Liquidity and Capital Resources
On February 17, 2023, we completed our initial public offering of 6,900,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $69,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering, we completed the sale of 545,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit in the private placement to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $5,450,000.
Following the initial public offering, the full exercise of the over-allotment option and the sale of the private units, a total of $70,380,000 was placed in the trust account. Transaction costs amounted to $4,366,343 consisting of $2,070,000 of cash underwriting discount, $1,185,493 fair value of representative shares, $12,075 fair value of representative warrants, and $1,098,775 of other offering costs.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $159,853. Net income of $251,313 was affected by interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $354,063 and unrealized gain on marketable securities held in our Trust Account of $55,861. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $1,242 of cash for operating activities.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $1,850. Net loss of $463 was affected by the cash used to pay prepaid expenses of $1,387.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $70,789,924 (including approximately $409,924 of interest income and unrealized gains) consisting of U.S. Treasury Bills with a maturity of 185 days or less. We may withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay taxes, if any. 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 share capital 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.
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash of $827,272. 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, structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to (except as described below), loan us Working Capital Loans as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. 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 Working Capital Loans but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such Working Capital Loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest.
We may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to three times, each by an additional three months (for a total of 18 months to complete a Business Combination). In order to extend the time available for us to consummate a Business Combination, our Sponsor or its affiliates or designees must deposit into the trust account $690,000 ($0.10 per public share), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline, for each three month extension. Any such payments would be made in the form of a non-interest bearing loan. The terms of the promissory note to be issued in connection with any such loans have not yet been negotiated. If we complete a Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. If we do not complete a business combination, we will not repay such loans. Our Sponsor and its affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete a Business Combination.
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 initial 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 completion of our Business Combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination.