer service resources;
breach of warranty claims;
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legal claims and regulatory actions under applicable laws, rules, and regulations; and
the expense and risk of litigation.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
Our future financial performance may depend on the continued availability of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives. The reduction, modification, or elimination of government economic incentives could cause our revenue to decline and harm our financial results.
U.S. federal, state, local and foreign governments provide incentives to end users in the form of rebates, tax credits, and other financial incentives, such as system performance payments and payments for renewable energy credits associated with renewable energy generation. The range and duration of these incentives varies widely by jurisdiction. Our business may rely on these governmental rebates, tax credits, and other financial incentives to significantly lower the effective price of our energy storage systems for our customers. However, these incentives may expire on a particular date, end when the allocated funding is exhausted, or be reduced or terminated as a matter of regulatory or legislative policy. These reductions or terminations may occur without warning. The reduction, elimination, or expiration of such incentives therefore could harm our business and cash flows.
In August 2022, the United States passed the IRA, which includes a number of government incentives that support the adoption of energy storage products and services and are anticipated to benefit the Company and its operations. Forthcoming additional guidance to implement the IRA from the U.S. Department of Treasury and other federal administrative agencies could be drafted in such manner that would not be as anticipated and may be adverse to the Company’s interests.
We could be liable for environmental, health, and safety (“EHS”) issues resulting from our operations, which could impact our reputation, our business, and our operating results.
We are subject to EHS laws and regulations in jurisdictions in which we operate, including those governing worker safety and the disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. EHS laws also cover other topics, such as emissions to air, water (including groundwater), and soil, noise, and impacts to natural resources, including various wildlife species, or areas, any of which we may be or become subject to in connection with our operations and projects. EHS laws and regulations can be complex and often change. These laws can give rise to strict, joint and several liability for administrative oversight costs, cleanup costs, property damage, bodily injury, fines, and penalties. Capital and operating expenses needed to comply with EHS laws and regulations can be significant, and violations may result in substantial fines and penalties or third-party damages.
Our operations involve the use of hazardous, flammable, and explosive materials in our battery and green hydrogen storage solutions. Our operations also produce hazardous wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from the generation, transportation, or disposal of such materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our or our third-party manufacturers’ use of, or associated with the transportation or disposal of, hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties. We maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from exposure to hazardous materials with a policy limit that we believe is customary for similarly situated companies and adequate to provide us with insurance coverage for foreseeable risks; however, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities and not all workers have or may agree to our workers’ compensation policy. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage or disposal of hazardous materials.
In addition, maintaining compliance with applicable EHS laws requires significant time and management resources and could cause delays in our ability to build out, equip and operate our facilities as well as service our installed energy storage systems, which would adversely impact our business, our prospects, our financial condition, and our operating results. In addition, EHS laws and regulations such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act in the United States impose liability on several grounds including for the investigation and cleanup of contaminated soil and ground water, for building contamination, for impacts to human health and for damages to natural resources. We could incur liability under EHS laws and regulations if contamination is discovered in the future at properties formerly or currently owned, leased or operated by us, or properties to which hazardous substances were sent by us, . As noted above, such liability can be strict, joint and several. We are subject to various occupational health and safety laws which may require us to incur additional costs, disrupt operations, or otherwise adversely impact our business.
Many of our customers who have agreed to purchase our energy storage systems have high standards, and any EHS noncompliance by us could harm our reputation and impact a current or potential customer’s buying decision. Additionally, in many cases we contractually commit to performing all necessary installation work on a fixed-price basis, and
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unanticipated costs associated with environmental remediation, worker safety, and/or EHS compliance expenses may cause the cost of performing such work to exceed our revenue. The costs of complying with EHS laws, regulations, and customer requirements, and any claims concerning noncompliance or liability with respect to contamination in the future, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or our operating results.
Action by governmental authorities and local residents to restrict construction or use of our systems or the projects/facilities that rely on our systems in their localities could substantially harm our business and financial results.
In the United States and elsewhere, the construction and implementation of our systems is subject to local laws, regulations, rules and agreements regarding zoning, permitting and land use. From time to time, various interest groups lobby for or against amendments to such rules that would allow potential customers to implement our systems in locations desirable to them. In certain cases, potential customers may need to petition for changes or waivers to such rules in order to be allowed to implement our systems. In all cases, governmental authorities and local residents may oppose the implementation of our systems by our potential customers, which could cause delays, potential damage to our relationships with customers and increased costs to us and our customers. If laws, regulations, rules, or agreements significantly restrict or discourage our potential customers in certain jurisdictions from purchasing and implementing our systems, or such customers from constructing the projects/facilities that will utilize our systems, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, future macroeconomic pressures and public policy concerns could continue to lead to new laws and regulations, or interpretations of existing laws and regulations, that could limit our future customers’ use of our systems.
Any actual or perceived failure to comply with laws, regulations and rules relating to privacy, information security, and data protection could subject us to liability, damage our reputation, increase our costs and otherwise adversely affect our business opportunities, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the ongoing costs of complying with such laws, regulations and rules could be significant.
We are and may become subject to various state, federal and foreign laws regarding privacy, information security and data protection. In particular, our handling of data relating to individuals is subject to a variety of laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, and information security, and we may become subject to additional obligations, including contractual obligations, relating to our maintenance and other processing of this data. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, imposes stringent requirements for processing the personal data of individuals within the European Economic Area (“EEA”) or in the context of our activities within the EEA and provides for significant penalties, among other things, for noncompliance.
In the U.S., certain states have adopted privacy and security laws and regulations, which govern the privacy, processing and protection of personal information. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, creates individual privacy rights for California individuals (including employees), increases the privacy and security obligations of entities handling certain personal information, and creates a new California data protection agency authorized to issue substantive regulations which could result in increased privacy and information security enforcement.
Laws, regulations, and other actual and potential obligations relating to privacy, data protection, and data security are evolving rapidly, and the regulatory landscape regarding privacy, data protection, and data security is likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. We expect to be subject to new laws and regulations, or new interpretations of laws and regulations, in the future in various jurisdictions. These laws, regulations, and other obligations, and changes in their interpretation, could require us to modify our operations and practices, restrict our activities, and increase our costs in the future, and it is possible that these laws, regulations, and other obligations may be inconsistent with one another or be interpreted or asserted to be inconsistent with our business or practices. Any actual or perceived inability to adequately address privacy and security concerns or comply with applicable privacy and information security laws, rules and regulations, our internal policies and procedures, or our contracts governing our processing of personal information, could result in negative publicity, government investigations and enforcement actions, claims by third parties and damage to our reputation, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, financial position and reputation.
We are subject to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as well as export control laws, customs laws, sanctions laws and other laws governing our operations. If we fail to comply with these laws, we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties, other remedial measures and legal expenses, any of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and other similar laws and regulations in various jurisdictions in which we operate, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), and other anti-corruption laws and regulations. These laws generally prohibit us and our officers, directors, employees and business partners acting on our behalf, including
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agents, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to obtain or retain business or otherwise obtain favorable treatment and require companies to maintain accurate books and records and a system of internal controls or adequate procedures to prevent bribery.
We are also subject to economic sanctions laws, export control laws and regulations, as well as customs regulations, in the various jurisdictions in which we operate, including those administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (and its member states) and other relevant sanctions authorities.
We have implemented and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by us and our directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants and agents with the FCPA, the Bribery Act and other anti-corruption laws, as well as economic sanctions and export controls.We cannot assure you, however, that any such policies and procedures will be sufficient or that directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants and agents have not engaged, and will not engage, in conduct for which we may be held responsible, nor can we assure you that our business partners have not engaged, and will not engage, in conduct that could materially affect their ability to perform their contractual obligations to us or result in our being held liable for such conduct. Violations of the FCPA, Bribery Act, other anti-corruption laws, economic sanctions, export control laws and/or anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws or regulations may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, as interpreted and applied,well as damage to our business continuity or brand, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, includingfinancial condition and results of operations.
Changes in regulatory enforcement policies and priorities may negatively impact the management of our business, results of operations, and ability to compete.
Energy and EHS regulation is constantly changing, and changes in policy, changes in interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business, or reexamination of current practices, could adversely impact our profitability, limit our ability to negotiatecontinue existing or pursue new business activities, require us to change certain of our business practices, affect retention of key personnel, or expose us to additional costs (including increased compliance costs and/or customer remediation). Regulatory changes also may require us to invest significant resources, and completedevote significant management attention, to make any necessary changes and could adversely affect our initialbusiness.
We are subject to licensing, permitting, and operational requirements that result in substantial compliance costs, and our business combination,would be adversely affected if we fail to obtain or maintain required licenses or if our licenses are impaired.
Our business is subject to numerous federal, state, and local laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate. In particular, our business is subject to oversight and regulation under local ordinances, building, zoning and fire codes, EHS regulations, utility interconnection requirements, and other rules and regulations. Such licenses, permits, and approvals often require us to operate in ways that incur substantial compliance costs.
We have obtained certain permits and are in the process of obtaining additional permits for the energy storage systems that we are constructing. Although we have obtained certain required permits and believe that obtaining and renewing any remaining permits and/or licenses will be routine, we can provide no assurance that all required permits and/or licenses will be obtained or renewed in a timely manner. Our failure to hold a given permit or certificate would impair our ability to perform our obligations under our customer contracts. The number of laws affecting our business continues to grow. If our licenses or permits were impaired, whether by expiration, nonrenewal, modification, or termination, our business would be adversely impaired.
We can give no assurances that we will properly and timely comply with all laws and regulations that may affect us. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we may be subject to legal penalties, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, and results of operations.

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We may issue additional shares of Class A common stockIn addition, governments, often acting through state utility or preferred stockpublic service commissions, change or adopt different rates for commercial customers on a regular basis. These changes could affect our ability to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completiondeliver cost savings to future customers for the purchase of our initialenergy storage systems.

Litigation, regulatory actions and compliance issues could subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments, remediation costs, negative publicity and requirements resulting in increased expenses.
We have been and continue to be involved in legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, claims and other litigation that arise in the ordinary course of business. In addition, since our energy storage system is a new type of product in a nascent market, we may in the future need to seek the amendment of existing regulations or, in some cases, the creation of new regulations, in order to operate our business combination. Wein some jurisdictions. Such regulatory processes may require public hearings concerning our business, which could expose us to subsequent litigation.
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Unfavorable outcomes or developments relating to proceedings to which we are a party or transactions involving our products, such as judgments for monetary damages, injunctions, or denial or revocation of permits, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. To the extent such proceedings also issue sharesgenerate negative publicity, our reputation and business could also be adversely affected. In addition, handling compliance issues and the settlement of Class A common stock uponclaims could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Government reviews, inquiries, investigations, and actions could harm our business or reputation.
As we operate in various locations around the conversionworld, our operations in certain countries are subject to significant governmental scrutiny and may be adversely impacted by the results of such scrutiny. The regulatory environment with regard to our business is evolving, and officials often exercise broad discretion in deciding how to interpret and apply applicable regulations. From time to time, we receive formal and informal inquiries from various government regulatory authorities, as well as self-regulatory organizations, about our business and compliance with laws, regulations or standards.
Any determination that our operations or activities, or the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the timeactivities of our initialemployees, are not in compliance with existing laws, regulations or standards could result in the imposition of substantial fines; civil or criminal liability; interruptions of business; loss of supplier, vendor, customer or other third-party relationships; termination of necessary licenses and permits; or similar results; all of which could potentially harm our business combinationand/or reputation. Even if an inquiry does not result in these types of determinations, regulatory authorities could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner materially adverse to our business and could create negative publicity, which could harm our business and/or reputation.
Risks Related to Ownership of Energy Vault’s Securities
Concentration of ownership among our executive officers, directors, and their affiliates may prevent new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions.
As of December 31, 2023, our executive officers, directors and their affiliates as a group beneficially own approximately 30.6% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders are able to exercise a significant level of control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, appointment and removal of officers, any amendment of the anti-dilution provisions described herein. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuanceand approval of up to 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share,mergers and 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and 5,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. There are 456,500,001 and 12,812,500 authorized but unissued shares of Class A and Class B common stock available, respectively, for issuance, which amount takes into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants but not upon the conversion of the Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are automatically convertible into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initialother business combination or earlier at the option of the holder, initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to certain adjustments.

We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock, and may issue shares of preferred stock, in order to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock to redeem the warrants as described in “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” or upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions described herein. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:

may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in our IPO, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;

may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;

could cause a change oftransactions requiring stockholder approval. This control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;

may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;

may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants;changes in management and

may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.

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Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with will make the approval of holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation andcertain transactions difficult or impossible without the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.

Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company’s pre-business combination activity, without approval by holders of a certain percentage of the company’s stockholders. In those companies, amendmentsupport of these provisions typically requires approval by holders holding between 90% and 100% of the company’s public shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination, which require the approval by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting) related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances and to provide redemption rights to public stockholdersstockholders.

The Company qualifies as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders, and, prior to our initial business combination, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock is required to approve the election or removal of directors. We may not issue additional securities that can vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our initial stockholders, who beneficially own 20.0% of our common stock, may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which will govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete our initial business combination with which you do not agree.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock 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 outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our initial stockholders, officers and directors. Our public stockholders are not parties to, or third- party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our initial stockholders, officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our public stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.

Certain agreements with our initial stockholders, officers and directors may be amended without stockholder approval.

Certain agreements, including the letter agreement among us and our initial stockholders, officers and directors and the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions, including transfer restrictions on our founder shares and private placement warrants and the securities included therein, that our public stockholders might deem to be material. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.

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We are an emerging“emerging growth company and a smaller reporting companycompany” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we takein reliance on SEC guidance, takes advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, or smalleras well as “smaller reporting companies, this” which could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance withto the performance of other public companies.

