Item
2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
The
disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.
In
addition, the material terms of the Business Combination are described in greater detail in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
titled “The Business Combination Proposal—The Business Combination Agreement” beginning on page 87, which information
is incorporated herein by reference.
FORM
10 INFORMATION
Prior
to the Closing, the Company was a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)) with no operations, formed as a vehicle to effect a business combination with one or more operating businesses. After the
Closing, the Company became a holding company whose only assets consist of equity interests in Opco.
The
information provided below relates to the Company after the consummation of the Business Combination, unless otherwise specifically indicated
or the context otherwise requires.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
Current Report on Form 8-K, including the information incorporated herein by reference, contains “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking and usually identified by the
use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,”
“project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” “will likely result,”
“would” and other similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements may relate to the benefits of the Business Combination,
the development of the Company’s technology, the anticipated demand for the Company’s technology and the markets in which
the Company operates, the timing of the deployment of plant deliveries, and the Company’s business strategies, capital requirements,
potential growth opportunities and expectations for future performance (financial or otherwise). Forward looking statements are based
on current expectations, estimates, projections, targets, opinions and/or beliefs of the Company, and such statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.
The
risks and uncertainties that could cause those actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking
statements include, but are not limited to: (i) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect
to the Company and risks related to the Company’s ability to meet its projections; (ii) the ability to recognize the anticipated
benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and
manage growth profitably and the ability of the Company retain its management and key employees; (iii) the Company’s ability to
utilize its net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards effectively; (iv) the capital-intensive nature of the Company’s business
model, which may require the Company to raise additional capital in the future; (v) barriers the Company may face in its attempts to
deploy and commercialize its technology; (vi) the complexity of the machinery the Company relies on for its operations and development;
(vii) the Company’s ability to establish and maintain supply relationships; (viii) risks related to the Company’s arrangements
with third parties for the development, commercialization and deployment of technology associated with the Company’s technology;
(ix) risks related to the Company’s other strategic investors and partners; (x) the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize
its operations; (xi) the availability and cost of raw materials; (xii) the ability of the Company’s supply base to scale to meet
the Company’s anticipated growth; (xiii) the Company’s ability to expand internationally; (xiv) the Company’s ability
to update the design, construction and operations of its technology; (xv) the impact of potential delays in discovering manufacturing
and construction issues; (xvi) the possibility of damage to the Company’s Texas facilities as a result of natural disasters; (xvii)
the ability of commercial plants using the Company’s technology to efficiently provide net power output; (xviii) the Company’s
ability to obtain and retain licenses; (xix) the Company’s ability to establish an initial commercial scale plant; (xx) the Company’s
ability to license to large customers; (xxi) the Company’s ability to accurately estimate future commercial demand; (xxii) the
Company’s ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving and competitive natural and renewable power industry; (xxiii) the Company’s
ability to comply with all applicable laws and regulations; (xxiv) the impact of public perception of fossil fuel-derived energy on the
Company’s business; (xxv) any political or other disruptions in gas producing nations; (xxvi) the Company’s ability to protect
its intellectual property and the intellectual property it licenses; (xxvii) the Company’s ability to meet stock exchange listing
standards following the Business Combination; (xxviii) potential litigation that may be instituted against the Company; and (xxix) other
risks and uncertainties indicated in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, including those under the section titled “Risk Factors,”
and other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by the Company.
Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and
the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise. The Company gives no assurance that the Company will achieve its expectations.
Business
and Properties
The
information set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Information About NET Power” beginning on
page 203 is incorporated herein by reference.
Risk
Factors
The
information set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 27 is incorporated
herein by reference.
Financial
Information
Unaudited
Condensed Financial Statements
The
unaudited condensed financial statements of NET Power, LLC as of March 31, 2023 and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and pursuant to SEC
regulations. The condensed financial information reflects, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring
adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of NET Power, LLC’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows
for the periods indicated. The results reported for the interim period presented are not necessarily indicative of results that may be
expected for the full year. These unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the historical audited
financial statements of NET Power, LLC as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related
notes, included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which are incorporated by reference herein.
Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of the Company as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and for
the year ended December 31, 2022 is set forth in Exhibit 99.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
The
information set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations of NET Power” beginning on page 225 is incorporated herein by reference. The Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of NET Power, LLC for the three months ended March 31, 2023
and 2022 is included in Exhibit 99.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock as of the Closing
Date, following the public share redemptions and the consummation of the PIPE Financing and the Merger, by:
| ● | each
person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the
Company’s voting securities; |
| ● | each
of the Company’s executive officers and directors; and |
| ● | all
of the Company’s executive officers and directors as a group. |
Beneficial
ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security
if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options, warrants and certain other
derivative securities that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days. Shares subject to warrants that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Closing Date are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding
such warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose
of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Unless
otherwise indicated and subject to community property laws and similar laws, the Company believes that all parties named in the table
below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them.
| |
Class A Common Stock | | |
Class B Common Stock | | |
Total Common Stock | |
Name of Beneficial Owners | |
Number of Shares | | |
Ownership Percentage(1) | | |
Number of Shares | | |
Ownership Percentage(1) | | |
Number of Shares | | |
Ownership Percentage(1) | |
Five Percent Holders: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Baker Hughes Energy Services LLC(2)(3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 7,319,155 | | |
| 5.1 | % | |
| 7,319,155 | | |
| 3.4 | % |
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC(2)(4) | |
| 500,000 | | |
| * | | |
| 36,030,716 | | |
| 2.5 | % | |
| 36,530,716 | | |
| 17.2 | % |
Daniel J. Rice, IV 2018 Irrevocable Trust(5) | |
| 3,510,000 | | |
| 5.2 | % | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,510,000 | | |
| 1.6 | % |
8 Rivers Capital, LLC and NPEH, LLC(2)(6) | |
| 500,000 | | |
| * | | |
| 30,005,300 | | |
| 20.7 | % | |
| 30,505,300 | | |
| 14.4 | % |
OLCV NET Power, LLC(2)(7) | |
| 33,999,995 | | |
| 50.5 | % | |
| 55,553,247 | | |
| 38.4 | % | |
| 89,553,242 | | |
| 42.2 | % |
Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC(2)(8) | |
| 10,902,500 | | |
| 13.9 | % | |
| 7,535,000 | | |
| 5.2 | % | |
| 18,437,500 | | |
| 8.3 | % |
Tillandsia, Inc.(2)(9) | |
| 5,500,000 | | |
| 8.2 | % | |
| 30,005,300 | | |
| 20.7 | % | |
| 35,505,300 | | |
| 16.7 | % |
Directors and Executive Officers: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Ralph Alexander | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Peter J. (Jeff) Bennett | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
J. Kyle Derham(2)(10) | |
| 11,402,500 | | |
| 14.6 | % | |
| 7,535,000 | | |
| 5.2 | % | |
| 18,937,500 | | |
| 8.5 | % |
Frederick A. Forthuber | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Joseph T. Kelliher | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Carol Peterson | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Brad Pollack | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Daniel Joseph Rice, IV(2)(10)(11) | |
| 10,902,500 | | |
| 13.9 | % | |
| 7,535,000 | | |
| 5.2 | % | |
| 18,437,500 | | |
| 8.3 | % |
Eunkyung Sung | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Alejandra Veltmann | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Brian Allen(2)(12) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 568,090 | | |
| * | | |
| 568,090 | | |
| * | |
Akash Patel(2)(12) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 790,448 | | |
| * | | |
| 790,448 | | |
| * | |
Brock Forrest(2)(12)(13) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 596,917 | | |
| * | | |
| 596,917 | | |
| * | |
James Mahon(2)(12) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 693,028 | | |
| * | | |
| 693,028 | | |
| * | |
Brandon Heffinger(2)(12) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 514,559 | | |
| * | | |
| 514,559 | | |
| * | |
All directors and executive officers as a group (15 individuals)(10) | |
| 11,402,500 | | |
| 14.6 | % | |
| 10,698,042 | | |
| 7.4 | % | |
| 22,100,542 | | |
| 9.9 | % |
| (1) | Based
on 67,352,271 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding and 144,817,563 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding
for a total of 212,169,834 shares of Common Stock as of the Closing Date, following the public share redemptions and the consummation
of the PIPE Financing and the Merger. |
| (2) | Pursuant
to the Opco LLC Agreement, at the request of the holder, each Opco Unit may be redeemed for,
at the Company’s election, a newly-issued share of Class A Common Stock or cash, and
