Note 5. Related Party Transactions

Founder Shares

In August 2017, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock to the Sponsor in exchange for an aggregate capital contribution of $25,000. In February 2018, the Sponsor forfeited 431,250 founder shares, resulting in a decrease in the total number of founder shares from 4,312,500 to 3,881,250. All share amounts presented in the financial statements have been retroactively restated to reflect these share forfeitures. In June 2018, the Sponsor forfeited 267,300 founder shares and the anchor investor purchased 267,300 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,980. Of the 3,881,250 founder shares, the Sponsor had agreed to forfeit an aggregate of up to 506,250 founder shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. As of June 22, 2018, the underwriter exercised its over-allotment option in full, hence, these 506,250 shares were no longer subject to forfeiture.

The founder shares will automatically convert into Class A common stock upon the consummation of a Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment (see Note 7). The initial stockholders agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earliest of  (a) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination, (b) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, if the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (C) following the completion of the initial Business Combination, such future date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property.

If the anchor investor does not own the number of Public Units equal to 1,336,500 at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial Business Combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the anchor investor will forfeit up to 267,300 founder shares on a pro rata basis. In such case, the Sponsor will repurchase all or a portion of the Private Placement Warrants held by the anchor investor at its original purchase price.

See the “Business Combination” described in Note 1 above, including the description of the Sponsor Surrender Agreement, pursuant to which a portion of the founder shares will be forfeited immediately prior to (but conditioned and effective upon) completion of the proposed Merger.

Office Space and Related Support Services

The Company agreed, commencing on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering in June 2018 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. The Company incurred $110,000 and $120,000 in expenses in connection with such services during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 as reflected in the accompanying Statements of Operations. 

Board Member Agreement

In September 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with B. Prot Conseils, an entity controlled by Mr. Baudouin Prot, one of its board members, pursuant to which the board member is paid a cash fee of $150,000 per annum in exchange for his service. The agreement was effective as of October 1, 2017 and lasts until the consummation of the Company’s business combination. The Company incurred $150,000 in fees related to this service for the year ended December 31, 2019, in the accompanying Statements of Operations. On February 20, 2020, the Company agreed to amend its arrangement with Mr. Prot, pursuant to which no further monthly fees will be paid on a current monthly basis to Mr. Prot, however, if the Company completes its acquisition of a target company prior to June 18, 2020, the Company shall pay Mr. Prot $12,500 for each month Mr. Prot has continued to provide services to the Company since January 1, 2020. On August 3, 2020, the Company agreed to amend its arrangement with Mr. Prot pursuant to which Mr. Prot will be paid an aggregate of $75,000 for January through June 2020 so long as Mr. Prot continues to provide services to the Company to substantially the same extent as he previously provided such services and the Company successfully completes its acquisition of a target company prior to December 31, 2020. If the Company does not complete its acquisition of a target company prior to December 31, 2020, then no further fees will be due from the Company to Mr. Prot. The Company accrued $75,000 in fees related to this service for the year ended December 31, 2020, in the accompanying Statements of Operations and paid this out at the time of closing of the Business Combination.

Promissory Note - Related Party

The Sponsor had agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to be used for the payment of costs related to the Initial Public Offering. In April 2018, the Sponsor amended the note to increase the principal amount to $500,000. The loan was non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on the earlier of December 31, 2018 or the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Company fully repaid the loan from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering not being placed in the Trust Account on June 22, 2018.

On July 16, 2020, the Company issued a promissory note (“Promissory Note”) to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to provide a working capital loan to the Company of up to $3.0 million. The Promissory Note will be repaid on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2020 and (ii) the effective date of a Business Combination, without interest. On July 16, 2020, the Company received $1.0 million in loan proceeds pursuant to the Promissory Note which increased the outstanding principal balance of the Promissory Note to $1.0 million. On January 6, 2021, the Company amended the maturity date of the Promissory Note to be repaid on the later of: (i) December 31, 2020 and (ii) the closing date of the Business Combination, which is effective as of December 31, 2020

See the “Business Combination” described in Note 1 above, including the description of the Sponsor Surrender Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to cancel the outstanding principal balance of the Promissory Note of $1.0 million immediately prior to (but conditioned and effective upon) completion of the proposed Merger.

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 officers and directors agreed 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 did 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. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

On March 4, 2019, the Company issued a convertible note (“Convertible Note”) to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to provide a Working Capital Loan to the Company of up to $1.5 million. On June 16, 2020, the Company amended the Convertible Note, pursuant to which the maturity date of the note was extended to the earlier of (i) December 31, 2020 and (ii) the effective date of a Business Combination. The Company was provided $750,000 and $750,000 in loan proceeds during the year ended 2020 and 2019, respectively, for an aggregate $1.5 million outstanding balance pursuant to the amended Convertible Note.

In addition, in connection with the Extension, the Company’s officers, directors or any of their affiliates or designees have agreed, if the Company does not have the funds necessary to make the Deposit, to make Contributions to the Company as a loan of $0.03 for each Public Share that is not converted in connection with the shareholder votes to approve the Extension. The Contributions will not bear any interest and will be repayable by the Company to the officers, directors or affiliates upon consummation of an initial Business Combination (Note 1). The loans were to be forgiven if the Company was unable to consummate an initial Business Combination except to the extent of any funds held outside of the Trust Account. As of December 31, 2020, no Contributions were outstanding.

See the “Business Combination” described in Note 1 above, including the description of the Sponsor Surrender Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to waive its right to convert the outstanding principal due under the Convertible Note to warrants of the Company in lieu of cash payment upon the consummation of the Merger (but conditioned and effective upon) completion of the proposed Merger. In connection with the Merger, the Convertible Note was repaid on January 7, 2021.