We arequalify as an “emerging growth company” within the meaningas defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act,Act. As such, the Company is eligible for and we mayintends to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies for as long as it continues to be an emerging growth company, including but(a) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (b) the exemptions from say-on-pay, say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements and (c) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements. The Company will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of June 30 of that fiscal year, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of $1.235 billion or more during such fiscal year (as indexed for inflation), (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in the prior three-year period or (iv) December 31, 2026. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act as long as the Company is an emerging growth company. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected not limited to opt out of such extended transition period and, therefore, the Company may not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
Even after the Company no longer qualifies as an emerging growth company, we may in the future qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow it to continue to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements, of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in ourits periodic reports and proxy statements. Moreover, smaller reporting companies may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited
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financial statements in their Annual Reports on Form 10-K. Although the Company determined that it did not qualify as a “smaller reporting company” as of its 2023 determination date, in reliance on SEC guidance, it has chosen to continue to use certain of the scaled disclosures in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and exemptions fromwill begin providing non-scaled larger company disclosures in its first Form 10-Q for the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders2024 fiscal year.
Investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including iffind the market value of ourCompany’s common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second quarter of a fiscal year, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because wethe Company will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as aexemptions, which may result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may bein a less active trading market for our common stock and its price may be more volatile.
There can be no assurance that our common stock will be able to continue to comply with the continued listing standards of the NYSE.
The shares of our common stock and warrants are listed on the NYSE. If the NYSE delists the common stock from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the listing standards, we and our stockholders could face significant material adverse consequences including:
a limited availability of market quotations for our securities
a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our common stock;
a limited amount of analyst coverage; and
a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
We expect to continue incurring significant increased expenses and administrative burdens as a public company, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We expect to continue incurring increased legal, accounting, administrative and other costs and expenses as a public company. We expect such costs and increases to be increased further after we are no longer an emerging growth company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including the requirements of Section 404, as well as rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the rules and regulations promulgated and to be promulgated thereunder, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the securities exchanges, impose additional reporting and other obligations on public companies. Compliance with public company requirements will increase costs and make certain activities more time-consuming. A number of those requirements require us to carry out activities we have not done previously. In addition, expenses associated with SEC reporting requirements are being incurred. Furthermore, if any issues in complying with those requirements are identified (for example, if the auditors identify a significant deficiency or material weaknesses in the internal control over financial reporting), we could incur additional costs to rectify those issues, and the existence of those issues could adversely affect our reputation or investor perceptions.
In addition, we maintain director and officer liability insurance, which has substantial premiums. Advocacy efforts by stockholders and third parties may also prompt additional changes in governance and reporting requirements, which could further increase costs.
If, securities or industry analysts cease publishing research or reports about the Company, its business, or its market, or if they change their recommendations regarding the Company’s securities adversely, the price and trading volume of the Company’s securities could decline.
Research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about the Company, its business, market or competitors may influence the public market for our securities. If securities or industry analysts cease coverage of the Company, the price and trading volume of our publicly traded securities would likely be negatively impacted. If any of the analysts who may cover the Company adversely change their recommendation regarding our securities, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, the price of the our publicly traded securities would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover the Company were to cease coverage of the Company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, the Company could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the price or trading volume of our publicly traded securities to decline.
Because we have no current plans to pay cash dividends on the Company’s common stock for the foreseeable future, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell the Company’s common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
The Company may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and has no current plans to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends will be made at the discretion of the Company’s Board and will depend on, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, financial
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condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Company’s Board may deem relevant. In addition, the Company’s ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness it or its subsidiaries incur. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in the Company’s common stock unless you sell your shares of common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
The Company may issue additional shares of common stock or other equity securities without your approval, which would dilute your ownership interests and may depress the market price of the Company’s common stock.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had warrants outstanding to purchase an aggregate 5,166,666 of private warrants. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the Company was able to issue an aggregate of up to 23,768,666 shares of common stock pursuant to our 2022 Equity Incentive Plan and 8,000,000 shares of common stock pursuant to our 2022 Employment Inducement Plan, which amounts are inclusive of previously granted awards and which may be subject to increase from time to time. The Company may also issue additional shares of common stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future in connection with, among other things, future acquisitions or repayment of outstanding indebtedness, without stockholder approval, in a number of circumstances.
The issuance of additional shares or other equity securities of equal or senior rank would have the following effects:
existing stockholders’ proportionate ownership interest in the Company will decrease;
the amount of cash available per share, including for payment of dividends in the future, may decrease;
the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding share of common stock may be diminished; and
the market price of the Company’s common stock may decline.
Our stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance. You may lose some or all of your investment.
The trading price of our common stock is likely to be volatile. The stock market recently has experienced extreme volatility. This volatility often has been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. You may not be able to resell your shares at an attractive price due to a number of factors such as the following:
our operating and financial performance and prospects;
our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry compared to market expectations;
conditions that impact demand for our services;
future announcements concerning our business, our customers’ businesses, or our competitors’ businesses;
the public’s reaction to our press releases, other public announcements, and filings with the SEC;
the market’s reaction to our reduced disclosure and other requirements as a result of being an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act or relying on “smaller reporting company” exemptions;
the size of our public float;
coverage by or changes in financial estimates by securities analysts or failure to meet their expectations;
market and industry perception of our success, or lack thereof, in pursuing our growth strategy;
strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;
changes in laws or regulations which adversely affect the energy storage industry generally or Energy Vault specifically;
changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles;
impacts from bank failures, reducing the financing options for the Company and its customers and suppliers;
changes in senior management or key personnel;
issuances, exchanges or sales, or expected issuances, exchanges, or sales of our capital stock;
changes in our dividend policy;
sales of shares of our common stock by significant shareholders;
adverse resolution of new or pending litigation against us; and
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changes in general market, economic, and political conditions in the United States and global economies or financial markets, including those resulting from inflation including the effects of upward changes to the interest rate curves, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, acts of war, and responses to such events.
These broad market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our securities, regardless of our operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of the common stock is low. As a result, you may suffer a loss on your investment.
If we fail to maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting as a public company, our ability to produce accurate and timely financial statements could be impaired, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and the trading price of our common stock may decline.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the report by management on internal control over financial reporting is on our financial reporting and internal controls. The rules governing the standards that must be met for management to assess internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation. To comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the requirements of being a reporting company under the Exchange Act and any complex accounting rules in the future, we may need to upgrade our information technology systems; implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures; and hire additional accounting and finance staff.
If we are unable to hire the additional accounting and finance staff necessary to comply with these requirements, we may need to retain additional outside consultants. If we, or our independent registered public accounting firm are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could negatively impact the market price of our common stock.
Activist stockholders may attempt to effect changes to our company, which could adversely affect our corporate governance, results of operations, and financial condition.
Campaigns by stockholders to effect changes at publicly traded companies are sometimes led by investors through various corporate actions, including Board nominations and proxy contests. We may become subject to one or more campaigns by stockholders who desire to increase stockholder value in the short term. If we become engaged in a proxy contest with an activist stockholder in the future, our business and operations could be adversely affected as responding to such contests or other activist stockholder actions would be costly and time-consuming, and we would expect that such actions would disrupt our operations and divert the attention of management and our employees from executing our strategic plans and product launch. In addition, if individuals are elected to our Board with a specific agenda or without relevant experience or expertise, it may adversely affect the ability of the Board to function effectively, as well as our ability to effectively and timely implement our strategic plans, which are focused on building shareholder value. Any perceived uncertainties as to our future direction as a result of stockholder activism or changes to the composition of our Board may lead to the perception of a change in the direction of our business and instability or lack of continuity with respect to our products which may cause concerns for our customers or be exploited by our competitors. As a result, we could experience significant volatility and a decline of our stock price, the loss of potential business opportunities and difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel and customers.
Anti-takeover provisions in our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of the Company, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove the Company’s current management.
Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that may delay or prevent an acquisition of the Company or a change in its management. These provisions may make it more difficult for stockholders to replace or remove members of its Board. Because the Board is responsible for appointing the members of the management team, these provisions could in turn frustrate or prevent any attempt by its stockholders to replace or remove its current management. In addition, these provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of Company common stock. Among other things, these provisions include:
the limitation of the liability of, and the indemnification of, its directors and officers;
a prohibition on actions by its stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders;
a prohibition on actions by its stockholders by written consent; and
the ability of the Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to institute a “poison pill” that would work to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, effectively preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by the Board.
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Moreover, because the Company is incorporated in Delaware, it is governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a person who owns 15% or more of its outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with the Company for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired 15% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner. This could discourage, delay or prevent a third party from acquiring or merging with the Company, whether or not it is desired by, or beneficial to, its stockholders. This could also have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for the Company’s common stock, including transactions that may be in its stockholders’ best interests. Finally, these provisions establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the Board or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings. These provisions would apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
We have developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our critical systems and information. Our cybersecurity risk management program includes a cybersecurity incident response plan.
We design and assess our program based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (“NIST CSF”). This does not imply that we meet any particular technical standards, specifications, or requirements, only that we use the NIST CSF as a guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.
Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program, and shares common methodologies, reporting channels, and governance processes that apply across the enterprise risk management program to other legal, compliance, strategic, operational, and financial risk areas.
Our cybersecurity risk management program includes:
risk assessments designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems, information, products, services, and our broader enterprise IT environment;
a security team principally responsible for managing our (i) cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (ii) security controls, and (iii) response to cybersecurity incidents;
the use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our security controls;
cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, incident response personnel, and senior management;
a cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents; and
a third-party risk management process for service providers, suppliers, and vendors who have access to our critical systems and information.
We have not identified risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. For more information, see our risk factor titled “Cyberattacks and other security breaches could have an adverse effect on our business and operations, harm our reputation, and expose us to liability.”
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated to the Audit Committee oversight of cybersecurity and other information technology risks. The Audit Committee oversees management’s implementation of our cybersecurity risk management program.
The Audit Committee receives quarterly reports from the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) on our cybersecurity risks. In addition, the CIO updates the Audit Committee, as necessary, regarding any material cybersecurity incidents, as well as any incidents with lesser impact potential.
The Audit Committee reports to the full Board regarding its activities, including those related to cybersecurity. The full Board also receives briefings from the CIO on our cyber risk management program. Board members receive presentations
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on cybersecurity topics from our CIO, internal security staff, or external experts as part of the Board’s continuing education on topics that impact public companies.
Our management team, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), CIO, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Legal Officer, is responsible for assessing and managing our material risks from cybersecurity threats. The CIO, in collaboration with the Audit Committee, has primary responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management program and supervises both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our retained external cybersecurity consultants.
Energy Vault’s CIO has more than 25 years of cybersecurity and risk management experience across multiple market verticals, including extensive experience overseeing critical and complex cybersecurity teams spanning multiple federal agencies and private industry. Further, the Audit Committee has a combined nine years of experience in organizational cybersecurity and risk management.
Our management team supervises efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, which may include briefings from internal security personnel; threat intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public, or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us; and alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed in the information environment.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our principal offices are located in Westlake Village, California, Vienna, Virginia, and Lugano, Switzerland. The Westlake Village office serves as our U.S. headquarters and the Lugano office serves as our international headquarters. The Westlake Village facility consists of approximately 15,767 square feet and is under a lease that expires in November 2028. The Lugano facility is under a lease that expires in July 2027. The Vienna facility is under a lease that expires in January 2025.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Energy Vault has been and continues to be involved in legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, the outcome of which, if determined adversely to Energy Vault, would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on Energy Vault’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. From time to time, Energy Vault may become involved in additional legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its business.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information for Common Stock
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “NRGV.” Prior to February 14, 2022 and before the completion of the Merger, Novus’ Class A common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “NXU.”
Holders of Record
At March 7, 2024, there were123 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date. The payment of cash dividends in the future is dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements, the terms of any indebtedness, and general financial condition. The payment of any cash dividends will be within the discretion of the Board at such time. In addition, the Board is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There were no unregistered sales of the Company’s equity securities during 2023.
Repurchase of Equity Securities
There were no repurchases of the Company’s equity securities during 2023.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis provide information which Energy Vault’s management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of Energy Vault’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition as of December 31, 2023 and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The discussion and analysis should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes that are included elsewhere in this Annual report on Form 10-K. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon Energy Vault’s current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Energy Vault’s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. You should review the section titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of forward-looking statements and the section titled “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis and elsewhere in this Annual Report. Energy Vault’s historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Annual Report to “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company,” or “Energy Vault” refer to Energy Vault Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries both prior to the consummation of and following the Merger (as defined below).
Our Business
Energy Vault develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to aid in the global transition to a clean energy future.
Our Company’s comprehensive offerings include proprietary gravity, battery, and green hydrogen energy storage solutions, supported by our technology-agnostic energy management software solutions. We incorporate a customer-centric, solutions-based approach toward helping utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users reduce their energy costs while maintaining power reliability. As the world transitions to an economy powered by increasingly intermittent renewable energy such as solar and wind, the ability to provide clean and affordable electricity to a growing global population will depend heavily on the ability to store and distribute energy at appropriate times. We are striving to create a world powered by renewable resources so that everyone will have access to clean, sustainable, and affordable energy.
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Our solutions are designed to address the intermittency issues inherent in the predominant sources of renewable energy production by storing energy produced when renewable energy production is active. Once energy is stored in our solutions, it can be discharged to the grid in a controlled and reliable manner at any time, regardless of the then current ability of the renewable sources to generate power. Our energy storage solutions are designed to accommodate a wide variety of renewable power sources and to achieve an attractive levelized cost of energy relative to fossil fuels. Collectively, these abilities greatly broaden the use cases and time duration scenarios that can be addressed by certain sources of renewable power.
Key Factors and Trends Affecting our Business
We believe that our performance and future success depend upon several factors that present significant opportunities for us, but also pose risks and challenges including those discussed below and in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Product Development and Deployment Plan
We leverage our sustainable and differentiated technologies to provide our customers with economical solutions to meet their short, long, and extended-duration renewable energy storage needs. Our energy storage solutions are designed to accommodate a wide variety of renewable power sources and to achieve an attractive levelized cost of energy relative to fossil fuels.
We anticipate that our market will be characterized by high growth and rapidly evolving use cases and requirements. We believe that the majority of our competitors are primarily focused on the development and marketing of vertically siloed solutions based on a singular energy storage technology. Alternatively, we have strategically chosen to design an agile and agnostic software platform that can orchestrate the management of not just one energy storage technology, but rather one or more of our diverse storage mediums and the underlying power generation assets to harmonize asset operation and drive competitive operational performance. We expect that this will broaden the use cases and time duration scenarios that can be addressed by certain sources of renewable power, and thereby drive a faster transition to more widespread utilization of renewable power.
Our range of energy storage solutions assures our customers have what they need today, as well as what they will need in the future, thereby protecting their investments in our products within this high-growth market and its rapidly evolving use cases and requirements. For these reasons, we believe we are well positioned to compete successfully in the evolving market for energy storage solutions.
We primarily rely on two models for project delivery, which are (i) EPC delivery and (ii) EEQ delivery. Under the EPC model, we generally rely on third-party EPC firms to construct our storage systems, under our supervision with dedicated teams tasked with project management. Under the EEQ model, we are responsible for the delivery and installation of the equipment we provide, as well as resolving issues within our scope of supply.
Our cost projections are heavily dependent upon raw materials (such as steel), equipment (such as motors, batteries, inverters, and power electronic devices) and technical and construction service providers (such as engineering, procurement, construction firms). The global supply chain, on which Energy Vault relies, has been significantly impacted by (i) the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) economic uncertainties, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, and (iii) high inflation pressure on project budgeting resulting in potential significant delays and cost fluctuations, particularly with respect to microchips and many other raw materials that are within the motor and power electronic supply chains. These future timing and financial developments may impact Energy Vault’s performance from both a deployment and cost perspective.
Energy Storage Industry
We believe climate change poses a monumental risk to humanity and decreasing human generated GHG emissions is currently among the world’s most pressing challenges. Carbon dioxide is the primary GHG emitted through human activities and, according to the International Energy Agency, the energy sector is estimated to account for more than 75% of global human generated GHG emissions. Burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.
Renewable energy sources present environmental advantages over fossil fuels in terms of finite natural resource usage and GHG emission profile. A major obstacle to transitioning to renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar is the intermittent availability of these types of energy sources. Energy storage solutions are needed to balance the production intermittency of variable renewable energy to support a clean-energy future and a balanced electrical grid infrastructure.
The growth of the energy storage market that we address is primarily driven by the decreasing cost of energy storage technologies and renewable power generation sources, government mandates, financial incentives to reduce GHG
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emissions, and increasing geopolitical pressures driving energy independence goals. These dynamics are driving demand for additional renewable power generation and increased capacity and storage duration in energy storage solutions.
According to the 2H 2023 Energy Storage Market Outlook published by BloombergNEF in October 2023, the energy storage market is expected to grow at a “27% compound annual growth rate through 2030, with annual additions reaching 110 GW/372 GWh, or 2.6 times expected 2023 gigawatt installations.” Both government mandates and companies focused on reducing energy use, cost, and emissions are expected to propel the shift to renewable sources of power..
Our business depends on the acceptance of our energy storage products in the marketplace. Even if renewable energy and energy storage become more widely adopted than they have been to date, potential customers may choose energy storage products from our competitors.
Increasing Deployment of Renewable Energy
Deployment of renewable energy resources has accelerated over the last decade, and solar and wind have become a low cost energy source. Energy storage is critical to reducing the intermittency and volatility of renewable energy generation. However, there is no guarantee that the deployment of renewable energy will occur at the rate that is expected. Inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, government regulations, and other factors could result in fluctuations in demand for and deployment of renewable energy resources, adversely affecting our revenue and ability to generate profits in the future.
Competition
The market for our products is competitive, and we may face increased competition as new and existing competitors introduce energy storage solutions and components. Furthermore, as we expand our services and digital applications in the future, we may face other competitors including software providers and hardware manufacturers that offer software solutions. If our market share declines due to increased competition or if we are not able to compete as we expect, our revenue and ability to generate profits in the future may be adversely affected.
Inflation
In the markets in which we operate, there have been higher rates of inflation in recent years. If inflation continues to increase in our markets, it may increase our expenses that we may not be able to pass through to customers. It may also increase the costs of our products that could negatively impact their competitiveness.
Government Regulation and Compliance
Governments in countries throughout the world have announced and implemented various policies, regulations, and legislation to support the transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon form of energy, including through the use of energy storage solutions. For example, in August 2022, the United States Congress passed the IRA. The IRA provides incentives for the domestic manufacturing of key components of energy storage solutions as well as the construction of standalone energy storage projects. The resulting improved economics are expected to reduce the cost to implement storage within the domestic market and may amplify and accelerate the adoption of energy storage systems for short, long, and extended duration use cases, like those offered by Energy Vault. Such government policies and programs are becoming increasingly instrumental in stimulating adoption of energy storage solutions across different markets through a variety of methods, including by providing financial support, facilitating grid integration, and supporting research and development.
Although we are not regulated as a utility, federal, state, and local government statutes and regulations concerning electricity heavily influence the market for our product and services. These statutes and regulations often relate to electricity pricing, net metering, incentives, taxation, competition with utilities and the interconnection of customer-owned electricity generation. In the United States, governments continuously modify these statutes and regulations. Governments, often acting through state utility or public service commissions, change and adopt different rates for commercial customers on a regular basis. These changes could affect our ability to deliver cost savings to our current and future customers for the purchase of electricity. We believe we are well positioned to capture incentives contained in the IRA and that its enactment is favorable to our business and future operations. However, as this legislation was recently adopted and applicable U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service guidelines were published in the third quarter of 2023, we have not yet seen the impact these IRA incentives may have on our business, operations, and financial performance in the future and cannot guarantee that we will realize the anticipated benefits from the incentives in the IRA.
Business Combination and Public Company Costs
On February 11, 2022, Legacy Energy Vault completed the Merger. Immediately following the completion of the Merger, Novus changed its name to Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. On February 14, 2022, Energy Vault’s common stock and warrants began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “NRGV” and “NRGV WS,” respectively.
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The Merger was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Under this method of accounting, Novus was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of the combined entity upon consumption of the Merger represented a continuation of the financial statements of Legacy Energy Vault with the Merger being treated as the equivalent of Legacy Energy Vault issuing stock for the net assets of Novus, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Novus are stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Merger are presented as those of Legacy Energy Vault in future reports of the combined entity. All periods prior to the Merger have been retroactively adjusted using the exchange ratio of 6.7735 (the “Exchange Ratio”) for the equivalent number of shares outstanding immediately after the Merger to effect the reverse recapitalization.
Energy Vault raised gross proceeds of $235.9 million, including the contribution of $40.9 million of cash, net of redemptions, held in Novus’ trust account from its initial public offering and an aggregate purchase price of $195.0 million from the sale and issuance of shares of common stock in a private placement (“Private Investment in Public Equity” or “PIPE”) at $10.00 per share. Energy Vault and Novus paid $44.8 million in transaction costs, resulting in total net cash proceeds to Energy Vault from the Merger and PIPE of $191.1 million. See Note 1 and Note 3, in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information about the Merger.
Recent Developments
In May 2023, the Company signed a technology license option agreement with a company affiliated with a member of Energy Vault’s Board. The agreement permits the customer to exercise options to enter into licensing agreements in certain territories to use the Company’s gravity storage technology for a fee of $0.5 million. The customer exercised its option for one of the territories on June 30, 2023 and paid Energy Vault an additional $0.5 million. The Company recognized $0.7 million in revenue related to the option and licensing arrangements during the year ended December 31, 2023.
In October 2023, the Company entered into a contract with a customer to construct a 400 MWh BESS in Texas. The Company did not recognize any revenue from this contract in 2023 and expects to begin recognizing revenue from this contract in the second half of 2024.
In December 2023, the Company signed a license and royalty agreement that allows the customer to use the Company’s gravity energy storage technology and VaultOS EMS in South Africa. The customer obtained a 10-year exclusive license and a $20.0 million licensing fee is payable annually in installments over 10 years. Royalties of 5.0% will be applied to all gross revenue streams in South Africa. The Company did not recognize any revenue from this contract in 2023 and expects to begin recognizing revenue from this contract in the first half of 2024.
Key Operating Metrics
Bookings
Bookings represents the total MWhs to be delivered and the aggregate contracted value for energy storage systems, tolling arrangements, and intellectual property license agreements, and software service agreements signed during the period. The aggregate contracted value excludes any potential future variable payments or royalties.
The following table presents bookings for the periods indicated ($ in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022Change
Bookings [MWh]400 1,635 (1,235)
Bookings [$]$205,776 $540,086 $(334,310)
Backlog
Backlog represents the amount of revenue we expect to realize in the future on uncompleted construction contracts, including new contracts under which work has not yet begun, as well as the remaining revenue to be recognized under the Company’s intellectual property licensing agreements. As of December 31, 2023, backlog totaled $144.2 million.
The Company generally expects to recognize approximately 16.0% of the backlog as revenue over the next 12 months and the remainder more than 12 months from December 31, 2023. Timing of revenue for construction and installation projects included in our backlog can be subject to change as a result of customer, regulatory, or other delays or cancellations including from economic or other conditions caused by supply chain disruptions, inflation, weather, and/or other project-related factors. These effects, among others, could cause estimated revenue to be realized in periods later than originally expected, or not at all. Customers may postpone or cancel construction projects due to changes in our customer’s spending plans, market volatility, changes in government permitting, regulatory delays, and/or other factors. There can be no
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assurance as to our customer’s requirements or if actual results will be consistent with our estimates. As a result, our backlog as of any particular date is an uncertain indicator of future revenue and earnings.
Backlog is a common measurement used in our industry. Our methodology for determining backlog may not, however, be comparable to the methodologies used by others. The Company’s backlog agrees with the amount of our remaining performance obligations, which are described in Note 4 - Revenue Recognition.
Key Components of Results of Operations
The following discussion describes certain line items in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Revenue
The Company generates revenue from the sale and licensing of our energy storage solutions. To date, the Company has primarily generated revenue from the sale of our BESSs and from licensing our EVx technology. In addition to these sources of revenue, in the future we expect to generate revenue from the sale of our GESSs, the sale or licensing of the Company’s software solutions, the sale of long-term service agreements to maintain customer owned energy storage systems, and through tolling arrangements in connection with energy storage systems that we intend to own and operate.
When the Company sells a BESS, the Company recognizes revenue over time as we transfer control of our product to the customer. When the Company licenses its intellectual property, revenue is recognized at the point in time at which the customer obtains control of the licensed technology.
Our revenue is affected by changes in the price, volume, and mix of products and services purchased by our customers, which is driven by the demand of our products, geographic mix of our customers, strength of competitor’s product offerings, and the availability of government incentives to the end-users of our products.
Our revenue growth is dependent on continued growth in the amount of energy storage systems constructed each year and our ability to increase our share of demand in the geographic regions where we currently compete and plan to compete in the future. Additionally, our revenue growth is dependent on our ability to continue to develop and commercialize new and innovative products to meet our customer’s energy storage needs.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue primarily consists of product costs, including purchased materials and supplies, as well as costs related to subcontractors, direct labor, and product warranties.
Our cost of revenue is affected by underlying costs of materials such as batteries, inverters, enclosures, transformers, and cables, as well as the cost of subcontractors to provide construction services. We do not currently hedge against changes in the price of raw materials as we do not purchase raw materials. We purchase energy storage system components from our suppliers.
Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin
Gross profit and gross profit margin may vary from period to period due to the timing of transferring control of significant uninstalled materials to customers under contracts to sell energy storage systems. When control of significant uninstalled materials is transferred to customers, the Company recognizes revenue in an amount equal to the cost of those materials. The profit margin inherent in these materials is deferred until the Company fulfills its obligation to install the materials during construction of the energy storage systems. As a result, gross profit and gross profit margin will vary from period to period depending on the timing of revenue recognition related to uninstalled materials.
Additionally, gross profit and gross profit margin may vary from period to period due to our sales volume, product prices, product costs, product mix, geographical mix, along with the timing of when we perform installation and construction services.
Sales and Marketing (“S&M”) Expenses
S&M expenses consist primarily of internal personnel-related costs for marketing, sales, and related support teams, as well as external costs such as professional service fees, trade shows, marketing and sales-related promotional materials, public relations expenses, website operating and maintenance costs. Personnel-related expenses include salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expenses.
Research and Development (“R&D”) Expenses
R&D expenses consist primarily of internal and external expenses incurred in connection with our research activities and development programs that include materials costs directly related to product development, testing and evaluation costs,
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construction costs including labor and transportation of material, overhead related costs and other direct expenses consisting of personnel-related expenses and consulting expenses relating to study of product safety, reliability and development. Personnel-related expenses consist of salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense.
General and Administrative (“G&A”) Expenses
G&A expenses consist of information technology expenses, legal and professional fees, travel costs, and personnel-related expenses for our corporate, executive, finance, and other administrative functions, including expenses for professional and contract services. Personnel-related expenses consist of salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense. To a lesser extent, general and administrative expense includes investor relations costs, insurance costs, rent, office expenses, and maintenance costs.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
Depreciation and amortization expense consists of costs associated with property and equipment, and amortization of intangibles. We expect to invest in additional property, equipment, and other assets as we construct and own energy storage systems, which will result in additional depreciation expense in the future.
Asset Impairment
Energy Vault began building a prototype of the EV1 in March 2020, resulting in the EV1 CDU, which was connected to the Swiss national grid in July 2020. Thereafter, through design improvements and refinements of its technology, Energy Vault announced the new EVx platform in 2021 and the Company dismantled the EV1 CDU in September 2022. The Company has recognized various impairments related to the EV1 CDU when components have been damaged or become obsolete.
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest income from investments in funds containing exclusively U.S. Treasury bills and money market funds, customer financing receivable, and convertible note receivable.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability
The Company’s Private Warrants are subject to fair value remeasurement at each balance sheet date. Prior to the redemption of all outstanding Public Warrants on August 1, 2022, the Company’s Public Warrants were subject to fair value remeasurement.
Transaction Costs
Transaction costs consist of legal, accounting, banking fees, and other costs directly related to the consummation of the Merger and the PIPE.
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Results of Operations
Consolidated Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2023 to Year Ended December 31, 2022
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022$ Change
Revenue$341,543 $145,877 $195,666 
Cost of revenue324,012 86,580 237,432 
Gross profit17,531 59,297 (41,766)
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing18,210 12,582 5,628 
Research and development37,104 42,605 (5,501)
General and administrative68,060 56,622 11,438 
Depreciation and amortization893 7,743 (6,850)
Asset impairment— 2,828 (2,828)
Loss from operations(106,736)(63,083)(43,653)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense(35)(2)(33)
Interest income8,152 3,695 4,457 
Change in fair value of warrant liability— 2,330 (2,330)
Transaction costs— (20,586)20,586 
Other expense, net(173)(226)53 
Loss before income taxes$(98,792)$(77,872)$(20,920)
Revenue
The Company recognized revenue for the product and service categories as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Build and transfer energy storage products$339,891 $85,636 
Licensing of intellectual property735 58,483 
Other917 1,758 
Total revenue$341,543 $145,877 
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $195.7 million to $341.5 million compared to $145.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily consisted of $339.9 million attributable to the building and transferring of energy storage products. This revenue related to the Company’s physical advancement on its BESS projects during the year. Revenue from three customers accounted for 64%, 22%, and 13% respectively, of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily consisted of $85.6 million attributable to the building and transferring of energy storage products and $58.5 million attributable to licensing the Company’s EVx intellectual property. Revenue from the building and transferring of energy storage products was attributable to the Company’s physical advancement on its BESS projects during the year. Revenue from two customers accounted for 57% and 35%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $237.4 million to $324.0 million compared to $86.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Cost of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 primarily consisted of construction costs associated with the sale of the Company’s BESSs. The increase in cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the
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year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to the increase in revenue from the sale and transfer of energy storage products.
Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin
Gross profit was $17.5 million and gross profit margin was 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Gross profit for 2023 was primarily attributable to the sale and transfer of the Company’s BESS projects.
Gross profit was $59.3 million and gross profit margin was 40.6% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Gross profit during 2022 was primarily attributable to the Company’s intellectual property licensing revenue, which did not have any associated cost of revenue.
S&M Expenses
S&M expenses increased by $5.6 million to $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in personnel-related expenses of $4.7 million and an increase in consulting costs of $0.7 million. The increase in personnel costs was due to expanded headcount and increased stock-based compensation expense. Stock-based compensation expense was $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
R&D Expenses
R&D expenses decreased by $5.5 million to $37.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $42.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $2.7 million decrease in engineering and development costs, a $2.0 million decrease in personnel-related expenses, and a $0.8 million decrease in consulting costs. These cost decreases were primarily attributable to a focus on cost controls and a reduction in personnel. Stock-based compensation expense was $10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $14.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense in 2023 compared to 2022 was partially due to a reversal of expense for non-vested RSUs that were forfeited upon the reduction in personnel.
G&A Expenses
G&A expenses increased by $11.4 million to $68.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $56.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to a $9.8 million increase in personnel-related expenses, a $1.4 million increase in software and IT costs, a $1.1 million increase in insurance costs, and a $0.6 million increase in consulting costs. The increase in personnel costs was due to expanded headcount and an increase in stock-based compensation expense. Stock-based compensation expense was $25.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $21.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. These cost increases were partially offset by a $1.4 million decrease in legal and professional fees.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $6.9 million to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the EV1 CDU being decommissioned in 2022, resulting in the asset being fully depreciated during 2022.
Asset Impairment
There was no asset impairment expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Asset impairment for the year ended December 31, 2022 related to the EV1 CDU and the brick machines used to manufacture bricks for the EV1 tower design. The Company completed the dismantling of the EV1 CDU during 2022 and recorded the impairment charges when the EV1 CDU was dismantled.
Interest Income
Interest income increased by $4.5 million to $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest income was primarily due to higher short-term interest rates in 2023 compared to 2022 on our investments in funds containing exclusively short-dated U.S. Treasury bills and money market funds containing U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. agency paper.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability
There was no change in fair value of the Company’s warrant liability for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a change in fair value that resulted in a gain of $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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Transaction costs
There were no transaction costs recognized for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $20.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The transaction costs in 2022 related to the consummation of the Merger.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Since inception, we have financed our net cash used in operating and investing activities primarily through the issuance and sale of equity, and with the proceeds from the Merger and the PIPE.Our cash equivalents are highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturities of three months or less. Substantially all of our restricted cash balance is held by banks as collateral for the Company’s letters of credit.
The following tables summarizes our cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
Cash and cash equivalents$109,923 $203,037 
Restricted cash35,632 83,145 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$145,555 $286,182 
Short-Term Liquidity
Management believes that its cash and cash equivalents on hand as of the filing date of this Annual Report will be sufficient to fund our operating activities for at least the next twelve months without regard to any cash proceeds we may receive in the future upon the exercise of our private warrants. As of the filing date of this Annual Report, $34.6 million of the restricted cash balance at December 31, 2023 was released from restrictions and became unrestricted cash.
The exercise price for our private warrants is $11.50 per warrant, subject to certain specified adjustments. To the extent that the price of our common stock exceeds $11.50 per share, it is more likely that our private warrant holders will exercise their warrants. To the extent that the price of our common stock declines, including a decline below $11.50 per share, it is less likely that our private warrant holders will exercise their warrants.
In addition, should Energy Vault enter into definitive collaboration and/or joint venture agreements or engage in business combinations in the future, we may be required to seek additional financing.
Energy Vault has incurred negative operating cash flows and operating losses in the past. We may continue to incur operating losses in the future due to our on-going research and development activities. We may seek additional capital through equity and/or debt financings depending on market conditions. If we are required to raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to stockholders would result. Any equity securities issued may also provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities would have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of common stock. The terms of debt securities or borrowings could impose significant restrictions on our operations. The credit market and financial services industry have in the past, and may in the future, experience periods of uncertainty that could impact the availability and cost of equity and debt financing.
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Licensing Agreements with Extended Payment Terms
The Company has licensed its gravity storage technology and certain of these agreements contain extended payment terms. There is uncertainty as to the collectability of the license payments in certain licensing agreements, and the Company has not yet recognized any revenue related to those license agreements where collectability is uncertain.
Anticipated cash inflows from licensing agreements with extended payment terms as of December 31, 2023 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year ended December 31,Amount
2024$6,600 
20259,250 
20266,750 
20277,250 
20287,250 
Thereafter60,000 
Total$97,100 
Contractual Obligations
Our principal commitments as of December 31, 2023 consisted primarily of obligations under operating leases, finance leases, warranty obligations, deferred pensions, and issued purchase orders. Our non-cancellable purchase obligations as of December 31, 2023 totaled approximately $4.7 million.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Net cash used in operating activities$(92,655)$(23,346)
Net cash used in investing activities(42,542)(13,319)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(5,482)217,771 
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash52 (49)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$(140,627)$181,057 
Operating Activities
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, cash used in operating activities totaled $92.7 million and $23.3 million, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in operating activities was negatively impacted by a net loss of $98.4 million, an increase in contract assets of $57.0 million, and a decrease in contract liabilities of $44.5 million. The change in contract assets and liabilities is due to the physical advancement of the Company’s BESS projects during 2023 and the timing of milestone billing for the related projects. In the early stages of a project, the Company typically collects up-front payments that result in contract liabilities. Toward the completion of a project, the Company typically bills the customer after substantial and final completion, which often results in contract assets until the Company bills the customer for the last milestones that have been completed. Operating cash flows were positively impacted by non-cash charges of $43.0 million, an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $25.5 million, a decrease in advances to suppliers of $22.8 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $10.2 million, a decrease in inventory of $4.0 million, and a decrease in prepaid and other current assets of $2.9 million. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $43.1 million in stock-based compensation expense and $0.9 million in depreciation and amortization expense, partially offset by $1.4 million in non-cash interest income. The change in accounts receivable, relates to the timing of billing and the change in accounts payables and accrued expenses relates to the timing of payments. The decrease in advances to suppliers is due to the receipt of energy storage system equipment in 2023 that had been partially paid for as of December 31, 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities of $23.3 million was negatively impacted by a net loss of $78.3 million, an increase in accounts receivable of $37.5 million, an increase in contract assets of $29.0 million, an increase in advances to suppliers of $24.3 million, an increase in customer financing receivable of $9.7 million,
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an increase in prepaid and other current assets of $5.3 million, and an increase in inventory of $4.4 million. Operating cash flows were positively impacted by non-cash charges of $49.3 million, an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $67.9 million, and an increase in contract liabilities of $49.4 million. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $41.1 million in stock-based compensation expense, $7.7 million in depreciation and amortization expense, and $2.8 million in asset impairment charges, partially offset by a $2.3 million gain from a change in the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability.
Investing Activities
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, cash used in investing activities totaled $42.5 million and $13.3 million, respectively.
Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 consisted of $30.4 million for the purchase of property and equipment, primarily related to the energy storage systems being constructed in Snyder, Texas and Calistoga, California, $6.1 million for the purchase of property and equipment that the Company expects to resell, and $6.0 million for the purchase of equity securities in KORE.
Cash used in investing activities for the year endedDecember 31, 2022 consisted of $9.0 million for the purchase of equity securities in KORE,$2.3 million for the purchase of property and equipment, and $2.0 million for the purchase of a convertible note.
Financing Activities
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, cash (used in) provided by financing activities totaled $(5.5) million and $217.8 million, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in financing activities was primarily attributable to $6.0 million in tax payments related to the net settlement of equity awards, and $0.9 million in repayments for insurance premium financings. These cash outflows were partially offset by $1.3 million in proceeds from insurance premium financings.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by financing activities was primarily attributable to $235.9 million in proceeds from the reverse recapitalization and PIPE financing, net, and $7.9 million in proceeds from the exercise of warrants. Partially offsetting these cash inflows was $20.7 million transaction cost payments related to the reverse recapitalization and $5.5 million in tax payments related to the net settlement of equity awards.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To complement our consolidated statements of operations, we use non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted S&M expenses, adjusted R&D expenses, adjusted G&A expenses, and adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures complement our GAAP amounts and such measures are useful to securities analysts and investors to evaluate our ongoing results of operations when considered alongside our GAAP measures. The presentation of these non-GAAP measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net loss as an indicator of our performance.
The following table provides a reconciliation from GAAP S&M expenses to non-GAAP adjusted S&M expenses (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
S&M expenses (GAAP)$18,210 $12,582 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense7,143 5,111 
Reorganization expenses84 — 
Adjusted S&M expenses (non-GAAP)$10,983 $7,471 
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The following table provides a reconciliation from GAAP R&D expenses to non-GAAP adjusted R&D expenses (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
R&D expenses (GAAP)$37,104 $42,605 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense10,057 14,775 
Reorganization expenses182 — 
Adjusted R&D expenses (non-GAAP)$26,865 $27,830 
The following table provides a reconciliation from GAAP G&A expenses to non-GAAP adjusted G&A expenses (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
G&A expenses (GAAP)$68,060 $56,622 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense25,897 21,172 
Reorganization expenses318 — 
Adjusted G&A expenses (non-GAAP)$41,845 $35,450 
The following table provides a reconciliation from GAAP net loss to non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, with net loss being the most directly comparable GAAP measure (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Net loss (GAAP)$(98,443)$(78,299)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Interest income, net(8,117)(3,693)
Income tax expense(349)427 
Depreciation and amortization893 7,743 
Stock-based compensation expense43,097 41,058 
Reorganization expenses584 — 
Change in fair value of warrant liability— (2,330)
Transaction costs— 20,586 
Asset impairment— 2,828 
Foreign exchange losses222 316 
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)$(62,113)$(11,364)
We present adjusted EBITDA, which is net loss excluding adjustments that are outlined in the quantitative reconciliation provided above, as a supplemental measure of our performance and because we believe this measure is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. The items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are excluded in order to better reflect our continuing operations.
In evaluating adjusted EBITDA, one should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments noted above. Our presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these types of adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net loss, operating loss, or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity.
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Our adjusted EBITDA measure has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
it does not reflect our cash expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
it does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
it does not reflect stock-based compensation, which is an ongoing expense;
although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and our adjusted EBITDA measure does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
it is not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows;
it does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations;
it does not reflect limitations on or costs related to transferring earnings from our subsidiaries to us; and
other companies in our industry may calculate this measure differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as a measure of cash that will be available to use to meet our obligations. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP. In preparing our financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments, and estimates based on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
We believe that the following accounting policies involve a high degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. For more information on our significant accounting policies, refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Revenue
Build and Transfer Energy Storage Projects: The Company enters into contracts with utility companies and independent power producers to build energy storage projects. The Company determines the transaction price based on the consideration expected to be received, which includes estimates of liquidated damages or other variable consideration. Generally, each contract to design and construct an energy storage project contains one performance obligation. Multiple contracts entered into with the same customer and near the same time to construct energy storage projects are combined in accordance with ASC 606. In these situations, the contract prices are aggregated and then allocated to each energy storage project based upon their relative stand-alone selling price.
The Company recognizes revenue over time on these projects as a result of the continuous transfer of control of its products to the customer. The Company utilizes the percentage of completion method based on costs incurred as a percentage of total estimated contract costs to determine the amount of revenue to recognize. Contract costs include all direct materials and labor costs related to contract performance. Since the revenue recognition of these contracts depends on estimates, which are assessed continually during the term of the contract, recognized revenues and profits are subject to revisions as the contract progresses to completion. The cumulative effects of revisions of estimated total contract costs and revenues, together with any contract reserves which may be deemed appropriate, are recorded in the period in which the facts and changes in circumstances become known. Due to uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, it is reasonably possible that these estimates will be revised in a different period.
The Company’s contracts generally provide customers with a right to liquidated damages (“LDs”) against Energy Vault in the event specified milestones are not met on time, or certain performance metrics are not met upon or after the substantial completion date. LDs are accounted for as variable consideration, and the contract price is reduced by the expected penalty
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or LD amount when recognizing revenue. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is improbable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Estimating variable consideration requires certain estimates and assumptions, including whether and by how much a project will be delayed and how a project will perform during the performance guarantee period. The existence and measurement of liquidated damages may also be impacted by the Company’s judgment about the probability of favorable outcomes of customer disputes involving whether certain events qualify as force majeure or the reason for the events that caused project delays. Variable consideration for LDs is estimated using the expected value of the consideration to be received.
Licensing of Intellectual Property:The Company enters into licensing agreements of its intellectual property that are within the scope of ASC 606. The terms of such licensing agreements include the license of functional intellectual property, given the functionality of the intellectual property is not expected to change substantially as a result of the licensor’s ongoing activities. The transaction price allocated to the licensing of intellectual property is recognized as revenue at a point in time when the licensed intellectual property is made available for the customer’s use and benefit.
One of the Company’s agreement with a customer includes variable consideration of $25.0 million, which represents a refundable contribution the Company made to the customer during the construction period for their first GESS. The refundable contribution will be returned to Energy Vault upon the customer’s first GESS reaching substantial completion, subject to adjustment for potential liquidated damages if certain performance metrics are not met. The Company has determined that it is probable that the entire $25.0 million will be collected from the customer, and therefore has included that amount in the contract’s transaction price.
Certain licensing agreements contain a significant financing component due to the customer having extended payment terms. The licensing agreements that contain a significant financing component require the Company to recognize revenue as the present value of the future customer payments. The Company determines the present value of the future customer payments using a discounted cash flow analysis and a discount rate that approximates the interest rate the Company would use in a separate financing transaction with the customer. The discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analysis is highly subjective as it is dependent on the Company’s assessment of the customer’s credit risk.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s stock-based compensation arrangements are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Share Based Payments.” Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period (usually the vesting period) on a straight-line basis and adjusted for actual forfeitures of unvested awards as they occur.
Accounting for stock-based compensation requires us to make a number of judgments, estimates, and assumptions. If any of the estimates prove to be inaccurate, Energy Vault’s net loss and operating results could be affected adversely.
Stock-based compensation for stock options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes model considers volatility in the price of the Company’s stock, the risk-free interest rate, the estimated life of the equity-based award, the closing price of the Company’s stock on the grant date, and the exercise price.
Stock-based compensation for RSUs that vest based solely on a service condition is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant.
Stock-based compensation for RSUs that vest based on market conditions is estimated on the date of the grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Monte Carlo simulation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected term of the award, the expected volatility of the Company’s common stock, risk-free interest rates, and the expected dividend yield of the Company.
Emerging Growth Company Accounting Election
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and have irrevocably elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period for new or revised standard. We are expected to remain an emerging growth company through the end of 2026 and expect to continue to take advantage of the benefits of the extended transition period. This may make it difficult or impossible to compare our financial results with the financial results of another public company that is either not an emerging growth company or is an emerging growth company that has chosen not to take advantage of the extended transition period exemptions for emerging growth companies because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently issued and adopted/unadopted accounting pronouncements are described in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position because of adverse changes in financial market prices and rates.
Foreign Currency Risk
The majority of our contracts with customers are denominated in U.S. dollars, and certain of our definitive agreements could be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, including the Euro, the Swiss franc, the Australian dollar, the South African rand, the Brazilian real, and the Saudi riyal. A strengthening of the U.S. dollar could increase the cost of our solutions to our international customers, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
In addition, a portion of our operating expenses are incurred outside the United States and are denominated in foreign currencies, such as the euro and the Swiss franc, and are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. If we increase our exposure to foreign currencies and are not able to successfully hedge against the risks associated with currency fluctuations, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Inflation Risk
Our operations could be adversely impacted by inflation, primarily from higher material, labor, and construction costs. While it is difficult to measure the impact of inflation for such estimates accurately, we believe, if our costs are affected due to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset higher costs through price increases or other corrective measures, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty may default on its contractual obligations resulting in a loss to us. Our customers include the counterparties for the sale of our energy storage products and solutions and the licensees of our intellectual property. A loss of one or more of our significant customers, their inability to perform under their contracts, or their default in payment could harm our business and negatively impact revenue, results of operations, and cash flows. Credit policies have been approved and implemented to assess our existing and potential customers with the objective of mitigating credit losses. These policies establish guidelines, controls, and credit limits to manage credit risk within approved tolerances by mandating an appropriate evaluation of the financial condition of existing and potential customers, monitoring agency credit ratings, and by implementing credit practices that limit exposure according to the risk profiles of the counterparties. In addition, customers are required to make milestone payments based on their project’s progress. We may also, at times, require letters of credit, parent guarantees, or cash collateral when deemed necessary.
Our overall exposure may be affected positively or negatively by macroeconomic or regulatory changes that may impact our counterparties. Currently, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect in our financial position or results of operations from non-performance of a customer. We continuously monitor the creditworthiness of all our customers.
Commodity Price Risk
We are subject to risk from fluctuating market prices of certain commodity raw materials, including cement, steel, aluminum, and lithium, that are used in the components that we purchase from our securitiessuppliers and then as inputs to our products. Prices of these raw materials may be affected by supply restrictions or other logistic costs market factors from time to time. As we are not the direct buyer of these raw materials, we do not enter into hedging arrangements to mitigate commodity risk. Significant price changes for these raw materials could reduce our operating margins if suppliers increase component prices and we are unable to recover such increases from our customers and could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index of Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Shareholders and Board of Directors
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc.
Westlake Village, California