upon redemption of such Opco Unit, a share of Class B Common Stock shall be surrendered by
the holder and canceled by the Company. |
| (3) | Baker
Hughes Energy Services LLC is also the record holder of 7,319,155 Opco Units. The address
of Baker Hughes Energy Services LLC is 17021 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston, TX 77073. |
| (4) | Constellation
Energy Generation, LLC is also the record holder of 36,030,716 Opco Units. The address of
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC is 200 Exelon Way, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348. |
| (5) | The
number of shares of Class A Common Stock includes 42,500 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of warrants; such warrants are exercisable beginning on the date that is
30 days after the Closing Date. Andrew L. Share, as trustee of Daniel J. Rice, IV 2018 Irrevocable
Trust, has voting and investment power over the reported securities. The address of Daniel
J. Rice, IV 2018 Irrevocable Trust is c/o Nixon Peabody LLP, 900 Elm Street, Manchester,
New Hampshire 03101-2007. |
| (6) | 8 Rivers Capital, LLC is the record holder of 500,000 shares of Class
A Common Stock, and NPEH, LLC is the record holder of 30,005,300 shares of Class B Common Stock and 30,005,300 Opco Units. 8 Rivers Capital,
LLC is the manager of NPEH, LLC and holds a majority of interests in NPEH, LLC. The address of NPEH, LLC and of 8 Rivers Capital, LLC
is 406 Blackwell Street, 4th Floor, Durham, North Carolina 27701. |
| (7) | OLCV
NET Power, LLC is also the record holder of 55,553,247 Opco Units. The address of OLCV NET
Power, LLC is 5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 110, Houston, Texas 77046. |
| (8) | The
number of shares of Class A Common Stock includes 10,900,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of warrants held of record by Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC;
such warrants are exercisable beginning on the date that is 30 days after the Closing Date.
The number of shares of Class B Common Stock includes 986,775 shares subject to forfeiture
or vesting depending on certain share price thresholds of the Class A Common Stock pursuant
to the sponsor letter agreement entered into at signing of the Business Combination Agreement
(the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”). See the section titled “The Business
Combination Proposal—Related Agreements—Sponsor Letter Agreement,” beginning
on page 115 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus for more information about the Sponsor Letter
Agreement. Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC is also the record holder of 7,535,000 Opco Units,
986,775 of which are subject to forfeiture or vesting depending on certain share price thresholds
of the Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement. The address of Rice
Acquisition Sponsor II LLC is 102 East Main Street, Second Story, Carnegie, Pennsylvania
15106. |
| (9) | 500,000
of the shares of Class A Common Stock listed are owned of record by 8 Rivers Capital, LLC, and all of the shares of Class B Common Stock
listed are owned of record by NPEH, LLC. NPEH, LLC is also the record holder of 30,005,300 Opco Units. NPEH, LLC is controlled by 8 Rivers
Capital, LLC, which in turn is controlled by an affiliate of Tillandsia, Inc. The address of Tillandsia, Inc. is 55 E. 59th
Street, Floor 11, New York, New York 10022-1112. |
| (10) | The
number of shares of Class A Common Stock includes 2,500 shares of Class A Common Stock held
of record by Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC and 10,900,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of warrants held of record by Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC,
which are exercisable beginning on the date that is 30 days after the Closing Date. The number
of shares of Class B Common Stock consists of 7,535,000 shares held of record by Rice Acquisition
Sponsor II LLC, including 986,775 of which are subject to forfeiture or vesting depending
on certain share price thresholds of the Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Sponsor Letter
Agreement. Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC is also the record holder of 7,535,000 Opco Units,
986,775 shares of which are subject to forfeiture or vesting depending on certain share price
thresholds of the Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement. Messrs.
Derham and Rice are the managing members of Rice Acquisition Sponsor II LLC. |
| (11) | Does
not include the 3,467,500 shares of Class A Common Stock or 42,500 warrants held of record
by Daniel J. Rice IV 2018 Irrevocable Trust because the trustee, rather than Mr. Rice, has
voting and investment power over such shares. |
| (12) | The
executive officer is also the record holder of a number of Opco Units that is equal to the
number of shares of Class B Common Stock held of record by him. |
| (13) | The shares are held by Forrest Family Capital, LLC, which is controlled
by Mr. Forrest. |
Directors
and Executive Officers
At
the extraordinary general meeting of RONI shareholders on June 6, 2023, (i) Messrs. Alexander and Forthuber and Mses. Peterson and Sung
were elected to serve as Class I directors with a term expiring at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, (ii) Messrs.