Opinion on the consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. 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 audits 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 consolidated 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 audits 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 audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ BDO USA, P.C.

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020.

BDO USA, P.C.
Melville, New York
March 12, 2024
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except par value)

December 31,
20232022
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$109,923 $203,037 
Restricted cash35,632 83,145 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $69 and $— as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.27,189 37,460 
Contract assets, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,113 and $— as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.84,873 28,978 
Inventory415 4,378 
Customer financing receivable, current portion, net of allowance for credit losses of $375 and $— as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.2,625 1,500 
Advances to suppliers8,294 24,327 
Assets held for sale6,111 — 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets4,520 7,242 
Total current assets279,582 390,067 
Property and equipment, net31,043 3,044 
Intangible assets1,786 — 
Operating lease right-of-use assets1,700 1,442 
Customer financing receivable, long-term portion, net of allowance for credit losses of $957 and $— as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.6,698 8,260 
Investments17,295 11,080 
Other assets2,649 2,820 
Total Assets$340,753 $416,713 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable$21,165 $60,315 
Accrued expenses85,042 14,749 
Contract liabilities, current portion4,923 49,434 
Lease liabilities, current portion724 825 
Total current liabilities111,854 125,323 
Deferred pension obligation1,491 890 
Contract liabilities, long-term portion1,500 1,500 
Other long-term liabilities2,115 1,287 
Total liabilities116,960 129,000 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)
Stockholders’ Equity
   Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized, none issued— — 
   Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, 146,577 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 138,530 at December 31, 202215 14 
Additional paid-in capital473,271 435,852 
Accumulated deficit(248,072)(147,265)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(1,421)(888)
Total stockholders’ equity223,793 287,713 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity$340,753 $416,713 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Revenue$341,543 $145,877 
Cost of revenue324,012 86,580 
Gross profit17,531 59,297 
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing18,210 12,582 
Research and development37,104 42,605 
General and administrative68,060 56,622 
Depreciation and amortization893 7,743 
Asset impairment— 2,828 
Loss from operations(106,736)(63,083)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense(35)(2)
Interest income8,152 3,695 
Change in fair value of warrant liability— 2,330 
Transaction costs— (20,586)
Other expense, net(173)(226)
Loss before income taxes(98,792)(77,872)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes(349)427 
Net loss$(98,443)$(78,299)
Net loss per share — basic and diluted$(0.69)$(0.64)
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic and diluted142,851 123,241 
Other comprehensive loss — net of tax
Actuarial loss on pension$(519)$(188)
Foreign currency translation loss(14)(287)
Total other comprehensive loss(533)(475)
Total comprehensive loss$(98,976)$(78,774)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
63

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(In thousands)

Convertible Preferred StockCommon StockAdditional Paid-In CapitalAccumulated DeficitAccumulated Other Comprehensive LossTotal Stockholders’ Equity ( Deficit)
SharesAmountSharesAmount
Balance at December 31, 202185,741 $182,709 20,432 $ $713 $(68,966)$(413)$(68,666)
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock in connection with reverse recapitalization(85,741)(182,709)85,741 182,700 — 182,709 
Issuance of common stock upon the reverse recapitalization, net of transaction costs— — 27,553 191,856 — 191,859 
Exercise of stock options— — 196 170 — 171 
Exercise of warrants— — 2,873 — 25,360 — — 25,360 
Stock based compensation— — — — 41,058 — 41,058 
Vesting of RSUs, net of shares withheld for payroll taxes— — 1,735 (6,005)— — (6,004)
Net loss— — — — — (78,299)(78,299)
Actuarial loss on pension— — — — — — (188)(188)
Foreign currency translation loss— — — — — — (287)(287)
Balance at December 31, 2022 $ 138,530 $14 $435,852 $(147,265)$(888)$287,713 
Adoption of ASU 2016-13— — — — — (2,364)— (2,364)
Exercise of stock options— — 278 — 224 — — 224 
Stock based compensation— — — — 43,097 — — 43,097 
Vesting of RSUs, net of shares withheld for payroll taxes— — 7,769 (5,902)— — (5,901)
Net loss— — — — — (98,443)— (98,443)
Actuarial loss on pension— — — — — — (519)(519)
Foreign currency translation loss— — — — — — (14)(14)
Balance at December 31, 2023 $ 146,577 $15 $473,271 $(248,072)$(1,421)$223,793 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
64

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net loss$(98,443)$(78,299)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense893 7,743 
Non-cash interest income(1,410)(365)
Stock based compensation expense43,097 41,058 
Asset impairment— 2,828 
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liability— (2,330)
Provision for credit losses150 — 
Foreign exchange gains and losses222 316 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable10,202 (37,460)
Contract assets(57,008)(28,978)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets2,851 (5,286)
Advances to suppliers22,797 (24,327)
Inventory3,963 (4,378)
Customer financing receivable— (9,725)
Other assets(496)(1,052)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses25,508 67,861 
Contract liabilities(44,537)49,434 
Other long-term liabilities(444)(386)
Net cash used in operating activities(92,655)(23,346)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Purchase of property and equipment(30,431)(2,319)
Purchase of property and equipment held for sale(6,111)— 
Purchase of convertible notes— (2,000)
Purchase of equity securities(6,000)(9,000)
Net cash used in investing activities(42,542)(13,319)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock options224 171 
Proceeds from insurance premium financing1,250 — 
Proceeds from reverse recapitalization and PIPE financing, net— 235,940 
Proceeds from exercise of warrants— 7,855 
Payment of transaction costs related to reverse recapitalization— (20,651)
Payment of taxes related to net settlement of equity awards(6,017)(5,482)
Repayment of insurance premium financings(892)— 
Payment of finance lease obligations(47)(62)
Net cash provided by financing activities(5,482)217,771 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash52 (49)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash(140,627)181,057 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  –  beginning of the period286,182 105,125 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash –  end of the period145,555 286,182 
Less: restricted cash at end of period35,632 83,145 
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period$109,923 $203,037 
ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Income taxes paid46 
Cash paid for interest35 
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information:
Conversion of redeemable preferred stock into common stock in connection with the reverse recapitalization— 182,709 
Warrants assumed as part of reverse recapitalization— 19,838 
Actuarial loss on pension(519)(188)
Property, plant and equipment financed through accounts payable5,051 — 
Assets acquired on finance lease108 37 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
65

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc., which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as “Energy Vault” or the “Company”, develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to aid in the global transition to a clean energy future. The Company’s mission is to provide energy storage solutions to accelerate the global transition to renewable energy.
The Company primarily relies on two models for project delivery, which are (i) EPC delivery and (ii) EEQ delivery. Under the EPC model, we generally rely on third-party EPC firms to construct our storage systems, under our supervision with dedicated teams tasked with project management. Under the EEQ model, we are responsible for the delivery and installation of the equipment we provide, as well as resolving issues within our scope of supply.
Our current business model options include:
Building, operating, and transferring energy storage projects to potential customers,
Building, operating, and holding energy storage systems as equity (co-) sponsor that may provide recurring revenue in the future,
Recurring software revenue through licensing software for asset management and use case applications,
Recurring service revenue through long term service agreements, and
Intellectual property licenses and royalties associated with our energy storage technologies that may provide recurring revenues in the future.
Energy Vault was originally incorporated under the name Novus Capital Corporation II as a special purpose acquisition company in the state of Delaware in September 2020 with the purpose of effecting a merger with one or more volatile.

Further, operating businesses. On September 8, 2021, Novus announced that it had entered into the Merger Agreement with Legacy Energy Vault that would result in the Merger. Upon the closing of the Merger on February 11, 2022 (the “Closing”), Novus was immediately renamed to “Energy Vault Holdings, Inc.” The Merger between Novus and Legacy Energy Vault was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization. See Note 3 - Reverse Capitalization for more information. Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Throughout the notes to the consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise noted, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” and similar terms refer to Legacy Energy Vault and its subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Merger, and Energy Vault and its subsidiaries after the consummation of the Merger.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis of accounting in accordance with GAAP and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC regarding financial reporting.
Principles of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Emerging Growth Company
Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBSJumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (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. We have 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, we, 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 our 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.

Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 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 common stock 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 common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.

Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021. 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 comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls.

The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

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Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include staggered board of directors, the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, and the fact that prior to the completion of our initial business combination only holders of our shares of Class B common stock, which are held by our initial stockholders, are entitled to vote on the election of directors, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers or other employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim for aiding and abetting any such alleged breach, (3) action asserting a claim against our company or any director or officer of our company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or (4) action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine except for, as to each of (1) through (4) above, any claim (a) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (b) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery or (c) arising under the federal securities laws, including the Securities Act, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall concurrently be the sole and exclusive forums. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “foreign action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such enforcement action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such stockholder.

This forum selection clause may discourage claims or limit stockholders’ ability to submit claims in a judicial forum that they find favorable and may result in additional costs for a stockholder seeking to bring a claim. While we believe the risk of a court declining to enforce this forum selection clause is low, if a court were to determine the forum selection clause to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs in conjunction with our efforts to resolve the dispute in an alternative jurisdiction, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

46

Item 2. Properties.

We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260 which is provided to us by Robert J. Laikin, our Chief Executive Officer, for no fee. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings, nor, to our knowledge, is any material legal proceeding threatened against us or any of our officers or directors in their corporate capacity.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

PART II

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

Market Information.

Our units, Class A common stock and warrants are traded on New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbols “NXU.U”, “NXU” and “NXU WS,” respectively.

Holders

At December 31, 2020, there were 14 holders of our Class B Common Stock. No units, Class A common stock or warrants were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020.

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock 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.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

None.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Offerings

In October 2020, we issued an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock to our founders for an aggregate purchase price of  $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, in connection with the Company’s organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

Simultaneous with the consummation of the IPO on February 8, 2021, our founders consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 5,166,666 warrants at a price of $1.50 per private warrant. Each private warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The issuance was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

47

The private warrants are identical to the warrants underlying the units sold in the IPO, except that the private warrants are not transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of a business combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.

Of the gross proceeds received from the IPO and the private warrants, $287,500,000 was placed in the trust account.

We paid a total of $6,224,714, consisting of $5,750,000 of underwriting fees, and $474,714 of other offering costs. In addition, cash of $1,415,310 was held outside of the trust account and is available for the payment of offering costs and for working capital purposes.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Not required for a smaller reporting company.

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

References to the “Company,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Novus Capital Corporation II. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

We are a blank check company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 29, 2020, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. We intend to effectuate our business combination using cash from the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private warrants, 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, 2020 were organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for our IPO, described below. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held after our IPO. 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, a business combination.

For the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, we had a net loss of $1,104, which consisted of formation and operating expenses.

48

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2020, we had cash of $172,854. Until the consummation of our IPO, our only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of common stock by our initial stockholders and loans from our initial stockholders.

On February 8, 2021, we consummated our IPO of 28,750,000 Units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, which included the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,750,000 units, generating gross proceeds of $287,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of our IPO, we consummated the sale of 5,166,666 private warrants to the Company’s initial stockholders, including Cowen Investments (an affiliate of the underwriter in our IPO) at a price of $1.50 per private warrant generating gross proceeds of $7,750,000.

Following our IPO, the full exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of the private warrants, a total of $287,500,000 was placed in the trust account. We incurred $6,224,714 in transaction costs, including $5,750,000 of underwriting fees and $474,714 of other offering costs.

We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (less income taxes payable), to complete our business combination. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.

We intend to use the funds held outside the trust account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination.

In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, our founders or affiliates of our founders or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that a 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 $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.50 per warrant, at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private warrants.

We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, 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 additional 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.

Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2020. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.

49

Contractual Obligations

We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than described below.

The underwriters are entitled to a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $5,750,000 which was paid upon the closing of our IPO.

We engaged the underwriters as an advisor in connection with a business combination to assist the Company in holding meetings with its stockholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce the Company to potential investors that are interested in purchasing the Company’s securities in connection with a business combination, provide financial advisory services to assist the Company in the Company’s efforts to obtain any stockholder approval for the business combination and assist the Company with its 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 a business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of our IPO.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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. We have not identified any critical accounting policies.

Recent Accounting Standards

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.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

This information appears following Item 15 of this Report and is included 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 are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this annual report, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our current chief executive officer and chief financial officer (our “Certifying Officers”), the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2020, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Certifying Officers concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

50

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 Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

This annual report on Form 10-K does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for newly public companies.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:

NameAgeTitle
Robert J. Laikin57Chief Executive Officer and Director
Larry M. Paulson66Chairman
Hersch Klaff67Director
Vincent Donargo60Chief Financial Officer
Jeffrey Foster43Director
Heather Goodman47Director
Ronald J. Sznaider61Director

Robert J. Laikin has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since our inception. Mr. Laikin cofounded and served as Chairman of Novus Capital Corporation [NASDAQ: NOVSU; NOVS; NOVSW] since its inception in March 2020 until its business combination with AppHarvest, Inc. in January 2021 and is currently a director at AppHarvest, Inc. [NASDAQ: APPH; APPHW]. Mr. Laikin has served as a managing member of Novus Capital Associates, LLC, one of our initial stockholders, since its formation in October 2020. Mr. Laikin currently serves as the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Washington Prime Group Inc. (NYSE:WPG), where he has held a director role since May 2014. Mr. Laikin held the Lead Independent Director role at Washington Prime Group Inc. until the position was eliminated by the Board in 2016 and he at that time became Chairman of the Board. Mr. Laikin has also been the managing member of L7 Investments LLC, a closely held company that invests primarily in multi-family apartments as well as single purpose buildings, hotels, divestitures and single-family homes, since January 2015. Mr. Laikin served as Executive Advisor to the CEO and Government Relations Executive of Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM), a wholesale technology distributor and supply chain management and mobile device lifecycle services company, from November 2012 to December 2019. Previously Mr. Laikin served as the founder, Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Brightpoint, Inc. (Nasdaq:CELL) from August 1989 until it was acquired by Ingram Micro Inc. in November 2012. Mr. Laikin holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University. We believe Mr. Laikin is well qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his significant experience in the areas of executive leadership, corporate management, retail, real estate, business strategy and corporate finance, banking, financing, accounting, corporate management, general business and global business operations, accounting, corporate governance, public company compliance, political/governmental matters, audit/compliance, entrepreneurism, real estate development, sales, charitable/philanthropic matters, marketing, risk management/insurance, legal, investor, media and public relations, negotiation and deal structure.

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Larry M. Paulson has served as our non-executive Chairman since our inception. Mr. Paulson co-founded Novus Capital Corporation and has served as its Chief Executive Officer and a director since its inception in March 2020 until its business combination with AppHarvest, Inc. in January 2021. Mr. Paulson has served as a managing member of Novus Capital Associates, LLC since its formation in October 2020. He has also served as principal and founder of Rancho Santa Fe Solutions, a wireless industry consulting company he founded in February 2010. From 2013 to January 2020, Mr. Paulson was with Qualcomm (Nasdaq:QCOM) where he served as Vice President of Product Management (2013-16), Vice President and President India and SAARC (2016-2018) and Vice President Sales NA and Australia (2018-Jan 2020). Prior to Qualcomm, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Brightpoint, Inc., a provider of worldwide distribution and integrated logistics services to the wireless communications industry, from 2011 to 2013. Prior to that he served with Nokia (NYSE:NOK) from 1987 to 2009 where he had numerous roles including global Senior Vice President and General Manager CDMA Product line. Mr. Paulson holds a BA in Communications from Point Park University. We believe Mr. Paulson is well qualified to serve as our Chairman because of his more than thirty years of global senior management positions in the tech industry with expertise in wireless communications.

Hersch Klaff has served as a member of our board of directors since our inception. Mr. Klaff is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Klaff Realty which he formed in 1984. Klaff Realty deploys several entrepreneurial strategies to unlock value for its investors, including its flagship business line of acquiring distressed and under-utilized retail real estate and operating businesses. To date, Klaff Realty (including through partnerships and entities managed by it or its affiliates) has acquired properties and invested in operating entities that control in excess of 200 million square feet with a value in excess of $10 billion. Mr. Klaff is currently on the board of directors of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI), Tienda Inglesa (Uruguay), and Chlorum Solutions (Brazil). Mr. Klaff began his career with the public accounting firm of Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser in Chicago. Mr. Klaff holds a degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. We believe Mr. Klaff is well qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his expertise in the farming industry and retail development, his accounting and investment experience, as well as his extensive knowledge of merger and acquisitions which broadens the scope of our board of directors’ oversight of our financial performance.

Vincent Donargo has served as our Chief Financial Officer since our inception. Mr. Donargo co-founded Novus Capital Corporation and served as its Chief Financial Officer since its inception in March 2020 until its business combination with AppHarvest, Inc. in January 2021. Since August 2020, Mr. Donargo has served as the Chief Accounting Officer for Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP, a leading producer of specialty hydrocarbons and fuels. From December 2019 to August 2020, Mr. Donargo provided financial advisory and consulting services to private clients. From May 2019 to December 2019, Mr. Donargo served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Celadon Group Inc. (OTC:CGIPQ). From November 2017 to April 2019, he was Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Celadon Group Inc., where he was brought in to assist with Celadon Group’s financial restructuring. Celadon Group filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy on December 8, 2019. From August 2016 to November 2017, Mr. Donargo was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Beaulieu Group LLC, a North American carpet and flooring manufacturing company, where he assisted the company with its financial restructuring process. Beaulieu Group LLC filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy on July 16, 2017. Prior to joining Beaulieu Group, Mr. Donargo held senior finance positions at several publicly traded companies, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Brightstar Corporation from April 2014 to August 2016 and Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Brightpoint, Inc. from September 2005 until it was acquired by Ingram Micro Inc. in November 2012. From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Donargo was the strategic business unit controller, director of finance and corporate controller of Aearo Company, a safety products manufacturing company. Prior to that, from 1990 to 1998, Mr. Donargo was employed in various financial positions with National Starch and Chemical Company, a specialty chemical manufacturing company. Mr. Donargo holds a BA in Accounting from Rutgers University.

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Jeffrey Foster has served as a member of our board of directors since our inception. Mr. Foster is an active real estate investor, managing a portfolio of multi-family, commercial and single-family assets. Mr. Foster has been the managing member of New Frontier LLC since its inception in 2012. Mr. Foster was a professional basketball player, playing for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers from 1999 through 2012. Mr. Foster holds a B.A.A.S. from Texas State University. We believe Mr. Foster is well qualified to serve on our board of directors because experience in mergers and acquisitions, investments experience and the healthcare, technology and logistics industries, and his knowledge of the public markets broadens the scope of our board of directors’ oversight of our financial performance.

Heather Goodman has served as a member of our board of directors since our inception. Ms. Goodman has served as a director of Novus Capital Corporation since its inception in March 2020 until its business combination with AppHarvest, Inc. in January 2021. Since March 2007, Ms.  Goodman has served as the Chief Operating Officer and President of True Capital Management, a boutique multi-family office specializing in business management and investment advisory services for athletes, entertainers and high net worth individuals. Previously Ms. Goodman acted as Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney from February 2002 to February 2007. Ms. Goodman holds a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is a Certified Public Accountant and maintains Series 63, 65 and life insurance licenses. We believe Ms. Goodman is well qualified to serve as a director given her experience in building infrastructures which have created scalable platforms to achieve goals.

Ronald J. Sznaider has served as a member of our board of directors since our inception.  Previously Mr. Sznaider has held executive leadership positions in several global technology companies.  In January 2020, Mr. Sznaider founded Sznaider Consulting LLC, a firm which provides expert business advisory services, and has served as its President since its formation.   Mr. Sznaider serves as a member of the board of directors of the TBG AG ownership group overseeing DTN LLC, where he has served as Vice Chairman since December 2018.  Mr. Sznaider held several executive positions with DTN LLC from 1998 serving as its chief executive officer from November 2018 through his retirement in December 2019. Mr. Sznaider is also currently a member of the American Meteorological Society Commission on Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise.   Mr. Sznaider holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We believe Mr. Sznaider is well suited to serve as a Board member because he has significant operational experience in multiple technology business disciplines, considerable M&A experience, and private-public-partnership experience relating to environmental and sustainability topics including active initiatives with the United Nations.

Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors

Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Ms. Goodman and Mr. Sznaider, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Messrs. Paulson and Klaff, will expire at our second annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Messrs. Laikin and Foster, will expire at our third annual meeting of stockholders.

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 bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws will provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers (including without limitation, a President, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and a Treasurer) as our board of directors from time to time may determine.

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Executive Officer and Director Compensation

None of our officers or directors have received any compensation for services rendered to us. Our founders, officers, directors and their respective affiliates will be 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 will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsors, officers, directors or our or any of their respective 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 stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time such materials are distributed, 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 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 consummation of our initial business combination should be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which will be composed solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules, the rules of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of the NYSE require that the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our board of directors and will have the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee is available on our website.

Audit Committee

He have established an audit committee of the board of directors. The members of our audit committee are Heather Goodman, Larry M. Paulson and Ronald J. Sznaider. Ms. Goodman serves as chairwoman of the audit committee.

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

Our audit committee charter details the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors;

the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;

pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;

reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;

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setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors;

setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent auditors describing (1) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;

meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”;

reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and

reviewing with management, the independent auditors, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

Compensation Committee

We have established a compensation committee of the board of directors. The members of our compensation committee are Larry M. Paulson, Heather Goodman and Hersch Klaff. Mr. Paulson serves as chairman of the compensation committee.

Our compensation committee charter details the purpose and responsibilities of the compensation committee, including:

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;

reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to the compensation, and any incentive-compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to board approval of all of our other officers;

reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;

producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

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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 the NYSE and the SEC.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

We have established a nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors. The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Hersh Klaff, Jeffrey Foster and Ronald J. Sznaider. Mr. Klaff serves as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Our nominating and corporate governance committee charter details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:

identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board director candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors;

developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines;

coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and

reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.

The charter also provides that the nominating and corporate governance committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of, and terminate, any search firm to be used to identify director candidates, and will be directly responsible for approving the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.

We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These reporting persons are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of such forms, we believe that since our inception on September 29, 2020 there have been no delinquent filers.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees. You will be able to review this document by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website. In addition, a copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us.

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Conflicts of Interest

Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Mr. Laikin is a director of AppHarvest, Inc. Additionally, our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business, including other blank check companies that may have acquisition objectives that are similar to our company. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.

We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:

None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.

In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. Please see “— Directors and Executive Officers” for a description of our management’s other affiliations.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of our IPO, or February 8, 2023, or during any extension period. However, if our initial stockholders or any of our officers, directors or affiliates acquire public shares after our IPO, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless.

With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our initial stockholders until the earlier of: (1) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (2) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property and (y) if the last reported sale price of our Class 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 after our initial business combination. With certain limited exceptions, the private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our initial stockholders, officers and directors may directly or indirectly own our securities following our IPO, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.

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Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether to proceed with a particular business combination.

Our key personnel may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such key personnel was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.

The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.

In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:

the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;

the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and

it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.

Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors have similar legal obligations and duties relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have, and there will not be any expectancy that any of our directors or officers will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to us. Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may present a conflict of interest:

Name of IndividualEntity NameEntity’s BusinessAffiliation
Robert J.  LaikinAppHarvest, Inc.AggTechDirector
Washington Prime Group Inc.Publicly-traded REITChairman
L7 Investments LLCReal Estate Investment CompanyManaging Member
Vincent DonargoCalumet Specialty Products Partners, LPSpecialty Hydrocarbons and Fuels ProducerChief Accounting Officer
Hersch KlaffAlbertsons Companies, Inc.Food and Drug RetailerDirector
Klaff Realty LPReal Estate/Private EquityChief Executive Officer
Tienda InglesaFood RetailerDirector
Chlorum SolutionsIndustrial/ Chlor-Alkali ProductionDirector
HMK Advisor LLCInvestment AdviserManager
MONS Investments LLCDiversified Investment Holding CompanyInvestment Advisor
Klaff Family FoundationNon-ProfitOfficer
Larry M. PaulsonRancho Santa Fe Solutions LLCWireless Industry Consulting CompanyPrincipal
Jeffrey FosterNew Frontier LLCPrivate Investment FirmManaging Partner
Heather GoodmanTrue Capital ManagementRegistered Investment AdvisorChief Operating Officer, President and Director
Global Fitness Partners LLCFitness CentersDirector
Ronald J. SznaiderSznaider Consulting LLCConsulting FirmPresident
DTN LLCInformation Service ProviderVice Chairman

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Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.

We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsors, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsors, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

In addition, our initial stockholders or any of their affiliates may make additional investments in the company in connection with the initial business combination, although, our initial stockholders and their affiliates have no obligation or current intention to do so. If our initial stockholders or any of their affiliates elects to make additional investments, such proposed investments could influence our initial stockholders’ motivation to complete an initial business combination.

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Further, pursuant to a Business Combination Marketing Agreement, we have engaged Cowen and Company, LLC to provide certain specified services to us in connection with our initial business combination. In particular, Cowen and Company, LLC may assist us in holding meetings with our stockholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business’s attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities in connection with the potential business combination, provide financial advisory services to assist us in our efforts to obtain any stockholder approval for the business combination and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the business combination, but will not provide any M&A-related advisory services pursuant to the Business Combination Marketing Agreement. We will pay Cowen and Company, LLC the Marketing Fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of our IPO, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option. In the ordinary course of business, Cowen and Company, LLC and its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for its own account and the accounts of customers, in debt or equity securities of us, our affiliates or other entities that may be involved in the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, and may provide advisory and other services to one or more actual or potential business combination targets, investors or other parties to any business combination or other transaction entered into by us, for which services Cowen and Company, LLC or one or more of its affiliates may be paid fees, including fees conditioned upon the closing of a particular business combination or other transaction or transactions. This financial interest may result in Cowen and Company, LLC having a conflict of interest when providing the services to us in connection with an initial business combination. See “Underwriting — Business Combination Marketing Agreement.”

In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination, and our officers and directors have also agreed to vote public shares purchased by them (if any) after our IPO in favor of our initial business combination.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the DGCL.

We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will obtain a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

A stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us.

No compensation or fees of any kind will be paid to our initial stockholders, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, they will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.

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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 stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.

We may not take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

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

We have no compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance.

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this annual report.

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants because these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this annual report.

  

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)

  Percentage of
Outstanding
Common
Stock
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)        
Robert J. Laikin(3)(4)  1,911,111   26.6%
Hersch Klaff (5)  1,298,828   18.1%
Larry M. Paulson(3)(4)(6)  2,077,257   28.9%
Vincent Donargo(7)  364,583   5.1%
Jeffrey Foster(8)  966,146   13.4%
Heather Goodman  291,667   4.1%
Ronald J. Sznaider  182,292   2.5%
Novus Capital Associates, LLC(3)  1,111,111   15.5%
NCCII Co-Invest LLC(9)  607,639   8.4%
All directors and executive officers as a group (seven individuals)  5,980,772   83.2%

*Less than one percent.

(1)Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Novus Capital Corporation II, 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260.

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(2)Interests shown consist solely of shares of Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.”

(3)Messrs. Laikin and Paulson are the managing members of Novus Capital Associates, LLC. The shares beneficially owned by Novus Capital Associates, LLC may also be deemed beneficially owned by Messrs. Laikin and Paulson.

(4)Includes 1,111,111 shares of Class B common stock held by Novus Capital Associates, LLC.

(5)Represents shares of Class B common stock held by KNC I LLC and KNC II LLC. Mr. Klaff has voting and dispositive control over the shares held by these entities and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares.

(6)Represents shares held by Larry M Paulson and Gretchen V Paulson Family Trust dated Sept 4, 2019.

(7)Represents shares of Class B common stock held by V Donargo LLC.

(8)Represents shares of Class B common stock held by New Frontier LLC of which Mr. Foster is the manager. Mr. Foster has voting and dispositive control over the shares held by New Frontier LLC and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. He disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares other than to the extent he may have a pecuniary interest therein, directly or indirectly.

(9)The business address of NCCII Co-Invest LLC is 599 Lexington Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

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

Founder Shares

On October 12, 2020, our founders purchased an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock (the “founder shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The founder shares included an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares subject to forfeiture by our founders to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that our founders would collectively own, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the IPO. As a result of the underwriters’ election to fully exercise their over-allotment option, no founder shares are currently subject to forfeiture.

Our founders have agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (1) one year after the completion of a business combination or (B) subsequent to a business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class 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.

Private Warrants

Simultaneously with the IPO, the founders purchased an aggregate of 5,166,666 private warrants at a price of $1.50 per private warrant ($7.75 million in the aggregate) in a private placement. Each private warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Proceeds from the private warrants were added to the net proceeds from the IPO held in the trust account. If we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO, or by February 8, 2023, the proceeds from the sale of the private warrants will be used to fund the redemption of the public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private warrants will expire worthless. The private warrants will be non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our founders or their permitted transferees.

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Registration Rights

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on February 3, 2021, the holders of the founder shares, private warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) will have registration rights to require the Company to register a sale of any of the securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to shares of Class A common stock). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and “piggyback” registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of our IPO. 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.

Promissory Note and Potential Related Party Loans

On October 1, 2020, certain of the Company’s directors agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to our IPO pursuant to promissory notes (the “Promissory Notes”). From October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $160,000 under the Promissory Notes. The Promissory Notes are non-interest bearing and are payable on the earlier of (i) September 30, 2021 and (ii) the consummation of our IPO. The outstanding balance under the Promissory Notes was fully repaid on February 10, 2021.

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a business combination, our founders or certain of the Company’s directors and officers 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 $2,000,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post-business combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the private warrants.

Underwriter’s Agreement

The underwriters were entitled to a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit in connection with the IPO and were paid $5,750,000 upon the closing of our IPO.

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

The Company engaged the underwriters as an advisor in connection with a business combination to assist the Company in holding meetings with its stockholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce the Company to potential investors that are interested in purchasing the Company’s securities in connection with a business combination, provide financial advisory services to assist the Company in the Company’s efforts to obtain any stockholder approval for the business combination and assist the Company with its 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 a business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of our IPO.

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Other Arrangements

No compensation or fees of any kind will be paid to the Novus initial stockholders, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.

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 stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.

All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

Related Party Policy

Our Code of Ethics requires us to to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board of directors) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our Code of Ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company. Our Code of Ethics is available on our website.

In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsors, officers or directors, or our or any of their affiliates.

These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsors, officers or directors unless we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments made by us to our founders, officers or directors or our or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:

64

repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by certain of our directors to cover offering- related and organizational expenses;

reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;

payment to Cowen and Company, LLC of its underwriting discount, Marketing Fee, fees for any financial advisory, placement agency or other similar investment banking services Cowen and Company, LLC may provide to our company in the future, and reimbursement of Cowen and Company, LLC for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in connection with the performance of such services; and

repayment of loans which may be made by our founders, officers and directors and their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender.

Director Independence

The rules of the NYSE require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our IPO. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person that, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). We have four “independent directors” as defined in the NYSE rules. Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Paulson, Mr. Klaff, Mr. Foster, Ms.��Goodman and Mr. Sznaider is an independent director under applicable SEC and NYSE rules. Our independent directors will 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 Marcum LLP, or Marcum, for services rendered.

Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by Marcum in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees billed by Marcum for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, and other required filings with the SEC for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 totaled $57,500. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.

Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related services 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. We did not pay Marcum for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.

Tax Fees. We did not pay Marcum for tax planning and tax advice for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.

All Other Fees. We did not pay Marcum for other services for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.

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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. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

(1)Financial Statements:

Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmF-2
Balance SheetF-3
Statement of OperationsF-4
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ EquityF-5
Statement of Cash FlowsF-6
Notes to Financial StatementsF-7

(2)Financial Statement Schedules:
None.

(c)Exhibits:   The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this annual report on Form 10-K.

   Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit NumberDescription of Document Schedule/Form File Number Exhibits Filing Date
1.1Underwriting Agreement, dated February 3, 2021, between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC, as representative of the underwriters.   Form 8-K 001-39982 1.1 February 8, 2021
          
1.2Business Combination Marketing Agreement, dated February 3, 2021, between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC.   Form 8-K 001-39982 1.2 February 8, 2021
          
3.1Certificate of Incorporation   Form S-1 333-252079 3.1 January 13, 2021
          
3.2Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.   Form 8-K 001-39982 3.1 February 8, 2021
          
3.3Bylaws Form S-1 333-252079 3.1 January 13, 2021
          
4.1Specimen Unit Certificate Form S-1 333-252079 4.1 January 13, 2021
          
4.2Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate Form S-1 333-252079 4.2 January 13, 2021
          
4.3Specimen Warrant Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.4) Form S-1 333-252079 4.3 January 13, 2021

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4.4Warrant Agreement, dated February 3, 2021, between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.   Form 8-K 001-39982 4.1 February 8, 2021
          
4.5Description of Securities        
          
10.1Letter Agreement, dated February 3, 2021, among the Company and the Company’s officers and directors, Novus Capital Associates, LLC, NCCII Co-Invest LLC and certain other initial stockholders.   Form 8-K 001-39982 10.1 February 8, 2021
          
10.2Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated February 3, 2021, between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.   Form 8-K 001-39982 10.2 February 8, 2021
          
10.3Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 3, 2021, among the Company, Novus Capital Associates, LLC, NCCII Co-Invest LLC and certain other security holders.   Form 8-K 001-39982 10.3 February 8, 2021
          
10.4Form of Securities Subscription Agreement, dated October 12, 2020, between the Registrant and purchasers of the founders shares.   Form S-1 333-252079 10.5 January 13, 2021
          
10.5Form of Securities Subscription Agreement, dated October 12, 2020, between the Registrant and Novus Capital Associates, LLC.   Form S-1 333-252079 10.6 January 13, 2021
          
10.6Form of Securities Subscription Agreement, dated October 12, 2020, between the Registrant and NCCII Co-Invest LLC.   Form S-1 333-252079 10.7 January 13, 2021
          
10.7Form of Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Novus Capital Associates, LLC.   Form S-1 333-252079 10.8 January 13, 2021
          
10.8Form of Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and purchasers of private placement warrants   Form S-1 333-252079 10.9 January 13, 2021
          
10.9Form of Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and NCCII Co-Invest LLC   Form S-1 333-252079 10.10 January 13, 2021
          
10.10Form of Indemnity Agreement Form S-1 333-252079 10.11 January 13, 2021
          
14Form of Code of Ethics and Business Conduct   Form S-1 333-252079 14 January 13, 2021

24Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form 10-K).*  
31.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002  
31.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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32.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002  
32.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(101.INS)XBRL Instance Document
(101.SCH)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
(101.CAL)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
(101.DEF)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
(101.LAB)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
(101.PRE)XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

None.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York City, New York, on the 26th day of March, 2021.

Novus Capital Corporation II

By:
/s/ Robert J. Laikin
Name: Robert J. Laikin
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Vincent Donargo and Robert J. Laikin, each acting alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this annual report on Form 10-K (including amendments thereto), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that any such attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this annual report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

NamePositionDate

/s/ Larry M. Paulson

Larry M. Paulson

Chairman of the Board of Directors and DirectorMarch 26, 2021

/s/ Robert J. Laikin

Robert J. Laikin

Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 26, 2021

/s/ Vincent Donargo

Vincent Donargo

Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
March 26, 2021

/s/ Heather Goodman

Heather Goodman

DirectorMarch 26, 2021

/s/ Bradley A. Bostic

Bradley A. Bostic

DirectorMarch 26, 2021

69

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmF-2
Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance SheetF-3
Consolidated Statement of OperationsF-4
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ EquityF-5
Consolidated Statement of Cash FlowsF-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsF-7 to F-14


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Novus Capital Corporation II

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Novus Capital Corporation II (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, 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, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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) (the “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/ Marcum LLP

Marcum LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.

Boston, MA

March 26, 2021

F-2

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

BALANCE SHEET

DECEMBER 31, 2020

ASSETS   
Current asset - cash $172,854 
Deferred offering costs  37,042 
TOTAL ASSETS $209,896 
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
Current liabilities    
Accrued expenses $1,000 
Accrued offering costs  25,000 
Promissory notes — related parties  160,000 
Total Current Liabilities  186,000 
     
Commitments and Contingencies    
     
Stockholders’ Equity    
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares (1) authorized; no shares issued and outstanding   
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares (1) authorized; no shares issued and outstanding   
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares (1) authorized; 7,187,500 shares (2) issued and outstanding  719 
Additional paid-in capital  24,281 
Accumulated deficit  (1,104)
Total Stockholders’ Equity  23,896 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $209,896 

(1)Prior to the approval of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on February 4, 2021, the Company was authorized to issue 70,000,0000 shares, consisting of 60,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock and 1,000,000 preferred stock.
(2)

Included an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock that were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised (see Note 5).

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

F-3

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020

Formation and operating costs $1,104 
Net Loss��$(1,104)
     
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (1)  6,250,000 
     
Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(0.00)

(1)

Excludes an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock that were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised (see Note 5).

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

F-4

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020

  

Class B

Common Stock

  Additional Paid-in  Accumulated  Total Stockholders’ 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit  Equity 
Balance — September 29, 2020 (inception)   $  $  $  $ 
                
Issuance of Class B common stock to Founders (1)  7,187,500   719   24,281      25,000 
                     
Net loss           (1,104)  (1,104)
                     
Balance — December 31, 2020  7,187,500  $719  $24,281  $(1,104) $23,896 

(1)

Included an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock that were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised (see Note 5).

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

F-5

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:   
Net loss $(1,104)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:    
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Accrued expenses  1,000 
Net cash used in operating activities  (104)
     
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:    
Proceeds from issuance of Class B common stock to the Founders  25,000 
Proceeds from promissory notes — related parties  160,000 
Payment of offering costs  (12,042)
Net cash provided by financing activities  172,958 
     
Net Change in Cash  172,854 
Cash – Beginning   
Cash – Ending $172,854 
     
Non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs $25,000 

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

F-6

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Novus Capital Corporation II (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on September 29, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). 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 Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination although it intends to focus on target businesses that are at the forefront of high technology and are enabling the future evolution of smart technologies, 5G communication, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, spatial computing, cloud analytics, machine learning, hardware and software distribution, value added customized logistics services, sustainable smart city systems and sustainable agricultural technology, or AgTech.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from September 29, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”), which is described below. 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 on cash and cash equivalents in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering.

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 3, 2021. On February 8, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 28,750,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), which includes the full exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option in the amount of 3,750,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $287,500,000, which is described in Note 3.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 5,166,666 warrants (each, a “Private Placement Warrant” and, collectively, the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Company’s initial stockholders, including Cowen Investments (an affiliate of one of the underwriters), generating gross proceeds of $7,750,000, which is described in Note 4.

Transaction costs amounted to $6,224,714, consisting of $5,750,000 of underwriting fees, and $474,714 of other offering costs.

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on February 8, 2021, an amount of $287,500,000 ($10.00 per Public Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Public Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the “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 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting certain conditions 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 funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below, except that interest earned on the Trust Account can be released to the Company to pay its tax obligations (“permitted withdrawals”).

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The Company’s Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding taxes payable on interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing a definitive agreement to enter a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination 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 that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.

The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “public stockholders”) 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 stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public stockholders 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 $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.

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NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder 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 stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the initial stockholders and Cowen Investments have agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or don’t vote at all.

The initial stockholders and Cowen Investments have agreed (a) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination, (b) to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within by February 8, 2023 and (c) not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides the public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment. However, if the initial stockholders and Cowen Investments acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

The Company will have until February 8, 2023 to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 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 its tax obligations (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), 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 liquidating distributions, if any), 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 each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware 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 the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, V Donargo LLC, an entity controlled by Vincent Donargo, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party 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 to below (1) $10.00 per Public Share or (2) the actual 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 our taxes. This liability will not apply with respect 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 the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering 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, V Donargo LLC will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that V Donargo LLC will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), 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.

Liquidity and Management's Plan

Prior to the completion of the initial public offering, the Company lacked the liquidity it needed to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statement. The Company has since completed its Initial Public Offering at which time capital in excess of the funds deposited in the Trust Account and/or used to fund offering expenses was released to the Company for general working capital purposes. Accordingly, management has since reevaluated the Company's liquidity and financial condition and determined that sufficient capital exists to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statementsand therefore substantial doubt has been alleviated.

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NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Risks and Uncertainties

Management continues to evaluate 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 the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. 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, 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 stockholder 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.

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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

This may make comparison of the Company’s consolidated financial statementsstatement with another public company whichthat is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company whichthat 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 consolidated financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported amountsin the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company evaluates its assumptions on an ongoing basis. The Company’s management believes that the estimates, judgment, and assumptions used are reasonable based upon information available at the time they are made. Significant estimates made by management include, among others, revenue recognition and stock-based compensation. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making assumptions and estimates, changes in circumstances could result in actual results differing from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Segment Reporting
The Company reports its operating results and financial information in one operating and reportable segment. Our chief operating decision maker, which is our chief executive officer, reviews our operating results on a consolidated basis and uses that consolidated financial information to make operating decisions, assess financial performance, and allocate resources.
Concentration of Credit and Other Risks
Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and customer financings receivable.
Risks associated with cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are mitigated by banking with creditworthy institutions. Such balances with any one institution may, at times, be in excess of federally insured amounts.
As of December 31, 2023, one customer accounted for 92% of accounts receivable and as of December 31, 2022, two customers accounted for 78% and 16% of accounts receivable, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, one customer accounted for 100% of the customer financing receivable.
Revenue from three customers accounted for 64%, 22%, and 13% of total revenue, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023 and revenue from two customers accounted for 57% and 35% of total revenue, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Foreign Currency
Assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expense accounts are translated at the average exchange rates during the periods. The impact of exchange rate fluctuations from translation of assets and liabilities is included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2023, accumulated other comprehensive loss included a $0.3 million loss related to currency translation adjustments. As of December 31, 2022, accumulated other comprehensive loss included a $0.2 million loss related to currency translation adjustments.
Gains and disclosurelosses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in other expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of contingentoperations.
Fair Value Measurements
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

the reporting date. The accounting guidance establishes a three-tiered hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value as follows:
Level I — Inputs which include quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities atliabilities.
Level II — Inputs other than Level I that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the datefull term of the financial statementsassets or liabilities.
Level III — Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when, or as, control of promised goods and services is transferred to customers, and the reported amountsamount of expenses duringrevenue recognized reflects the reporting period.