Bennett and Derham and Ms. Veltmann were elected to serve as Class II directors with a term expiring at the Company’s 2025
annual meeting of stockholders, and (iii) Messrs. Kelliher, Pollack and Rice were elected to serve as Class III directors with a term
expiring at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, in each case, effective immediately in connection with the consummation
of the Business Combination.
Mr. Bennett has been appointed by the Board to serve as its chairperson,
and Mr. Kelliher has been designated by the Board to serve as the lead non-affiliate independent director.
Mr. Alexander and Mses. Peterson and Veltmann serve as members of the Audit Committee of
the Board, with Ms. Veltmann serving as its chairperson. Messrs. Alexander and Kelliher and Ms. Veltmann serve as members of the Compensation
Committee of the Board, with Mr. Alexander serving as its chairperson. Messrs. Derham, Kelliher and Pollack and Ms. Peterson serve as
members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, with Mr. Kelliher serving as its chairperson.
Information with respect to the Company’s directors after the Closing, including biographical information,
is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management of NET Power Inc. Following the Business Combination”
beginning on page 242, which information is incorporated herein by reference. The information with respect to director designation rights
set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the heading “Stockholders Agreement” is also incorporated
herein by reference.
On
June 8, 2023, effective upon the Closing, the following persons were appointed to be executive officers of the Company as set forth below:
Name |
|
Position |
Daniel Joseph Rice, IV |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Brian Allen |
|
President and Chief Operating Officer |
Akash Patel |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Brock Forrest |
|
Chief Technology Officer |
James Mahon |
|
General Counsel |
Brandon Heffinger |
|
Chief Commercial Officer |
Information
with respect to the Company’s executive officers after the Closing, including biographical information regarding these individuals,
is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management of NET Power Inc. Following the Business Combination”
beginning on page 242, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of the Company’s executive officers currently serve, or in the past year have served, as members of the board of directors or compensation
committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on the Board.
Executive
Compensation and Director Compensation
The
compensation of NET Power, LLC’s named executive officers before the consummation of the Business Combination is described in the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “NET Power’s Executive and Director Compensation” beginning on page
234, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
The
compensation of the managers who served on NET Power, LLC’s board of managers before the consummation of the Business Combination
is described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “NET Power’s Executive and Director Compensation”
beginning on page 234, which information is incorporated herein by reference. In connection with the Business Combination, the Company
expects to adopt a new non-employee director compensation program, which will be designed to provide competitive compensation necessary
to attract and retain high quality non-employee directors and to encourage ownership of Company stock to further align their
interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
The
information set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”
beginning on page 249 and the information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Director
Independence
The
NYSE listing standards require that a majority of the members of the Board be independent. An “independent director” is defined
generally as a person who has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer
of an organization that has a relationship with the company). The Company currently has eight “independent directors” as
defined in the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules and as determined by the Board using its business judgment: Messrs. Alexander,
Bennett, Derham, Forthuber, Kelliher and Pollack and Mses. Peterson and Veltmann.
Legal
Proceedings
Information
about legal proceedings is set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Information About NET Power—Legal
Proceedings” on page 224, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Market
Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Following
the Closing, on June 9, 2023, the Class A Common Stock and NET Power Warrants were listed on the NYSE under the symbols “NPWR”
and “NPWR WS,” respectively. The public units of RONI automatically separated into the component securities upon consummation
of the Business Combination and, as a result, no longer trade as a separate security.
As of the Closing Date, there were approximately
28 holders of record of Class A Common Stock, approximately 21 holders of record of Class B Common Stock and two holders of record of
the NET Power Warrants. Such holder numbers do not include The Depository Trust Company participants
or beneficial owners holding shares or NET Power Warrants through banks, brokers, other financial institutions or other nominees.
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities
The
information set forth in Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding unregistered
sales of RONI’s securities set forth in Part II, Item 5 of RONI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023, is also incorporated herein by reference.
Description
of the Company’s Securities
Information
regarding the Class A Common Stock and the NET Power Warrants is included in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Description
of NET Power Inc. Securities” beginning on page 259, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
Information about the indemnification of the Company’s
directors and officers is set forth in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Description of NET Power Inc. Securities—Limitations
on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors” on page 262, which information is incorporated herein by reference, and
in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the heading “Indemnification Agreements,” which is also incorporated
herein by reference.
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
The
information set forth in Item 4.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.