Making estimatesconsideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for the goods and services transferred. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps:

(1)Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer.
(2)Identification of the performance obligations in the contract.
(3)Determination of the transaction price.
(4)Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
(5)Recognition of revenue when, or as, a performance obligation is satisfied.
Once a contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations. Arrangements that include rights to additional goods or services that are exercisable at a customer’s discretion are generally considered options. The Company assesses if these options provide a material right to the customer and if so, they are considered performance obligations. The identification of material rights requires judgments related to the determination of the value of the underlying good or service relative to the option exercise price.
The Company assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct for the purposes of identifying performance obligations in the contract. This assessment involves subjective determination and requires management to exercisemake judgments about the individual promised goods or services and whether such are separable from the other aspects of the contractual relationship. Promised goods and services are considered to be distinct provided that: (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with the other resources that are readily available to the customer (that is, the good or service is capable of being distinct) and (ii) the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract (that is, the promise to transfer the good or service is distinct within the context of the contract). The Company also considers the intended benefit of the contract in assessing whether a promised good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. If a promised good or service is not distinct, an entity is required to combine that good or service with other promised goods or services until it identifies a bundle of goods or services that is distinct.
The transaction price is determined and allocated to the identified performance obligations in proportion to their stand-alone selling prices (“SSP”) on a relative SSP basis. SSP is determined at contract inception and is not updated to reflect changes between contract inception and when the performance obligations are satisfied. Determining the SSP for performance obligations requires significant judgment. ItIn developing the SSP for a performance obligation, the Company considers applicable market conditions and relevant entity-specific factors, including factors that were contemplated in negotiating the agreement with the customer and estimated costs.
In determining the transaction price, the Company adjusts consideration for the effects of the time value of money if the timing of payments provides the Company with a significant benefit of financing. When a contract provides the customer with a significant benefit of financing, the Company recognizes a customer financing receivable and recognizes interest income separate from the revenue recognized on the contracts with customers. The Company does not assess whether a
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

contract has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is such that the period between payment and the transfer of the promised goods or services will be one year or less.
The Company recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied, either at leasta point in time or over time. Over time revenue recognition is based on the use of an output or input method.
Build and Transfer Energy Storage Projects: The Company enters into contracts with utility companies and independent power producers to build and transfer energy storage projects. The Company has entered into contracts to build and transfer battery-based energy storage projects and intends to enter into contracts to build and transfer gravity-based energy storage projects in the future. Each storage project is customized depending on the customer’s energy needs. Customer payments are due upon meeting certain milestones that are consistent with contract-specific phases of a project. The Company determines the transaction price based on the consideration expected to be received, which includes estimates of liquidated damages or other variable consideration. Generally, each contract to design and construct an energy storage project contains one performance obligation. Multiple contracts entered into with the same customer and near the same time to construct energy storage projects are combined in accordance with ASC 606. In these situations, the contract prices are aggregated and then allocated to each energy storage project based upon their relative stand-alone selling price.
The Company recognizes revenue over time as a result of the continuous transfer of control of its products to the customer. The continuous transfer of control to the customer is supported by clauses in the contracts that provide enforceable rights to payment of the transaction price associated with work performed to date for products that do not have an alternative use to the Company and/or the project is built on the customer’s land that is under the customer’s control.
Revenue for these performance obligations is recognized using the percentage of completion method based on cost incurred as a percentage of total estimated contract costs. Contract costs include all direct materials and labor costs related to contract performance. Pre-contract costs with no future benefit are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Since the revenue recognition of these contracts depends on estimates, which are assessed continually during the term of the contract, recognized revenues and profit are subject to revisions as the contract progresses to completion. The cumulative effects of revisions of estimated total contract costs and revenues, together with any contract reserves which may be deemed appropriate, are recorded in the period in which the facts and changes in circumstances become known. Due to uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, it is reasonably possible that these estimates will be revised in a different period. When a loss is forecasted for a contract, the estimatefull amount of the effectanticipated loss is recognized in the period in which it is determined that a loss will incur.
The Company’s contracts generally provide customers the right to liquidated damages (“LDs”) against Energy Vault in the event specified milestones are not met on time, or certain performance metrics are not met upon or after the substantial completion date. LDs are accounted for as variable consideration, and the contract price is reduced by the expected penalty or LD amount when recognizing revenue. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is improbable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Estimating variable consideration requires certain estimates and assumptions, including whether and by how much a condition, situationproject will be delayed. The existence and measurement of liquidated damages may also be impacted by the Company’s judgment about the probability of favorable outcomes of customer disputes involving whether certain events qualify as force majeure or setthe reason for the events that caused project delays. Variable consideration for LDs is estimated using the expected value of circumstancesthe consideration to be received. If Energy Vault has a claim against the customer for an amount not specified in the contract, such claim is recognized as an increase to the contract price when it is legally enforceable, which is usually upon signing a respective change order or equivalent document confirming the claim acceptance by the customer.
The Company offers limited warranties on the Company’s energy storage systems which provide the customer assurance that existedthe energy storage systems will function as the parties intended because it complies with agreed-upon specifications and are free from defects. These assurance-type warranties are not treated as a separate revenue performance obligation and are accounted for as guarantees under GAAP.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Operate Energy Storage Projects:To date, the Company has not recognized any revenue related to providing operation services for its energy storage projects. The method of revenue recognition will be determined once the Company finalizes agreements with its future customers.
Energy Management Software as a Service and Long Term Service Arrangements:During 2023, the Company signed its first agreement to provide energy management software as a service. The customer did not receive legal title or ownership of the software as a result of this arrangement. The customer receives access to the software platform and related support services as part of the contract. We consider these to be a series of distinct services that comprise a single performance obligation because they are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer. We recognize revenue over time using a straight-line recognition method. During 2023, the Company recognized $38 thousand of revenue related to providing energy management software as a service.
To date, the Company has not recognized any revenue related to providing long term service arrangements. This method of revenue recognition will be determined once the Company finalizes agreements with its future customers.
Licensing of Intellectual Property:The Company enters into licensing agreements of its intellectual property that are within the scope of ASC 606. The terms of such licensing agreements include the license of functional intellectual property, given the functionality of the intellectual property is not expected to change substantially as a result of the licensor’s ongoing activities. The transaction price allocated to the licensing of intellectual property is recognized as revenue at a point in time when the licensed intellectual property is made available for the customer’s use and benefit. Certain licensing agreements contain a significant financing component due to the customer having extended payment terms. The amounts due from customers under extended payment terms are included in the line item, customer financing receivable, on the consolidated balance sheets.
Royalty Revenue:In connection with entering into intellectual property licensing agreements, the Company also enters into royalty agreements whereby the customer agrees to pay the Company a percentage of the customer’s future sales revenue that is generated by using the Company’s intellectual property. The Company has not recognized any royalty revenue to date, but will recognize royalty revenue at the date ofpoint in time when 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.

customer’s sales occur.

Cash, and Cash Equivalents,

and Restricted Cash

The Company considers all short-termhighly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2023, the Company maintained investments in money market accounts totaling $98.4 million, including $98.0 million in U.S. government money market funds. At December 31, 2022, the Company maintained money market funds totaling $5.4 million and a cash sweep account invested primarily in U.S. Treasury and other short-term securities totaling $66.5 million.
Restricted cash as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 primarily consisted of cash held by banks as collateral for the Company’s letters of credit.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable represents amounts that have an unconditional right to consideration, have been billed to customers, and do not bear interest. Receivables are carried at the original invoiced amount, less an allowance for any potential uncollectible amounts.
Customer Financing Receivable
Customer financing receivable includes amounts due from a customer related to a licensing agreement under extended payment terms which contains a significant financing component. An interest rate is not stated in this agreement and is imputed using the effective interest method when recognizing interest income. The imputed interest rate on the note is 8.7%. Interest income on the customer financing receivable was $0.9 million and $35 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company evaluates its customer financing receivable on a periodic basis by monitoring the credit quality and financial condition of the guarantor for the customer. The amortized cost basis for the Company’s customer financing receivable was $10.7 million and $9.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company estimates expected uncollectible amounts related to its accounts receivable, customer financing receivable, and contract asset balances as of the end of each reporting period, and presents those financial asset balances net of an allowance for expected credit losses in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company utilizes a probability-of-default (“PD”) and loss-given-default (“LGD”) methodology to calculate the allowance for credit losses for each customer by type of financial asset. Due to the Company’s limited operating history and lack of loss history, the Company derived its PD and LGD rates using historical rates for corporate bonds as published by Moody’s. The Company uses PD and LGD rates that correspond to the customer’s credit rating and period of time in which the financial asset is expected to remain outstanding.
Inventory
Inventory consists of equipment and spare parts, which are used in ongoing battery storage projects for sale. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost being determined by the specific identification method. Costs include the cost of purchase and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. The Company periodically reviews its inventory for potential obsolescence and write down of its inventory, as appropriate, to net realizable value based on its assessment of market conditions.
Assets held for sale
The Company classifies assets to be disposed of as held for sale in the period in which they are available for sale in their present condition and when the sale is probable and expected to be completed within one year. Assets classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Further, the Company does not record depreciation and amortization expense on assets that are classified as held for sale. The Company has classified property, equipment, and intangible assets that were acquired in December 2023 as held for sale as of December 31, 2023 because the Company purchased the assets with the intent and ability to resell them within one year of acquiring the assets.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or sold, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operating expenses in the period realized.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets, primarily comprised of property and equipment, intangible assets, and operating right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future undiscounted net cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If the carrying value of the assets exceeds the sum of the estimated future cash flows, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceed their fair value.
Intangible Assets
The Company’s intangible assets consist of software development costs related to software to be sold or leased externally. These development costs are capitalized upon the establishment of technological feasibility for a product in accordance with ASC 985-20, Software - Costs of Software to be Sold, Leased, or Marketed. Amortization of capitalized software costs will begin at the time that each software product becomes available for general release to customers. As of December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s software products have been placed in service. Once a software application is available for general release and is placed in service, the Company will amortize the capitalized costs on a product basis by the greater of the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the product, or the ratio that current gross revenues for a product bear to the total current and anticipated future gross revenues for that product. The useful life of our external-use software development costs is generally expected to be 5 years.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Investment in Equity Securities
During 2022 and 2023, the Company made a strategic investment and purchased equity securities in KORE, a U.S. manufacturer of battery cells and modules. The Company’s ownership in KORE does not provide the Company with the ability to exercise significant influence. These equity securities do not have a readily determinable fair value and are recorded at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus adjustments related to observable transactions for the same or similar securities, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the cost basis of these securities was equal to their carrying value. The Company did not haverecognize any cash equivalents as ofimpairments or value changes resulting from observable price changes during the years ended December 31, 2020.

Deferred Offering2023 and 2022. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in equity securities is included in the line item, investments, in the consolidated balance sheets.

Leases
The Company determines if a contract contains a lease at its inception based on whether or not the Company has the right to control the asset during the contract period and other facts and circumstances. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
ROU assets are classified as either operating or finance leases. Upon commencement of the lease, a ROU asset and corresponding lease liability are recognized for all operating and finance leases. The Company has elected the short-term lease exemption, which does not require a ROU asset or lease liability to be recognized when the lease term is 12 months or less and does not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company has decided not to elect the policy to not separate lease and non-lease component in arrangements whereby the Company is the lessee.
Upon commencement of the lease, ROU assets are recognized based on the initial measurement of the lease liability and adjusted for any lease payments made before commencement date of the lease, less any lease incentives and including any initial direct costs incurred. Lease liabilities are initially measured at the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term.
The discount rate used to determine the present value is the rate implicit in the lease unless that rate cannot be determined, in which case Company’s incremental borrowing rate is used, which is based on the estimated interest rate for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease at commencement date.
Rights to extend or terminate a lease are included in the lease term when there is reasonable certainty the right will be exercised. Factors used to assess reasonable certainty of rights to extend or terminate a lease include current and forecasted lease improvement plans, anticipated changes in development strategies, historical practice in extending similar contracts and current market conditions.
Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are subsequently measured at the present value of the lease payments not yet paid and discounted at the initial discount rate at commencement of the lease, less any impairments to the ROU asset. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Finance lease ROU assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise a purchase option or ownership of the leased asset transfers at the end of the lease term, otherwise the leased assets are amortized over the lease term. Amortization of finance lease ROU assets is included in depreciation and amortization.
Operating lease ROU assets are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets in the line item, operating lease right-of-use assets, and finance lease ROU assets are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets within the line item, property and equipment, net.
Defined Benefit Pension Obligation
The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary in Switzerland has a defined benefit pension obligation covering retirement and other long-term benefits of the local employees. Accrued pension costs are developed using actuarial principles and assumptions which consider a number of factors, including estimates for the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on assets and mortality. Changes in these estimates would impact the amounts that the Company records in the consolidated financial statements.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Warrants
The Company assumed Public Warrants and Private Warrants upon the Closing. The Company accounts for warrants for shares of the Company’s common stock that are not indexed to its own stock as liabilities at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets. The warrants are subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in-capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a liability at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations.
Earn-Out Shares
In connection with the reverse recapitalization and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, eligible Legacy Energy Vault stockholders immediately prior to the Closing, have the contingent right to receive an aggregate of 9.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock (“Earn-Out Shares”) upon the Company achieving each Earn-Out Triggering Event (defined below) during the period beginning on the 90th day following the Closing and ending on the third anniversary of such date. An “Earn-Out Triggering Event” means the date on which the closing price of the Company’s common stock quoted on the NYSE is greater than or equal to certain specified prices for any 20 trading days within a 30 consecutive day trading period.
The Earn-Out Shares were recognized at fair value upon the Closing of the Merger and classified in shareholders’ equity. Because the Merger was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, the issuance of the Earn-Out Shares was treated as a deemed dividend and since the Company does not have retained earnings, the issuance was recorded within additional-paid-in capital (“APIC”) and has a net nil impact on APIC.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs consist of salaries and other personnel related expenses, engineering expenses, product development costs and facility costs.
Advertising Costs

Deferred offering

Advertising costs consistedare expensed as incurred and are reflected in the line item, sales and marketing, in the consolidated statements of operations. Advertising expenses were $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company issues stock-based compensation awards to employees, directors, and non-employees in the form of stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the award’s fair value on the date of the grant. The Company accounts for forfeitures of stock-based awards when they occur. The fair value of RSUs that vest based on service conditions is measured using the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The fair value of RSUs that vest based on market conditions is measured using a Monte Carlo simulation model on the date of the grant. The fair value of stock options that vest based on service conditions is measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the date of the grant. The Monte Carlo simulation model and the Black-Scholes option pricing model require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the fair value of the Company’s common stock, the expected term of the award, the expected volatility of the Company’s common stock, risk-free interest rates, and the expected dividend yield of the Company’s common stock. This assumption used to determine the fair value of the awards represent management’s best estimates. These estimates involve inherit uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.
The fair value of awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The fair value of the market-based RSUs is recognized over the requisite service period regardless of whether or not the RSUs ultimately vest and convert to common stock.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Transaction Costs
Transaction costs consist of direct legal, accounting, and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that were directlyfees related to the Initial Public Offering. On February 8, 2021, offeringconsummation of the Merger. These costs amountingwere initially capitalized as incurred in prepaid assets and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. Upon the Closing, transaction costs related to $6,224,714the issuance of shares were chargedrecognized in stockholders’ deficit while costs associated with the public and private warrants liabilities were expensed in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company and Novus incurred in aggregate $44.8 million in transaction costs during the year ended December 31, 2022, consisting of underwriting, legal, and other professional fees, of which $24.2 million was recorded to Stockholders’ equityadditional paid-in-capital as a reduction of proceeds and the remaining $20.6 million was expensed immediately upon the completionClosing.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 prescribes the use of the Initial Public Offering (see Note 1). As of December 31, 2020, there were $37,042 ofliability method, whereby deferred offering costs recorded in the accompanying balance sheet.

F-9

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Income Taxes

The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires antax asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilitiesaccount balances are computed fordetermined based on differences between the financial statementreporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates that will resultbe in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in whicheffect when the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowancesreverse.

Deferred income tax balances reflect the effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases and are established, when necessary, to reduce deferredstated at enacted tax assets to the amountrates expected to be realized.

ASC Topic 740 prescribesin effect when taxes are actually paid or recovered. Deferred tax assets are evaluated for future realization and reduced by a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute forvaluation allowance to the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected toextent the Company believes they will not 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, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2020. 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 provision for income taxes was deemed to be immaterial as of December 31, 2020.

realized.

Net Loss Per Common Share

Net

Basic net loss per share of common stock is computedcalculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding duringfor the period, excludingapplicable period. Diluted net loss is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding increased by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding had the potentially dilutive common shares been issued, including any dilutive effect from convertible preferred stock, outstanding stock options, or unvested RSUs, and reduced by the number of shares the Company could have repurchased with the proceeds from the issuance of the potentially dilutive shares. Potentially dilutive instruments are excluded from the per share calculation because the Company is in a net loss position and they would therefore be anti-dilutive.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 amends the impairment model to improve financial reporting by requiring earlier recognition of credit losses on certain financial assets. This standard replaces the previous incurred loss impairment model that recognized losses when a probable threshold was met, with a requirement to recognize lifetime expected credit losses immediately when a financial asset is acquired or purchased. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective method, which required a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit of $2.4 million, driven by the Company’s accounts receivables, contract assets, and customer financing receivable.
NOTE 3. REVERSE RECAPITALIZATION
On February 11, 2022, in connection with the Merger, the Company raised gross proceeds of $235.9 million, including the contribution of $40.9 million of cash, net of redemptions, held in Novus’ trust account from its initial public offering and an aggregate purchase price of $195.0 million from the sale and issuance of common shares in a PIPE at $10.00 per share. The Company and Novus incurred in aggregate approximately $44.8 million in transaction costs, consisting of underwriting, legal, and other professional fees, of which $24.2 million was recorded to additional paid-in-capital as a reduction of proceeds and the remaining $20.6 million was expensed immediately upon the Closing. The aggregate consideration paid to Legacy Energy Vault stockholders in connection with the Merger (excluding any potential Earn-Out Shares), was 106.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 after giving effect to the exchange ratio of 6.7735 (the “Exchange Ratio”). The total net cash proceeds to the Company were $191.1 million.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following transactions were completed as part of the Merger:
All of the issued and outstanding shares of Legacy Energy Vault convertible preferred stock were canceled and converted into a total of 85.7 million shares of Energy Vault common stock;
Each issued and outstanding share of Legacy Energy Vault common stock was canceled and converted into a total of 20.4 million shares of Energy Vault common stock;
Each outstanding vested and unvested Legacy Energy Vault common stock option was converted into options exercisable for shares of Energy Vault common stock with the same terms except for the number of shares exercisable and the exercise price, each of which was adjusted by the Exchange Ratio;
Each outstanding and unvested Legacy Energy Vault restricted stock unit (“RSU”) was converted into RSUs for shares of Energy Vault common stock with the same terms except for the number of shares, each of which was adjusted by the Exchange Ratio; and
Each outstanding vested and unvested Legacy Energy Vault restricted stock award (“RSA”) was converted into RSAs for shares of Energy Vault common stock with the same terms except for the number of shares, each of which was adjusted by the Exchange Ratio.
The Merger was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Novus was treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. The reverse recapitalization accounting treatment was primarily determined based on the shareholders of Legacy Energy Vault having a relative majority of the voting power of Energy Vault and having the ability to nominate the majority of the members of the Energy Vault Board, senior management of Legacy Energy Vault comprise the senior management of Energy Vault, and the operations of Legacy Energy Vault prior to the Merger comprise the ongoing operations of Energy Vault. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of the combined entity upon consummation of the Merger represent a continuation of the financial statements of Legacy Energy Vault with the Merger being treated as the equivalent of Legacy Energy Vault issuing shares for the net assets of Novus, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Novus were recognized at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Merger are presented as those of Legacy Energy Vault and the accumulated deficit of Legacy Energy Vault has been carried forward after Closing.
All periods prior to the Merger have been retroactively adjusted using the Exchange Ratio for the equivalent number of shares outstanding immediately after the Closing to effect the reverse recapitalization.
The number of shares of common stock issued following the consummation of the Merger was as follows (amounts in thousands):
Shares
Legacy Energy Vault stock converted as part of Merger (1)
106,172
Novus public shares (2)
4,079
Novus sponsor shares (3)
3,975
PIPE shares19,500
Total shares of Energy Vault common stock issued as part of the Merger133,726
__________________
(1) Excludes 9.0 million common shares issuable in earn-out arrangements as they are not issuable until 90 days after the Closing and are contingently issuable based upon the Company’s share price meeting certain thresholds.
(2) Excludes 14.7 million warrants issued and outstanding as of the Closing of the Merger which includes 9.6 million public warrants and 5.2 million private warrants held by the Novus Sponsor.
(3) Includes 1.6 million common shares that have transfer restrictions based on the Company’s share price meeting certain thresholds. These 1.6 million common shares are held in escrow and are subject to potential forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 4. REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company recognized revenue for the effectproduct and service categories as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Build and transfer energy storage products (1)
$339,891 $85,636 
Licensing of intellectual property (2)
735 58,483 
Other (3)
917 1,758 
Total revenue$341,543 $145,877 
__________________
(1) Represents revenue recognized over time
(2) Represents revenue recognized at a point-in-time.
(3) For the year ended December 31, 2023, revenue recognized over time was $0.5 million and revenue recognized at a point-in-time was $0.4 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the entire amount was recognized over time.
The following table summarizes the Company’s revenue disaggregated by geographic region, which is determined based on the customer’s location, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
United States$341,066 $85,635 
China477 50,518 
Other— 9,724 
Total revenue$341,543 $145,877 
Remaining Performance Obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent the amount of an aggregateunearned transaction prices under contracts for which work is wholly or partially unperformed. As of 937,500 sharesDecember 31, 2023, the amount of Class B common stockthe Company’s remaining performance obligations was $144.2 million. The Company generally expects to recognize approximately 16.0% of the remaining performance obligations as revenue over the next 12 months and the remainder more than 12 months from December 31, 2023.
Contract Balances
The following table provides information about contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
Refundable contribution$25,000 $25,000 
Unbilled receivables55,241 531 
Retainage5,745 3,447 
Less allowance for credit losses(1,113)— 
Contract assets, net of allowance for credit losses$84,873 $28,978 
Contract liabilities, current portion$4,923 $49,434 
Contract liabilities, long-term portion1,500 1,500 
Total contract liabilities$6,423 $50,934 
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Contract assets consist of a refundable contribution, unbilled receivables, and retainage. Refundable contribution represents the contribution the Company made to a company to be used during the construction of its first GESS, which will be refunded to the Company upon the customer’s first GESS obtaining substantial completion, subject to adjustments for potential liquidated damages if certain performance metrics are not met. Unbilled receivables represent the estimated value of unbilled work for projects with performance obligations recognized over time. Retainage represents a portion of the contract amount that has been billed, but for which the contract allows the customer to retain a portion of the billed amount until final contract settlement. Retainage is not considered to be a significant financing component because the intent is to protect the customer.
Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue. Under certain contracts, the Company may be entitled to invoice the customer and receive payments in advance of performing the related contract work. In those instances, the Company recognizes a liability for advance billings in excess of revenue recognized, which is referred to as deferred revenue. Deferred revenue is not considered to be a significant financing component because it is generally used to meet working capital demands that can be higher in the early stages of a contract. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized revenue of $46.0 million and $— million, respectively, related to amounts that were subject to forfeiture byincluded in deferred revenue as of the Sponsor ifbeginning of their respective years.
NOTE 5. ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
Activity in the over-allotment option is not exercised byallowance for credit losses was as follows for the underwriters (see Note 5). Atyear ended December 31, 2020, the2023 (amounts in thousands):
Accounts ReceivableContract AssetsCustomer Financing ReceivableTotal
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period$— $— $— $— 
Addition due to adoption of ASU 2016-1381 1,063 1,220 2,364 
Provision (benefit) for credit losses(12)50 112 150 
Allowance for credit losses, end of period$69 $1,113 $1,332 $2,514 
The Company did not have any dilutive securitiesan allowance or provision for credit losses as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022.
NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to their relatively short maturities and market interest rates, if applicable.
The Company categorizes assets and liabilities recorded or disclosed at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet based upon the level of judgment associated with inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories are as follows:
Level 1—Inputs which included quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2—Inputs other contractsthan Level 1 that could, potentially,are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be exercisedcorroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or converted into common stockliabilities.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company’s financial assets and then shareliabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets (Liabilities):
Derivative asset —  conversion option (1)
— — 1,025 1,025 
Warrant liability (2)
— — 
__________________
(1) Refer to Note 8 - Investments for further information.
(2) Refer to Note 14 - Warrants for further information.
NOTE 7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In May 2019, the Company received a $1.5 million deposit for a gravity based system from a customer that was owned by one of its primary shareholders; the order remains outstanding as of December 31, 2023. The deposit and order were received before the owner of the customer became one of the Company’s primary shareholders. This deposit is recognized in the earningsline item, contract liabilities, long-term portion, in the consolidated balance sheets.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid contracted engineering, design, and civil tolerance code calculation support fees of $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, to an immediate family member of an executive officer. The Company retains all intellectual property as part of these services.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid GESS construction and testing costs of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, to a local company owned by an immediate family member of an employee.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in primary market research and business development consulting costs to a company owned by an officer of the Company.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid$1.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in marketing and sales costs to a company owned by an immediate family member of an officer of the Company.
In May 2023, the Company signed a technology license option agreement with a company affiliated with a member of Energy Vault’s Board. The agreement permits the customer to exercise options to enter into licensing agreements in certain territories to use the Company’s gravity storage technology for a fee of $0.5 million. The customer exercised its option for one of the territories on June 30, 2023 and paid Energy Vault an additional $0.5 million. The Company recognized $0.7 million in revenue related to the option and licensing arrangements during the year ended December 31, 2023.
NOTE 8. INVESTMENTS
The following table provides a reconciliation of investments to the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
Investment in equity securities$15,000 $9,000 
Convertible note receivable2,295 2,080 
$17,295 $11,080 
Convertible Note Receivable
In October 2021, the Company entered into a convertible promissory note purchase agreement with DG Fuels, LLC (“DG Fuels”) and purchased a promissory note with a principal balance of $1.0 million (“DG Fuels Tranche 1 Note”). In April
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2022, the Company purchased an additional promissory note from DG Fuels with a principal balance of $2.0 million. (“DG Fuels Tranche 2 Note”) (collectively, the “DG Fuels Note”).
The maturity date of the DG Fuels Note is the earlier of (i) 30 days after a demand for payment is made by the Company at any time after the two year anniversary of the date of issuance of the note; (ii) the four year anniversary of the date of issuance of the note; (iii) five days following a Financial Close (“Financial Close” means a project finance style closing by DG Fuels or its subsidiary of debt and equity capital to finance the construction of that certain biofuel facility currently under development by DG Fuels), or (iv) upon an event of default determined at the discretion of the Company. AsThe DG Fuels Note has an annual interest rate of 10.0%.
The Company intends to hold and convert the DG Fuels Note into the equity securities issued by DG Fuels in its next equity financing round that is greater than $20.0 million at a result, diluted loss per share is20% discount to the same as basic loss per share forissuance price. The principal balance and unpaid accrued interest on the period presented.

ConcentrationDG Fuels Note will, at the option of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company, to concentrationsconvert into equity securities upon the closing of credit risk consistsuch next equity financing round.

The discounted conversion rate in the DG Fuels Note is considered a redemption feature that is an embedded derivative, which requires bifurcation and separate accounting at its estimated fair value under ASC 815 – Derivative and Hedging. The embedded derivative upon the purchase of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance CoverageDG Fuels Tranche 1 Note was an asset of $250,000.$0.4 million and the embedded derivative upon the purchase of the DG Fuels Tranche 2 Note was an asset of $0.7 million. The Company had not experienced losses on this account.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Theestimated fair value of the derivative instruments were recognized as a derivative asset on the consolidated balance sheets, with an offsetting discount to the DG Fuels Note. The Company amortizes the discount on the Note into interest income using the effective interest method. The Company recognized interest income of $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from the DG Fuels Note. Interest income on the DG Fuels Note includes income from the amortization of the debt discount of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The derivative financial instrument is recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. At each reporting period, the Company remeasures this derivative financial instrument to its estimated fair value. The change in the estimated fair value is recorded in other expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no change in fair value of the embedded derivative.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending asset balance for the embedded derivative in the DG Fuels Note is as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Balance at beginning of period$1,025 $350 
Additions— 675 
Change in fair value— — 
Balance at end of period$1,025 $1,025 
Investment in Equity Securities
In November 2022, the Company purchased $9.0 million of equity securities in KORE, a U.S. manufacturer of battery cells and modules. In February 2023, the Company purchased an additional $6.0 million of equity securities,increasing the Company’s assetstotal investment in KORE to $15.0 million.
These equity securities do not have a readily determinable fair value and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximatesare recorded at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus adjustments related to observable transactions for the same or similar securities, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the carrying amounts representedvalue of these equity securities was equal to its cost basis.
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 9. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, property and equipment, net consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
Life (years)20232022
Land$226 $— 
Buildings27.5774 — 
Machinery and equipment69,330 657 
Finance lease right-of-use assets 4187 178 
Furniture and IT equipment3 - 71,474 815 
Leasehold improvements4 - 7702 529 
Construction in progress20,095 1,268 
Total property and equipment32,788 3,447 
Less: accumulated depreciation(1,745)(403)
Property and equipment, net$31,043 $3,044 
The increase in property and equipment in 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily attributable to the gravity energy storage customer demonstration unit being constructed in Snyder, Texas (“Snyder CDU”) and the hybrid energy storage system being constructed in Calistoga, California. In December 2023, the Company paid $6.3 million to acquire the land that the Snyder CDU will be located on, and other tangible and intangible assets. The Company intends to sell a portion of the land that will not be used for the Snyder CDU, as well as all of the other tangible and intangible assets that were acquired. The assets that the Company intends to sell are classified as assets held for sale on the consolidated balance sheets.
The following tables shows property and equipment, net by geographical location as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
United States$30,251 $2,196 
Foreign792 848 
Property and equipment, net$31,043 $3,044 
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, depreciation and amortization related to property and equipment was $0.9 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
The Company recognized impairment charges related to property and equipment of $— million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company completed the dismantling of the EV1 CDU. Accordingly, the Company wrote off the carrying value of the demonstration and test equipment and certain components of the brick machines that could only be used for the EV1 CDU. This change in the facts and circumstances resulted in the recognition of accelerated depreciation of $3.8 million and impairment charges of $2.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2022.
NOTE 10. DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION OBLIGATION
The Company has a defined benefit pension plan for its employees in its wholly owned Switzerland subsidiary. The plan is a statutory requirement in accordance with local regulations. The Swiss pension plans are governed by the Swiss Federal Law on Occupational Retirements, Survivors’ and Disability Pension plans. The Company used third party providers to administer these plans. Benefits provided by the pension plan are based on years of service and employees’ remuneration over their employment period. The Company uses December 31 as the year end measurement date for this plan.
The Company’s policy is to fund its pension obligations in conformity with the funding requirements under applicable laws and governmental regulations. The pension plans maintain investment policies that, among other things, establish a
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ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

portfolio asset allocation methodology with percentage allocation bands for individual asset classes. The investment policies provide that investments are reallocated between asset classes as balances exceed or fall below the appropriate allocation bands.
The assumption used for the expected long-term rate of return on plan asset is based on the long-term expected returns for the investment mix of assets currently in the portfolio. Historical return trends for the various asset classes in the class portfolio are combined with current and anticipated future market conditions to estimate the rate of return for each class. These rates are then adjusted for anticipated future inflation to determine estimated nominal rates of return for each class.
The accumulated benefit obligation represents the obligations of a pension plan for past service as of the measurement date, which is the present value of benefits earned to date based on current compensation levels.
Obligations and Funded Status
The following table presents the defined benefit plans’ funded status and amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheet, primarily duesheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$4,045 $2,662 
Service cost262 162 
Interest cost75 
Actuarial (gain) loss313 (149)
Transfers in, net of benefits paid336 866 
Plan participant’s contributions214 137 
Plan amendments60 350 
Foreign currency translation adjustments486 
Benefit obligation at end of year$5,791 $4,045 
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plans assets at beginning of year$3,155 $1,928 
Actual return on plans’ assets74 
Employer contributions221 137 
Benefits paid336 866 
Plan participant’s contributions214 137 
Foreign currency translation adjustments366 13 
Fair value of plans assets at end of year$4,300 $3,155 
Funded Status at End of Year
Fair value of plan assets$4,300 $3,155 
Benefit obligation(5,791)(4,045)
Liability recognized at end of year$(1,491)$(890)
81

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to their short-term nature.

Recent Accounting Standards

ManagementConsolidated Financial Statements


Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
The components of net periodic pension benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Employer service costs$262 $162 
Interest cost75 
Expected return on plan assets(161)(72)
Amortization of net prior service credit29 (13)
Amortization of net loss— 39 
Net periodic benefit cost$205 $125 
Impact on Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
Net prior service cost$(305)$(262)
Net loss(859)(383)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss$(1,164)$(645)
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the Company’s pension plan were as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year$(645)$(457)
Change in net prior service credit (cost)(30)(360)
Change in net gain (loss)(457)189 
Foreign currency translation adjustments(32)(17)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year$(1,164)$(645)
Assumptions
The assumptions used to measure the benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit pension plan were as follows:
20232022
Discount rate1.8 %1.8 %
Expected long-term return on plan assets5.1 %4.7 %
Rate of compensation increase1.5 %1.5 %
Pension increase rate (in payment)— %— %
Investment Strategy
As is customary with Swiss pension plans, the plan assets are invested in a Swiss collective fund (Profond Pension Fund, contract number 208.155) with multiple employers. The Company does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

NOTE 3 — INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Pursuantrights to the Initial Public Offering,individual assets of the plans nor does the Company sold 28,750,000 Units, which includeshave investment authority over the full exerciseassets of the plans. The collective fund maintains a variety of investment positions primarily in equity securities and highly rated debt securities. The valuation of the collective fund assets as a whole is a level 3 measurement; however the individual investments of the fund are generally level 1 (equity

82

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

securities and cash), level 2 (fixed income) and level 3 (real estate and alternative) investments. The Company determines the fair value of the plan assets based on information provided by the underwritercollective fund, through review of the collective fund’s annual financial statements, and the Company further considers whether there are other indicators that the investment balances reported by the fund could be impaired. The Company concluded that no such impairment indicators were present at December 31, 2023.
The Swiss pension plans’ actual asset allocation as compared to the plan administrators’ target asset allocations for fiscal years 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
20232022Target
Equity instruments (Level 1)47.6 %47.3 %50.0 %
Debt instruments (Level 2)9.6 %9.7 %10.0 %
Real estate (Level 3)28.3 %30.0 %30.0 %
Alternative investments (Level 3)8.2 %7.7 %5.0 %
Cash and equivalents (Level 1)6.3 %5.3 %5.0 %
Total100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
Cash Flows
Estimated future benefit payments expected to be paid by the defined benefit pension plan at December 31, 2023 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,Future Benefits
2024$52 
202553 
202653 
202754 
202855 
Thereafter280 
Total$547 
The estimated employer contribution to the defined benefit pension plan in fiscal year 2024 is approximately $0.2 million.
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company sponsors a defined contribution retirement plan for its over-allotment optionUnited States employees and began making matching contributions in January 2023 up to a maximum of 3.5% of compensation. The Company made $0.8 million in matching contributions for the amountyear ended December 31, 2023.
NOTE 11. SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEETS DETAIL
December 31,
(amounts in thousands)20232022
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Prepaid expenses$3,131 $6,609 
Tax refund receivable1,359 454 
Other30 179 
Total$4,520 $7,242 
83

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31,
(amounts in thousands)20232022
Other assets:
Derivative asset —  conversion option$1,025 $1,025 
Other1,624 1,795 
Total$2,649 $2,820 
December 31,
(amounts in thousands)20232022
Accrued expenses:
Accrued purchases$71,932 $— 
Employee costs5,985 8,711 
Professional fees4,522 1,671 
Warranty accrual894 — 
Taxes payable733 4,168 
Accrued project loss591 — 
Insurance premium financing358 — 
Other27 199 
Total$85,042 $14,749 
December 31,
(amounts in thousands)20232022
Lease liabilities, current portion:
Operating leases$697 $787 
Finance leases27 38 
Total$724 $825 
December 31,
(amounts in thousands)20232022
Other long-term liabilities:
Operating leases$1,044 $709 
Asset retirement obligation52 560 
Warranty accrual924 — 
Finance leases93 16 
Warrant liability
Total$2,115 $1,287 
84

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 12. DEBT
In July 2023, the Company entered into a financing agreement related to premiums under certain insurance policies. The Company is obligated to repay the lender an aggregate sum of $1.1 million through nine equal monthly payments, at an annual interest rate of 7.0%. Repayments began on July 15, 2023.
In September 2023, the Company entered into a purchase pricefinancing agreement related to premiums under certain insurance policies. The Company is obligated to repay the lender an aggregate sum of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit will consist$0.2 million through four equal monthly payments, at an annual interest rate of one share7.0%. Repayments began on September 15, 2023.
The carrying value of the Company’s Class A common stockdebt as of December 31, 2023 was $0.4 million and one-thirdis included in the line item, accrued expenses, on the consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 13. LEASES
The Company primarily has operating leases for its corporate offices, field offices, and vehicles. The Company recognizes a ROU asset and lease liability for operating leases based on the net present value of one redeemable warrant (“future minimum lease payments. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable lease term and renewal periods that are considered reasonably certain.
The Company primarily has finance leases for vehicles. The Company recognizes a ROU asset and lease liability for finance leases based on the net present value of future minimum lease payments. Lease expense for the Company’s finance leases is comprised of the amortization of the right of use asset and interest expense recognized based on the effective interest method.
The components of lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Operating lease expense$934 $853 
Finance lease expense
Amortization of finance ROU assets52 47 
Interest on finance lease liabilities
Short-term lease expense481 339 
Variable lease expense56 12 
Capitalized lease costs(204)— 
Sublease income(25)(9)
Total$1,297 $1,244 
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:
December 31,
20232022
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases5.92.4
Finance leases3.92.1
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases10.3 %8.6 %
Finance leases10.4 %4.4 %
85

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows used for operating leases$948 $836 
Operating cash flows used for finance leases
Financing cash flows used for finance leases47 62 
$998 $900 
ROU Assets obtained in Exchange for Lease Liabilities
Operating leases$1,008 $962 
Finance leases108 37 
$1,116 $999 
Future maturities of operating and finance lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
Operating LeasesFinance Leases
2024$843 $41 
2025331 36 
2026244 35 
2027172 30 
2028110 
Thereafter582 — 
Total undiscounted cash flows2,282 144 
Less imputed interest(541)(24)
Present value of lease liabilities$1,741 $120 
NOTE 14. WARRANTS
Upon the Closing of the Merger, the Company assumed 9.6 million Public Warrant”).Warrants and 5.2 million Private Warrants. Each whole Public Warrant will entitlewarrant entitled the holder to purchase one share of Class Athe Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share, (see Note 7).

NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Simultaneously withsubject to adjustments. The warrants became exercisable on March 13, 2022, and at that time were scheduled to expire on February 11, 2027, which represented five years after the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the initial stockholders and Cowen Investments purchased an aggregate of 5,166,666 Private Placement Warrants atClosing.

The Company filed a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant ($7,750,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants were addedRegistration Statement on Form S-1 on March 8, 2022 related to the net 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 from the saleissuance of the Private Placement Warrants will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless.

F-10

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On October 12, 2020, the initial stockholders and Cowen Investments (“Founders”) purchased an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to 937,500approximately 14.8 million shares subject to forfeiture by the initial stockholders to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor will collectively own, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (assuming the Sponsor does not purchase any Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering). As a result of the underwriters’ election to fully exercise their over-allotment option, no Founder Shares are currently subject to forfeiture.

The initial stockholders and Cowen Investments have agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (1) one year after the completion of a Business Combination or (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class 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.

Promissory Notes — Related Parties

On October 1, 2020, certain of the Company’s directors agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to promissory notes (the “Promissory Notes”). The Promissory Notes are non-interest bearing and are payable on the earlier of (i) September 30, 2021 and (ii) the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $160,000 outstanding under the Notes, which is currently due on demand. The outstanding balance under the Promissory Note of $80,000 was subsequently repaid on February 8, 2021, while the remaining $80,000 was repaid on February 10, 2021.

Related Party Loans

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s directors and officers 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 $2,000,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

NOTE 6 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration Rights

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on February 3, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Public and Private Placement Warrants, which was declared effective by the SEC on May 6, 2022.

Public Warrants
During 2022, all Public Warrants were exercised or redeemed by the Company. There were no Public Warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) will have registration rights to require the Company to register a sale of any of the securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to shares of Class A common stock). 2022, respectively.
Private Warrants
The holders of these securitiesPrivate Warrants are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and “piggyback” registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the Initial Public Offering. 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 underwriters are entitled toexercisable on a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $5,750,000 which was paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering.

F-11

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

The Company engaged the underwriters as an advisor in connection with a Business Combination to assist the Company in holding meetings with its stockholders to discuss the potential Business Combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce the Company to potential investors that are interested in purchasing the Company’s securities in connection with a Business Combination, provide financial advisory services to assist the Company in the Company’s efforts to obtain any stockholder approval for the Business Combination and assist the Company with its 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 a Business Combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of Initial Public Offering.

NOTE 7 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock — The Company was authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. At December 31, 2020, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

Class A Common Stock — The Company was authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per value. Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. At December 31, 2020, there were no shares of Class A common stock issued or outstanding.

Class B Common Stock — The Company was authorized to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share. Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. At December 31, 2020, there were 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock issued or outstanding.

Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, except as required by law.

The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stockcashless basis, at the time of a Business Combination, or earlier at thewarrant holders’ option, of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities,and are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in Initial Public Offering and related to the closing of a Business Combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Class B common stock agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of the Initial Public Offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination (net of the number of shares of Class A common stock redeemed in connection with a Business Combination), excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination.

Warrants — Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the consummation of a Business Combination. The Public Warrants will expire five years from the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Public Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available.

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, and within 60 business days following a Business Combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

F-12

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Redemption of Warrants When the Price per share of Class A common stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00 — Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants (except with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

in whole and not in part;
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, or the 30-day redemption period, to each warrant holder; and
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

Redemption of Warrants When the Price per share of Class A common stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00 — Commencing ninety days after the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants (except with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

in whole and not in part;
at a price of $0.10 per warrant provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption and receive that number of shares of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the Class A common stock;
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption;
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and
if, and only if, there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating thereto available throughout the 30-day period after written notice of redemption is given.

The exercise price and number of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described below, the Public Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of Class A common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Public 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 Public Warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their Public Warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company's assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such Public Warrants. Accordingly, the Public Warrants may expire worthless.

In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of a Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in theeach case of any such issuance to the initial stockholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the initial stockholders or their affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of a Business Combination on the date of the completion of a Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company completes a Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

F-13

NOVUS CAPITAL CORPORATION II

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants will and the common shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and will be non-redeemable so long as theythe warrants are still held by the initial purchasersNovus or their permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are no longer held by someone other than the initial purchasersNovus or their permitted transferees, the Private Placementredemption right included in the Public Warrants will attach to the Private Warrants. The Private Warrants are exercisable until February 11, 2027. No Private Warrant

86

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

activity has occurred since the Closing, and there were 5.2 million outstanding Private Warrants as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The following table summarizes the Public and Private Warrants activity for the year ended December 31, 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Public WarrantsPrivate WarrantsTotal Warrants
Warrants assumed upon the Closing of the Merger9,583 5,167 14,750 
Warrants exercised(9,348)— (9,348)
Warrants redeemed(235)— (235)
End of period— 5,167 5,167 
The Public Warrants were classified as Level 1 measurements as they had an adequate trading volume to provide reliable indication of value from the Closing of the Merger through the date all of the Public Warrants were exercised or redeemed. The Private Warrants were classified as Level 2 from the Closing of the Merger until the date all Public Warrants were exercised or redeemed because the Private Warrants had similar terms to the Public Warrants. Upon the ceasing of trading of the Public Warrants, the fair value measurement of the Private Warrants transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 and the Company used a Black Scholes model to determine the fair value of the Private Warrants. The primary significant unobservable input used to evaluate the fair value measurement of the Company’s Private Warrants is the expected volatility. A significant increase in the expected volatility in isolation would result in a significantly higher fair value measurement. The Private Warrants were valued at less than $0.01 per warrant and the Company’s Private Warrant liability was $2 thousand as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The following table provides the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Private Warrants as of December 31, 2023:
Exercise price$11.50 
Expected term (in years)3.12
Expected volatility17.4 %
Risk-free interest rate4.1 %
Expected dividend yield— %
The change in the fair value of the Company’s Private Warrants during the year ended December 31, 2023 was de minimis. The following table presents the changes in the fair value of the Company’s Public and Private Warrants during the year ended December 31, 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Public WarrantsPrivate WarrantsTotal Warrants
Warrant liability assumed upon the Closing of the Merger$12,938 $6,900 $19,838 
Warrants exercised(17,483)— (17,483)
Warrants redeemed(23)— (23)
Change in fair value4,568 (6,898)(2,330)
Warrant liability at end of period$— $$
NOTE 15. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock
On February 11, 2022, in connection with the reverse recapitalization treatment of the Merger, the Company effectively issued 27.6 million new shares of common stock. Additionally as part of the Merger, the Company converted all 3.0 million issued and outstanding common stock and all 12.7 million issued and outstanding convertible preferred stock of Legacy Energy Vault into 106.2 million new shares of common stock using an exchange ratio of 6.7735.
87

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 16. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
2017 Stock Incentive Plan
In 2017, the Company adopted its 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) which provides for the granting of stock options, restricted stock, and RSUs to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. Options granted under the 2017 Plan were either ISOs or Nonqualified Stock Options (“NSOs”). Awards under the 2017 Plan may be redeemablegranted for periods of up to ten years. Under the terms of the 2017 Plan, awards may be granted at an exercise price not less than the estimated fair value of the shares on the date of grant, as determined by the CompanyCompany’s Board. For employees holding more than 10% of the voting rights of all classes of stock, the exercise price of ISOs and exercisable by such holdersNSOs may not be less than 110% of the estimated fair value of the shares on the same basisdate of grant, as determined by the Board. Awards generally vest over one to four years.
2020 Stock Incentive Plan
In 2020, the Company adopted its 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) which superseded the previous 2017 Plan. The 2020 Plan provides for the granting of stock options, restricted stock, and RSUs to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. Options granted under the 2020 Plan may be either ISOs or NSOs. Awards under the 2020 Plan may be granted for periods of up to ten years. Under the terms of the 2020 Plan, awards may be granted at an exercise price not less than the estimated fair value of the shares on the date of grant, as determined by the Company’s Board. For employees holding more than 10% of the voting rights of all classes of stock, the exercise price of ISOs and NSOs may not be less than 110% of the estimated fair value of the shares on the date of grant, as determined by the Board. Awards generally vest over one to four years.
2022 Equity Incentive Plan
In 2022, the Company adopted its 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Incentive Plan”), which superseded the previous 2020 Plan, provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, and RSUs to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants of the Company. Shares of common stock underlying awards that expire or are forfeited or canceled will again be available for issuance under the 2022 Incentive Plan.
The number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 Incentive Plan is approximately 15.5 million, plus up to approximately 8.3 million shares subject to awards granted under the 2017 and 2020 Plans. Additionally, beginning on March 1, 2022 and ending on (and including) March 31, 2031, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under the 2022 Incentive Plan will increase by a number of shares equal to the lesser of (i) 4.0% of the outstanding shares on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or (ii) such lesser number of shares (including zero) that the Company’s Board determines for the purposes of the annual increase for that fiscal year.
2022 Inducement Plan
In 2022, the Company adopted its 2022 Inducement Plan, which provides for the granting of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, and RSUs to individuals who were not previously employees of Energy Vault, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as inducement material to such individuals entering into employment with Energy Vault. Shares of common stock underlying awards that expire or are forfeited or canceled will again be available for issuance
88

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

under the 2022 Inducement Plan. 8.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2022 Inducement Plan.
Stock Option Activity
Stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2023 and was as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
Options Outstanding
Number of
Options
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Balance as of December 31, 20221,093 $0.79 8.10$2,551 
Stock options granted5,170 1.86 
Stock options exercised(278)0.80 512 
Stock options forfeited, canceled, or expired(178)1.84 
Balance as of December 31, 20235,807 1.71 6.373,605 
Options exercisable as of December 31, 2023669 0.70 6.271,087 
Options vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 20235,807 $1.71 6.373,605 
As of December 31, 2023, total unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested awards that are expected to vest was $5.8 million. The weighted-average period over which such stock-based compensation expense will be recognized is approximately 2.31 years.
The aggregate intrinsic values of options outstanding, exercisable, vested and expected to vest were calculated as the Public Warrants.

NOTE 8 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

difference between the exercise price of the options and the closing stock price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE as of December 31, 2023.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The following tables summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair value of stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Expected term (in years)4.5
Expected volatility100.0 %
Risk-free interest rate3.9 %
Expected dividend yield— 
Restricted Stock Units
Stock-based compensation expense for awards with only service conditions are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. Generally, awards granted under the 2022 Plan and 2022 Inducement Plan vest based solely on a service condition. RSUs granted under the 2020 Plan contain both a service-based vesting condition and liquidity event-based vesting condition. The liquidity event-based vesting condition was satisfied upon the closing of the Merger. The service-based vesting period for these awards is generally three or four years, with a cliff vesting period of one year, and continue to vest monthly or quarterly thereafter.
During 2022 and 2023, the Company granted RSUs to its CEO and CFO that vest based on a market-based condition. These RSUs will vest and convert to common stock if the Company’s stock price reaches certain price targets for 20 days in any 30 day trading window. The fair value of the RSUs are recognized as expense over the requisite service period regardless of whether or not the RSUs ultimately vest and convert to common stock. The fair value of these market-based RSUs were measured on their respective grant dates, using a Monte Carlo simulation model based on the following range
89

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

and weighted-average assumptions:
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Expected term (in years)4.04.0 - 6.3
Expected volatility90.0 %90.0 %
Risk-free interest rate3.8 %3.6% - 3.8%
Expected dividend yield— — 
As of December 31, 2023, none of the stock price targets have been achieved for the market-based RSUs.
RSU activity for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
RSUs
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value per Share
Nonvested balance as of December 31, 202223,799 $5.87 
RSUs granted6,173 2.58 
RSUs forfeited(2,196)4.70 
RSUs vested(8,747)6.71 
Nonvested balance as of December 31, 202319,029 4.55 
As of December 31, 2023, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to these RSUs was $71.6 million which is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average vesting period of approximately 2.15 years.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Total stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Sales and marketing$7,143 $5,111 
Research and development10,057 14,775 
General and administrative25,897 21,172 
Total stock-based compensation expense$43,097 $41,058 
NOTE 17. INCOME TAXES
The components of pre-tax loss are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
United States$(82,372)$(52,509)
Switzerland(13,744)(25,363)
United Kingdom(1,478)— 
Australia(1,198)— 
Total loss before tax$(98,792)$(77,872)
90

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


The following table presents the principal reasons for the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate:
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
US federal statutory income tax rate21.0 %21.0 %
State and local income taxes, net of Federal benefit0.7 %2.7 %
Non-deductible expenses(9.3)%(6.5)%
Credits1.3 %0.7 %
Foreign rate differential(0.4)%(0.9)%
Valuation allowance(13.4)%(17.6)%
Other0.5 %— %
Effective income tax rate0.4 %(0.6)%
The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Current
Federal$(367)$388 
State18 39 
Foreign— — 
Total current tax provision (benefit)(349)427 
Deferred
Federal— — 
State— — 
Foreign— — 
Total deferred tax provision— — 
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes$(349)$427 
91

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


The components of the deferred tax asset are as follows (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards$27,782 $12,701 
Stock-based compensation1,817 4,143 
Revenue recognition4,434 1,937 
Accrued expense497 1,324 
Capitalized research and development3,494 3,492 
Credits1,966 374 
Operating lease liabilities223 191 
Other614 289 
Gross deferred tax assets40,827 24,451 
Less: valuation allowance(39,834)(24,043)
Net deferred tax assets993 408 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization(775)(229)
Right of use assets(218)(179)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)$— $— 
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Based upon the analysis of federal and state deferred tax balances, future tax projections and availability of taxable income in the carryback period, the Company recorded a valuation allowance against the federal, state, and international deferred tax assets of $39.8 million.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal net operating losses of $55.2 million, state net operating losses of $38.6 million, and foreign net operating losses of $79.1 million available to offset future taxable income. The federal net operating loss carryforwards do not expire, but are subject to a limitation on their use equal to 80% of the taxable income in the year of use. The state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire, if unutilized, beginning in 2039. The foreign net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire, if unutilized, beginning in 2025.
At December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state research tax credit carryforwards of $2.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The federal research tax credit carryforwards will begin to expire, if unutilized, in 2042. The state research tax credits do not expire.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded $1.4 million, and $1.1 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if any, in the income tax provision. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized no interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
92

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Balance at beginning of year$1,066 $908 
Increase related to prior year tax positions64 31 
Decrease related to prior year tax positions(61)— 
Increase related to current year tax positions330 127 
Balance at end of year$1,399 $1,066 
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was zero, due to the valuation allowance that would otherwise be recorded on the deferred tax asset associated with the recognized position.
The tax years ended December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2023 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board. In addition, the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards are subject to federal and state review for the periods in which those net losses were incurred. The Company is not under audit by any taxing jurisdictions at this time.
Utilization of the net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation based on changes in ownership, as defined by Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) of 1986, as amended. Based on the Company’s Section 382 analysis, the Company has determined that none of the net operating losses will be permanently impaired due to 382 limitations.
The Inflation Reduction Act (‘IRA”) was passed in August 2022, providing significant incentives for businesses to become more energy efficient by extending, increasing, or expanding credits applicable to the production of clean energy and fuels, as well as other provisions. These changes did not have a material impact on the tax provision of the Company.
NOTE 18. NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders are calculated as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Net loss$(98,443)$(78,299)
Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic and diluted142,851 123,241 
Net loss per share – basic and diluted$(0.69)$(0.64)
There were no common share equivalents that were dilutive for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Due to net losses during those periods, basic and diluted net loss per common share were the same, as the effect of potentially dilutive securities would have been anti-dilutive.
93

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


The following outstanding balances of common share equivalent securities have been excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding because the effect is anti-dilutive for the periods presented (amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Private Warrants5,167 5,167 
Stock options5,807 1,093 
RSUs19,029 23,799 
Total30,003 30,059 
9.0 million shares of common stock equivalents subject to the Earn-Out Shares are excluded from the anti-dilutive table above as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, as the underlying shares remain contingently issuable as the Earn-Out Triggering Events have not been satisfied.
NOTE 19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Our principal commitments as of December 31, 2023 consisted primarily of obligations under operating leases, finance leases, warranty obligations, deferred pensions, and issued purchase orders. Our non-cancellable purchase obligations as of December 31, 2023 totaled approximately $4.7 million.
In connection with the Company’s licensing agreements, the Company agreed to make a refundable contribution to the customer in the amount up to $25.0 million during the period in which the customer constructs its first GESS. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has contributed all $25.0 million. The refundable contribution will be returned to the Company upon the customer’s first GESS reaching substantial completion, subject to adjustment for potential liquidated damages if certain performance metrics are not met.
Assurance Warranties:
The Company provides a limited warranty to its BESS customers assuring that the BESSs are free from defects. The Company’s limited warranties are generally for a period of two years after the substantial completion date of a project. These warranties are considered assurance-type warranties which provide a guarantee of quality of the products. For assurance-type warranties, the Company records an estimate of future warranty costs over the period of construction. Warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of revenue in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company accrued the below estimated warranty liabilities, respectively (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
20232022
Warranty balance, beginning of period$— $— 
Accruals for warranties issued1,818 — 
Change in estimates— — 
Settlements— — 
Warranty balance, end of period$1,818 $— 
Letters of Credit:
In the ordinary course of business and under certain contracts, the Company is required to post letters of credit for its customers, insurance carriers, and surety bond providers for project performance, and for its vendors for payment guarantees. Such letters of credit are generally issued by a bank or a similar financial institution. The letter of credit commits the issuer to pay specified amounts to the holder of the letter of credit under certain conditions. As of
94

ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


December 31, 2023, there was $57.4 million of letters of credit issued through the Company’s credit relationships. The Company is not aware of any material claims relating to its outstanding letters of credit.
Performance and Payment Bonds:
In the ordinary course of business, Energy Vault is required by certain customers to provide performance and payment bonds for contractual commitments related to its projects. These bonds provide a guarantee that the Company will perform under the terms of a contract and that the Company will pay its subcontractors and vendors. If the Company fails to perform under a contract or to pay its subcontractors and vendors, the customer may demand that the surety make payments or provide services under the bond. The Company must reimburse the surety for expenses or outlays it incurs. As of December 31, 2023, there were $91.5 million of outstanding performance and payment bonds.
Other Bonds:
In the ordinary course of business, Energy Vault is required to obtain other bonds, such as for insurance and government payments. These bonds provide a guarantee that the Company will post the necessary reserves as required by banks and tax or licensing authorities. Additionally, bonds are issued to banks as support for letters of credit provided by those banks. As of December 31, 2023, there were $28.8 million of outstanding other bonds.
95

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As part of the filing of this Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, our management, with the participation of our CEO and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), evaluated subsequent eventsthe effectiveness of the design and transactionsoperation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a result of this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Previously Reported Material Weakness
As disclosed in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023, the Company previously identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
The material weakness identified in our internal control over financial reporting related to the recognition of revenue from certain licensing contracts. Specifically, in connection with one of our licensing contracts, we did not implement effective background check controls for an international customers’ ability to pay in order to properly assess the probability that we will collect substantially all of the consideration to which we are entitled.
Remediation Plans
Management implemented its plan to remediate the material weakness described above by further developing and implementing formal policies, processes, and documentation procedures relating to financial reporting. As of December 31, 2023, management has determined that the material weakness identified has been remediated.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the quarter ended December 31, 2023, management completed several changes to its internal control over financial reporting and remediated the previously reported material weaknesses. The following internal control changes were made to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting:
Hired additional accounting and financial reporting personnel to execute internal controls with appropriate technical accounting knowledge and public company experience in financial reporting;
Designed and implemented effective processes and controls relating to financial reporting and the adoption of new technological solutions; and
Engaged an accounting advisory firm to assist with the documentation, evaluation, remediation, and testing of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Except as otherwise described herein, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred afterduring the balance sheet date upperiod covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
The effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, including ours, is subject to inherent limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing, operating, and evaluating the controls and procedures, and the inability to eliminate misconduct completely. Accordingly, in designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any system of internal
96

control over financial reporting, including ours, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance, not absolute assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs. Moreover, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the daterisk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. We intend to continue to monitor and upgrade our internal controls as necessary or appropriate for our business but cannot assure you that such improvements will be sufficient to provide us with effective internal control over financial reporting for future periods. Because of its inherit limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our financial statements would be prevented or detected.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting means a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the company’s management and directors, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the company’s financial statements.
Management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. This evaluation was conducted using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered accounting firm on management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting due to the exemption from such requirements established by rules of the SEC for emerging growth companies.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) if Regulation S-K.
On March 6, 2024, the Compensation Committee approved retention bonuses for each of Messrs. Piconi, Terruzzin and McMorrow of $300,000, $120,000 and $150,000, respectively, which will be paid (subject to their continued employment) in equal installments on or before April 15, July 15 and October 15 in 2024, and which amounts will be subject to repayment if the executive’s employment with the company terminates for any reason within 12 months following each applicable payment date.
On March 6, 2024, Energy Vault, Inc. entered into a consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”) with Zia Huque. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Huque will perform ad hoc consulting services and provide business management advice to Energy Vault, Inc.’s board of directors as required by management or the Board from time to time. In exchange for his services, Mr. Huque will remain eligible to vest in restricted stock units previously granted to him based on his continued service. The Consulting Agreement expires on October 31, 2025, unless terminated earlier as provided therein.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
97

PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2023 in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNER AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2023 regarding shares of common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans (amounts of securities shown in thousands):
As of December 31, 2023
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Restricted Stock Units, and RightsWeighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding OptionsNumber of Securities Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excludes Securities Included in First Column)
Plan category:
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
23,122 (2)$1.71 (3)19,550 (4)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (5)
1,713 (6)— (3)5,876 
Total24,835 $1.71 25,426 
__________________
(1) Consists of the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), and 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”).
(2) Includes 5.8 million shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options and 17.3 million shares subject to restricted stock units that will entitle the holder to one share of common stock for each unit that vests.
(3) Restricted stock units do not have an exercise price and are not included in the weighted average exercise price.
(4) As of December 31, 2023, there were 0.2 million shares available for grant under the 2017 plan, 4.4 million shares available for grant under the 2020 plan, and 15.0 million shares available for grant under the 2022 Plan. The number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2022 Plan automatically increases each year on March 1, until and including March 31, 2031 by a number of shares equal to the lesser of (i) 4.0% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or (ii) such lesser number of shares of common stock (including zero) as determined by the Board.
(5) On November 14, 2022, our Board adopted the 2022 Employment Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) without stockholder approval pursuant to New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.02 (“Rule 303A.02”). In accordance with Rule 303A.02, cash and equity-based incentive awards under the Inducement Plan may only be made to a newly hired employee who has not previously been a member of our Board, or an employee who is being rehired following a bona fide period of non-employment by us as a material inducement to the employee’s entering into employment with us. An aggregate of 8.0 million shares of our common stock were initially reserved for issuance under the Inducement Plan.
(6) Includes 1.7 million shares subject to restricted stock units that will entitle the holder to one share of common stock for each unit that vests.
The remaining information required by this Item will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
98

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
99

PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1)    The financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report are listed in Item 8 of this Annual Report
(a)(2)    No financial statement schedules are required to be filed as part of this Annual Report because all such schedules have been omitted. Such omission has been made on the basis that information provided in the financial statements, were issued. Other than as described in these financial statements, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

related notes thereto, in Item 8 of this Annual Report or is not required to be filed as the information is not applicable.
(a)(3)    The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index to this Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
Incorporated by Reference
Description of DocumentSchedule/FormFile NumberExhibit NumberFiling Date
3.18-K001-399823.1February 14, 2022
3.28-K001-399823.2February 14, 2022
4.1**
10.18-K001-3998210.2February 14, 2022
10.28-K001-3998210.5February 14, 2022
10.3#10-Q001-3998210.7May 16, 2022
10.4#10-Q001-3998210.1November 14, 2022
10.5#10-Q001-3998210.2November 14, 2022
10.6#10-Q001-3998210.3November 14, 2022
10.7#10-Q001-3998210.6May 16, 2022
10.8#10-Q001-3998210.4May 16, 2022
10.9#10-Q001-3998210.5November 14, 2022
10.10#**
10.11#**
10.12#10-Q001-3998210.6November 14, 2022
100

Exhibit
Number
Incorporated by Reference
Description of DocumentSchedule/FormFile NumberExhibit NumberFiling Date
10.13#10-Q001-3998210.7November 14, 2022
10.14#10-Q001-3998210.8November 14, 2022
10.15#10-Q001-3998210.9November 14, 2022
10.1610-K001-3998210.14April 13, 2023
10.1710-Q001-3998210.1May 9, 2023
10.1810-Q001-3998210.2May 9, 2023
10.19**
10.20#S-4333-26030710.15October 18, 2021
10.21#S-4333-26030710.16October 18, 2021
21.1**
23.1**
31.1**
31.2**
32.1**
32.2**
97**
101.INS**XBRL Instance Document
101.CAL**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.SCH**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.DEF**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104**Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
_____________________
#     Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
101

** Filed herewith
^    The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 and 32.2 that accompany this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filings of Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc.
Date: March 12, 2024F-14By:/s/ Jan Kees van Gaalen
Name: Jan Kees van Gaalen
Title: Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Robert Piconi
Name: Robert Piconi
Title: Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Jan Kees van Gaalen
Name: Jan Kees van Gaalen
Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Larry M. Paulson
Name: Larry M. Paulson
Title: Director
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Theresa Fariello
Name: Theresa Fariello
Title: Director
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Bill Gross
Name: Bill Gross
Title: Director
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Thomas Ertel
Name: Thomas Ertel
Title: Director
Date: March 12, 2024By:/s/ Mary Beth Mandanas
Name: Mary Beth Mandanas
Title: Director
Date: March 12, 2024By:
Name: Stephanie Unwin
Title: Director
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